Technical Standards Specialist at ATNS

Job description

Maintenance of the ATNS Safety Management System and Processes - 

• Provide inputs into the development, maintenance, promotion and continuous improvement of the SMS and related processes to ensure continued efficacy;
• Provide specialist advice and assistance where required regarding technical safety issues; 
•  Maintain a safety management awareness and assist with understanding thereof throughout the entire organization;  
• Conduct safety and/or standards audits as per procedure or on an ad hoc basis, or as required;  
• Monitor the safety performance of the Safety Management System and report as required;  
• Provide regulatory oversight to ATSUs, ensuring compliance with SA-CARs/SA-CATS, ICAO SARPS, OHS Act 85 of 1993 and the ATNS Safety Management System;  
• Provide feedback to all ATNS stakeholders on technical safety related matters; 
•  Assist the Manager: Operations (Technical/SHE) to prepare and review the associated ATNS safety roadmap;  
• Conduct a periodic review of the relevant regulations against policies to ensure ongoing compliance;  
• Continuously monitor safety trends and provide recommendations as required; 
•  Identify operational risks, recommend mitigation and review effectiveness of mitigation;  
• Compile articles and information to be published in the Safety Net Magazine and promote safety within ATNS and aviation communities;  
• Ensure regulatory compliance for all CNS Planning and Engineering Projects; Compile report (containing findings and observations) identifying non-compliance and systemic failures within the system; 
• Formulate recommendations to support findings and observations and improve the appropriateness and effectiveness of the support process;  
• Ensure compliance of CNS systems from planning, implementation, operation, and support to disposal stages by following ATNS processes, ICAO annexes, documents and circulars, Aviation legislation in South Africa, SA-CAR & SA-CATS, and the OHAS Act 85 of 1993;  
• Track and ensure recommendations are implemented;  
• Evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the support elements through conducting regular visits to the main ATNS support centers and ATM/cns equipment sites;  
• Monitor and evaluate the support system performance against Service Level Agreement  requirements, providing recommendations when needed;  
• Conduct inspection visits to sites in accordance with the project schedule; 
•  Ensure that the competence/ proficiency of Engineering Technicians is managed in accordance with defined processes;  
• Monitor and ensure that the Engineering Technician Training Plan and required On-Job-Training plans are adhered to;  Monitor and follow up on audit findings and non-conformances, ensuring that all recommendations are effectively implemented;  
• Develop the knowledge and awareness of ATNS staff regarding safety management through training and safety promotion initiatives;  
• Develop solutions to address external client requirements such as such as facilitating SMS related work, safety assessments, etc and revenue generation;  
• Conduct Regional, National and Global research on related subject matter material to be submitted for:  
• ICAO State letters,  South African Legislation, Internal Directives, Instruction and Procedures, Technical Safety Event Investigations, Occurrences and queries;  
• Conduct regular meetings with SACAA to ensure continuous improvement on service provision;  
• Attend national, regional and global aviation industry meetings, forums and work groups on technical-related issues.

Investigation of safety occurrence data -

• Investigate, analyse, process and record safety occurrence data;  
• Verify  the accuracy of incoming Technical/Hazard Reports (Hazreps) and external reports; 
• Record and reconcile Technical/Hazard Safety Occurrence related reports;  
• Request Technical/Hazard Safety Occurrence investigations, where relevant;  
• Consolidate Technical/Hazard Safety Occurrences and provide statistical data when requested;  
• Review technical reports received from the field of active and latent failures in ATM/cns systems;  
• Source information regarding all reported ATM/cns system failures; 
•  Investigate all total equipment failures in ATNS ATM/cns systems;  Analyse technical investigations/Hazreps and compile reviews and recommendations for technical-attributed safety events;  
• Provide feedback to Operations and South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on technical-attributed safety occurrences;  
• Provide feedback to clients and stakeholders on technical-attributed safety occurrences and Air Safety Reports (ASRs);  
• Monitor Technical Safety trends in safety incidences and occurrences; 
•  Liaise with Human Capital (HC) regarding associated human factors implications;  
• Monitor implementation of recommendations by accurately updating the feedback received on technical safety occurrence investigations and reports;  
• Monitor and validate feedback from ATSUs on implementation progress;  
• Provide input into ATS safety occurrences with regards to all technical related matters;  
• Provide recommendations in support of the technical investigation and hazard process;  
• Consult with internal and external stakeholders to develop proactive and preventative measures to eliminate recurring problems;  
• Provide recommendations to prevent problems that have occurred in one area from occurring in another by identifying the root cause and promoting preventative actions within other areas of ATNS;  
• Communicate the details of significant problems which may occur elsewhere (externally) to all users of such equipment within ATNS;  
• Maintain service to operations by speedily reacting to all problems and requests for support service;  
• Ensure speedy reaction to problems and requests for support from operations;  Develop innovative approaches in determining solutions to logistical problems;  
• Draft meaningful, informative, and concise technical reports on systems and equipment failures as requested, and proactively monitor/review when the need arises.

Provision of safety oversight on the implementation of new ATM/cns systems -

• Consult with CNS Planning, Engineering projects and EPMO at all stages of new projects to ensure compliance with all relevant local and international regulations and requirements;  
• Develop, monitor and maintain equipment installation standards in conjunction with Engineering Projects, CNS Planning and Technical Support departments;  
• Participate in safety assessment and system safety assessment endorsement; 
• Ensure that operational safety risk and hazards is effectively managed regarding aspects of system change in order to provide independent safety assurance to ATNS;  
• Conduct technical quality standard inspections and equipment site acceptance test (SAT) visits after project implementation in accordance with ATNS Directives, Procedures and Instructions, and ICAO, SA-CAR/SA-CATS and OHAS Act 85 of 1993;           
• Monitor and evaluate new projects during Period of Beneficial Use (PBU);  Verify maintenance management transfer of CNS equipment and logistics to technical support field operations;  
• Track and ensure that recommendations are implemented, and escalate in the case of non-compliance.

Stakeholder Relations Management -

• Develop and deliver Safety Management System training as required to ensure the required competence of relevant staff;
• Consult with Customer Solutions with regard to regional airports contract development;  
• Develop and maintain sound relationships with all internal and external stakeholders such the SACAA and Airport authorities and others as required; 
•  Provide feedback to external clients and the SACAA on all technical related enquiries.

People Management - 

• Manage staff in accordance with HC policies and processes;  
• Ensure that new employees have been properly on-boarded prior to commencing work;  
• Monitor the time and attendance of subordinates, take appropriate action in the case of absenteeism, and report issues to management and Human Capital;  
• Ensure the availability of skilled and competent staff to meet current and future business needs;  
• Train, mentor and coach staff as required to ensure further development;  Ensure high levels of discipline and performance standards to achieve Aviation Safety objectives and the ATNS business strategy;  
• Coordinate and ensure resourcing deliverables in line with the Service Level Agreements;  
• Manage the performance outputs of staff through the performance management system, provide feedback, and take corrective action promptly and effectively;  
• Ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills to enable sustainability within section from a succession management perspective; 
• Drive employee engagement and retention within the section.

Minimum requirements

Minimum Formal Qualifications:

•  National Diploma in Electronic Engineering / Computer Systems or equivalent 
•  International Air Transport Association (IATA) Diploma in Safety Management
• 3 weeks in-depth OHS Act Training
• ATNS SMS training
• Quality Auditors Certificate
• Sound knowledge of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/Civil Aviation Legislation and Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
• Safety Event Investigation Training

Minimum Years of Experience:

•  Minimum 5 years’ experience as Technician in the operation, maintenance, and support of ATM/cns systems and equipment.
•  Training or experience in configuration management auditing, logistics engineering and support systems is required