Air Operations Assistant (Technical Compliance/Flight Following)

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNAMA was established in 2002 as a Political/ Peacebuilding Mission, exceptionally) directed and supported by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). Unanimously adopting resolution 2596 (2021), the 15-member Council decided to extend the Mission’s mandate until 17 March 2022. UNAMA’s current mandate comprises the following priorities: the provision of good offices; support for the organization of future elections; strengthening capacity in the protection and promotion of human rights including the protection of children affected by armed conflict and prevention of child recruitment; support for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment; the coordination and facilitation of humanitarian assistance; and support for Afghanistan’s development and governance priorities, including the rule of law, transitional justice as an essential component of the ongoing peace process, budget execution and the fight against corruption throughout the country; The Security Council also recognized that the renewed mandate of UNAMA is in support of Afghanistan’s full assumption of leadership and ownership in the security, governance and development areas, consistent with the Transformation Decade (2015– 2024) and with the understandings reached between Afghanistan and the international community in the international conferences in Kabul (2010), London (2010 and 2014), Bonn (2011), Tokyo (2012), and Brussels (2016), and the NATO Summits held in Lisbon (2010), Chicago (2012), Wales (2014), Warsaw (2016) and Brussels (2017), Kabul (2018) and Geneva (2018 & 2020). The United Nations has been involved in the region since 1946 when Afghanistan joined the United Nations as a member state of the Organization.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Technical Compliance and Quality Assurance Unit or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Air Operations Assistant will:

• Provide Flight Following services to UNAMA aircraft. • Tracking of aircraft using the Sky-Router flight tracking system. • Coordinate provision of accommodation, meals and transportation arrangements for aircrew members and ground personnel in accordance with the established contractual conditions. • Coordinate with Carrier Site Managers on matters involving the crew, the aircraft and their contract. • Verify Aircraft Use Reports (AURs) for conformance and compliance with Air Tasking Orders (ATOs), satellite tracking data and radio logs. • Monitor air operators' conformance and compliance with the terms and conditions of the relevant Long-Term Aircraft Charter Agreements (LTCAs). • Verify the authenticity and validity of Carrier’s aircraft documents vis-à-vis Air Operators Certificate, Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness, Certificate of Insurance, Noise Certificate, and Radio License. • Provide inputs to the reports for Initial Aircraft Inspections, Quarterly and End-of-Contract Operator Performance Evaluations. • Coordinate the Section's Training activities with the Integrated Mission Training Centre (IMTC). • Participate in the inventories and physical annual checks of relevant aviation equipment. • Assist in preparation of the Section’s aviation budget proposal (Costing 15 and Summary Planning Adjustments Tool in SAP/Umoja) in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • Monitor financial transactions and provide advice to Chief TCQA Unit. • Verify the Invoices and Financial Receipts and process the payments or cost recoveries. • Prepare reports using the SAP Business Intelligence (BI) tool. • Monitor utilization of air assets and analyze the statistical data obtained. • Interact with the UN external clients for the provision of air transportation services. • Participate in the revision of the Aviation SOP and propose appropriate amendments. • Perform other related duties as assigned by the Chief TCQA Unit and/or CAVO.

Results/expected outputs

As an active UNAMA Aviation team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNAMA and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Tracking and monitoring of all UNAMA aircraft before, during and after flights. • Updated reports in the Flight Log of all aircraft flight activities. • The operational budget proposal (Costing 15 and Summary Planning Adjustments Tool in Umoja), staffing requirements, official travel and training budget requirements are developed and submitted to the UNAMA Budget Officer in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • Reports on current budget projections are verified and submitted to UNAMA Budget Officer in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • All invoices for services provided to Aviation Section are processed and submitted for payments to the UNAMA Finance Officer in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • Cost recovery requests (Sales Orders) for aviation fuel and services provided by the Aviation Section to the air operators and other non-UNAMA entities are processed and submitted to the UNAMA Finance Officer in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines and 100% of funds are recovered within the applicable financial period. • Purchase Orders and Fund Commitments are liquidated in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. Contracts are available to support the Section’s requirements for goods and services. The quality of goods and services are monitored and reported to the relevant Sections/Units in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • Financial transactions in the Section’s Cost Centers are monitored and necessary actions are taken to ensure effective and efficient use of funds in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines. • 100% Aircraft Use Reports (AURs) are received from air operators upon completion of flights, verified and provide 100% accuracy rate (zero mistakes). • Monthly Aviation Reports (MARs) are submitted to the UNHQ in accordance with the established procedures and deadlines.

Professionalism; integrity; teamwork and respect for diversity; commitment to continuous learning; planning and organizing: communication: flexibility:

• Progressively responsible experience in Air Traffic Control or airline operations is required. • Knowledge in aviation radio phraseology is mandatory. • Knowledge and understanding in the use of SAP-based ERP applications is desirable. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word and PowerPoint) and e-mail/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment is required. • Excellent oral and written skills in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills are required. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, clients and organizations at different levels; is required. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel is required. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines is required. • Sound security awareness is required.

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with a volatile security. Living and working conditions for UN volunteers in UNAMA are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities.

UNAMA offices are located at the UNOCA compound on Jalalabad Road, at some distance from central Kabul. Generally speaking stringent security measures are in place throughout the country and UN volunteers as other UN staff, are quite limited to duty stations when it comes to movement. Walking is virtually not allowed. The movement is done inside the “green zone” (only) in armored vehicles driven by national qualified UN drivers.

The single unit accommodation in UNOCA and other field locations are fully furnished; this includes, furniture, washing machine dryer, hot plate, iron and iron stand, microwave, plates, cups, spoons, cooking utensils, electric kettle. One bedsheet and pillow cover is provided. The monthly charge for UN provided accommodation is USD 300 which is deducted from the monthly Volunteer Living Allowance.

Inside the UNOCA compound are two cafeterias, three restaurants, a Supermarket, and one vegetable shop which provide a variety of imported canned and frozen food on offer. There is also a social center, a gym hall and a small library with books and DVDs, run by the Welfare Office, within the same compound.

The Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own towel and other personal accessories including toiletries and medicines which they may not find easily within the supermarkets inside the UNOCA Compound.

Some degree of medical service is provided in all UNAMA duty stations. There is a UN clinic in UNAMA/UNOCA complex and access is granted in Kabul to other private international clinics (when and if needed).

Contact with and outreach to the local community is usually limited. As mentioned, many places are off-limits. Bringing stock of books, DVDs/VCDs, computer games, etc., is highly recommended. Alcoholic beverages and prohibited dangerous drugs are absolutely not allowed in Afghanistan.

Summer in Afghanistan is hot and dry but winter is the opposite – cold and wet. Therefore, both summer and winter clothing and comfortable boots with insulation are necessary. Afghanistan is a unique country and UNAMA is a unique UN mission. It requires more stamina, commitment, and flexibility than elsewhere to make life comfortable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort are essential.