Chief Designer (Open Ad) at ATNS

Job description

Flight Procedure Design 

• To manage and lead the flight procedure design section through enacting the Regulatory and SMS processes.  Accountable to Head ASM & TA with regard to managing the FPDO.  Reporting to Head ASM & TA and the SACAA including addressing safety concerns or identified deficiencies within the FPDO.  
• Accountable for overall progress, reporting and completion of projects, DOT KPI’s and client service requests as per contracted agreements.  Validation and approval of Flight Procedure Designs in accordance with all relevant ICAO SARPS, CARS and CATS requirements.  Ensure compliance of Procedure Design Reports, Charts, Textual Description, drawing file, methodology, assumptions, calculations, user request specifications, aeronautical data and obstacle assessments through quality assurance (checklist) in line with ATNS SMS.  
• To maintain record of all documentation for audits and SMS.  Provision of Procedure Design Approval Letter for submission to SACAA with approved Procedure Design Packages.  To verify and ensure by accepting responsibility and accountability that designs are produced in accordance with all relevant ICAO SARPS, CARS and CATS requirements.  Review and managing of procedure design processes and procedures.  Conduct safety assurance of proficiency assessments to ensure the continued maintenance of standards and regulation.  Evaluation of findings and documentation of mitigation action in accordance with Third Party Ground Validation Reports and/or the SACAA review approval reports.  To document areas of non-compliance to prevent reoccurrence of safety issues relating to Flight Procedure Design.  Ensure compliance with environmental regulations by ensuring that environmental & noise sensitive areas are identified & considered in designs.  
• Provide inputs into Safety Group Meeting as PANS-OPS representative.  Provide guidance with regards to safety assessments relating to Flight Procedure Design.  Provide guidance to ensure implementation of recommendations resulting from SACAA Part 173 and 177 audits.  Ensure compliance with all relevant ICAO SARPS, CARS and CATS requirements. Provide inputs into the ATM and safety roadmaps.  Provide relevant inputs to ICAO state letters.  Manage and review the FPD/Charting training and standards maintenance program.  Identify, monitor assess and address designer/charting competency issues.  Develop, manage and oversee PANS-OPS and Charting OJT programmes.  Receive and disseminate 3rd party Applicants, and oversee the conduct of obstacle evaluations in accordance with ICAO DOC 8168 Vol II and Annex 14 by obstacle evaluators

Marketing and client interaction (Internal and External)

• Communicate FP Design services available to potential and existing clients.  
• Draft formal quotations based on client requests or instruction from BD.  Pursue new business opportunities in conjunction with Commercial Services.  Liaison with internal and external clients including proposals/quotes and associated meetings.  Advising and partaking of technical work groups and committees.  Provide input concerning ATM system development and implementation committees and work groups processing.

Flight Procedures Design, data management and Airspace Design 

• Design Flight Procedures and Airspace as per AP005/FPD Operations Manual, including ICAO DOC 8168 Vol II and ICAO DOC 9906 Vol I and ICAO DOC 9613 criteria accepting responsibility and accountability that designs are produced in accordance with the relevant criteria and the SACAA Manual of Procedures, that designs are compliant for the safe operation of aircraft.  Adherence to South African Civil Aviation Regulations.  Regular production of Design Drawings.  Production of detailed Flight Procedure Design reports, tabulations, textual descriptions and supplementary information for submission to the SACAA or external clients.  
• Production of Calculation records.Provision of professional advice regarding Airspace Design in terms of PANS-OPS requirements.  Provision of consultation services internally/externally as and when required concerning Flight Procedure.  Consultation, co-ordination and liaison with clients.  
• Ensuring compliance with NEMPAA and other environmental considerations.  Verification of flight procedure designs.  Remain knowledgeable with respect to all ICAO developments in flight procedure design, AIS and ATM operational concepts.  Remain knowledgeable with respect to all ICAO developments in flight procedure design and airspace design.  
• Provision of technical advice and input to the airspace design function.  Provision of accountable advice and input to internal or external stakeholders regarding new, existing, amended or suspended instrument flight procedures.  Preparation of information regarding flight procedure design activities within ATNS at workshops.  Maintain Pans-Ops competency through training plan.

Research and position ATNS globally

• Conduct research into new technology, Instrument Flight Procedure developments and Aeronautical Navigation advancements.   Provide specialist consultancy services to ATNS and third parties.  Identify and undertake research and development projects where required that will advance the corporate safety objectives of ATNS.  Participate in Instrument Flight Procedure Panels/workshops/conferences as relevant.  Represent ATNS at local stakeholder forums.

Associated Management and General Duties

• Provide input into PANS-OPS section budgeting requirements.  Plan and provide input on PANS·OPS/Charting section personnel requirements.  Effective Office Management and personnel resources, the creation, maintenance and review of Job Descriptions for Flight Procedure Specialists.  
• Engage Interviews applicable to the Flight Procedure Design.  Plan and provide input on PANS-OPS section training (in-house and external) and instructor training requirements.  Management of Flight Procedure Design office infrastructure including software requirements to ensure efficient operations.  
• Provide professional advice into the development of relevant Civil Aviation Legislation.  Implementation of all new ICAO developments and SARPS within the Flight Procedure Design and   Cartography Scope. Establishment, amendment or change of FPD/Charting internal operations manual.   Establishment, amendment or change of FPD management procedures as and when required.  Establish and maintain training manuals as required, including progress tests, reports, and training logs as per South African Civil Aviation Regulations and ICAO DOC 9906 Vol II for in-house and external training.  Record Management of the Flight Procedure Design and Charting Office, as per ISO, Legislation and the ATNS filing system.  Assessing of proficiency for internal and external FPS trainees.  Amendments, Maintenance and Input to internal Quality Assurance procedures concerning FPD/Charting in accordance with ISO 9001:2015.

Minimum requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor Administration or equivalent tertiary qualification                
• BASIC and Advanced PANS-OPS. Course required in line with ICAO requirements, having completed the 18 months mentorship.
• Training in Procedure Design aided software, preferably PFDAM
• On-the-job Instructor course

 Years of Experience

• 5 Years PANS-OPS Design experience (Senior)
• 3 Years in air traffic service environment; preferably air traffic control in approach/procedural/radar control environment, or Aircrew (Pilot/Navigator: Instrument environment) operational experience. 
• 2 Years OJTI experience

Apply by: 30 May 2026