CHIEF OF UNIT, AIR OPERATIONS

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC) within the Air transport Service (ATS), Logistics Division (LD), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The post is based within the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) Brindisi, Italy.

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to client entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management under the Department of Operational Support includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, Logistics Division, Procurement Division, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section, and the Enabling and Outreach Service. The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) provides critical Supply Chain, Geospatial, Information and Telecommunications Technologies services and Training to all Secretariat Entities, Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the UN system worldwide.

The incumbent of the post will report to the Chief, Air Transport Services in UN Headquarters or his designated official.

Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Chief, Air Transport Service, the Chief of Unit, Air Operations Officer - SAOC will be responsible for the following duties:

General: • Manages and supervises the activities of the Strategic Air Operations Centre unit. • Monitors that air operations are conducted in compliance with Air Tasking Orders (ATOs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), UN directives, Department of Operational Support (DOS) Aviation Manual, UN Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations (UN AVSTADS), UN Aviation Safety Manual, ICAO standards and recommended practices and the host country's Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs). • Supervises the provision of reliable, cost effective and efficient air transport services for the transportation of passengers and cargo (including dangerous goods requiring special handling) within a field mission and resolves conflicting priorities. • Supervises the aviation risk management for UN aviation activities in accordance with the established procedures. • Provides technical advice to the substantive and support elements of a field mission on all aspects of the air transport activities. • Liaises with other UN units/sections, non-government and government organizations and intergovernmental agencies on aviation matters. • Supervises the provision of efficient aviation search and rescue coverage for UN transport assets and other transport assets upon request. • Supervises the preparation of operational plans, performance reports, and responses to internal and external audit observations. • Supervises the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for aviation related processes. • Monitors that quality control procedures are implemented for all work processes. • Monitors the accuracy and validity of data recorded in the management information systems. • Develops, in consultation with the Chief, Service Delivery and/or Chief of Mission Support, a cost-effective and efficient air transport plans accessing the modalities of different types of air assets in operational terms. • Evaluates services rendered to a field mission under long-term aircraft charter agreements, Letters of Assist (LOA)s, Stand-by Air Charter Agreements (SACA)s and ground handling contracts. • Develops budget for field mission's air transport operations and reports on the budgetary performance of the Strategic Air Operations Centre unit at the end of each financial period. • Coordinates the requisition process with purchasing authorities to ensure that bidding and approval activities meet requirements. • Determines technical specifications for air transport services and develops Statements of Works (SOW) requirements. Provides responses to UNHQ during the vendor's evaluation to ensure that vendor's proposals meet technical requirements. • Acts as a Certifying Officer for the air transport tasking with the overall responsibility for the efficient use and accurate accounting of all resources controlled and all expenditures made by the Strategic Air Operations Centre unit. • Monitors that UN financial regulations and rules are complied with in all activities of the Strategic Air Operations Unit. • Participates in various field mission administrative bodies such as the Local Committee on Contracts, the Tenders Committee, the Local Property Survey Board and Boards of Inquiry. • Participates, in collaboration with insurance specialists, in resolving problems related to insurance policies for air transport services. • Develops the Strategic Air Operations Unit Staffing Table and acts as a Line Manager to Sub-Unit Managers. Manages the allocation and rotation of appropriate work assignments. Coordinates individual annual work plans for unit managers and produces detailed performance assessments and evaluations for all staff as required. • Supervises the personnel management and evaluates staff performance of the Strategic Air Operations Centre unit. • Supervises the development of training courses, workshops and other related training activities and coordinates them with UNHQ. Develops and implements the Air Operations Unit Training Plan. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of air transport operations n accordance with the requirements and procedures set out in the UN DPO/DDOS Aviation Manual, the UN Aviation Safety Manual and the UN Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Air Transportation/Aviation Management, Aviation Safety Management, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or graduation from an equivalent military educational establishment is required. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of education, professional training, certification in air transport operations, and two (2) additional years of work experience in air transport related occupation, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Technical aviation qualification such as, Commercial Pilot License, Air Traffic Control License, Flight Operations Officer License, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license or Aeronautical Engineer is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in air transport operations or aviation safety, with at least five (5) years of managerial experience on a position directly related to the coordination of complex air transport operations in the international environment is required.

Experience in safety and quality management is desirable.

Experience in the use of ICAO standards and recommended practices is desirable.

Experience in international operations in a post conflict environment is desirable.

Experience working with data analytics and visualization tools and developing data analytics and visualization reports and dashboards is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for 6 months with a possible extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.