Head of Operations: North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Region at ATNS

Job description

Major Activities

• Providing strategic and operational leadership to the region to ensure achievement of Air Traffic Management Service Delivery, and overall ATNS business strategy.
• Providing strategic and operational regional input and insights into the Operations and long-term ATNS strategy.
• Developing, implementing, and articulating the regional strategy and value proposition to the organisation aligned to the operations and business strategies. 
• Supporting the COO and other thought leaders in the development, implementation and management of the Operations strategy aligned to the vision, culture, and business strategy of ATNS.
• Leading the designing, implementation and management of the regional operating model, aviation safety strategy including governance and service management capabilities, along with the service catalogue and service level agreements. 
• Managing and owning implementation of the regional management strategy post formulation to ensure achievement of the objectives.
• Driving delivery of the required projects/initiatives within the regional management strategy to be on time, within budget and to the required standard.
• Leading implementation of processes to collect feedback on how all the aspects of the regional management strategy are being received in the business.
• Analyzing trends and metrics in partnership with COO to develop the required solutions, programs, and policies aligned to the business needs and strategies.
• Gathering and analyzing relevant data, trends, and patterns and identify gaps and priorities, particularly in the key ATNS products and services to enable efficient achievement of the ATNS strategy.
• Setting clear targets for the region and ensure achievement of such targets by cascading the targets throughout all the areas in the region.
• Developing the integrated annual business plan for the region to enable achievement of the regional and overall ATNS business strategy and targets.
• Supporting co-ordination and implementation of the corporate transformation strategy within the region in line with relevant policies and legislation.
• Building and maintaining strong business relationships with customers to understand their strategies and plans to ensure alignment of the regional operations to their needs.
• Ensuring continuous collaboration for conducting of research and development to enable continuous enhancement of the Regional Management’s  operating model, products and services aligned with trends, technological advances and changes in business strategy.
• Ensuring the effective integration and implementation of all Regional Management’s workstreams to meet the required service delivery capability aligned to customers’ requirements.
• Ensuring the delivery of Air Traffic Services is in accordance with the South African Civil Aviation Regulations and Technical Standards and the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Standards and Recommended Practises.
• Developing, implementing, maintaining, measuring, monitoring and continuously review the Regional Management’s policies, procedures, service level agreements, and letters of procedures and/or agreement.
• Leading the regional inputs and participate in the review of legislations that affects the delivery of Air Traffic Services. 
• Leading and initiating strategic projects aimed at improving the client experience across the Region in collaboration with the stakeholders in the respective business areas.
• Ensuring communication to all affected parties are in line with the requisite quality, empathy, and timelines to deliver outstanding experiences.
• Ensuring that aviation safety as well as all value-added measures are delivered and always monitored.
• Supporting a drive for continuous innovation and evolution of the ATNS products and services to deliver a best-in-class customer experience all times.
• Driving continuous improvements in conceptualisation of ideas to attract new opportunities.
• Identifying and recommending improvements in existing processes and procedures to enhance innovation and research.
• Considering commercial implications in all decision-making including IP protection processes.
• Monitoring and evaluating outcomes of new products and processes to ensure continuous and improved business results in the Region. 
• Actively contribute to building a high performing and collaborative culture with customers being at the heart of the company’s offerings.  
• Partner with the wider business to build and foster innovation in our culture of service excellence.
• Managing and implementing a robust governance framework for the Region.
• Continuously monitor and measure compliance of the Region to all ATNS policies and procedures and relevant legislation.
• Managing the Region’s performance against strategy and set targets and corporate objectives.
• Leading the Region’s projects overall risk assessment and issue management.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policy and standards.
• Consolidating input from all relevant parties to prepare strategic level reports for the COO and other relevant stakeholders.
• Preparing ad hoc reports as required.
• Building, maintaining and nurturing mutually beneficial relationships with all relevant stakeholders.
• Adapting Air Traffic Management service delivery as practically as possible to meet client needs and expectations.
• Participating in industry and regulatory forums and workgroups on a regional, national, and international level.
• Building and maintaining effective collaborative relationships with all relevant business functions and teams within ATNS to enable the required alignment and optimal Air Traffic Management service delivery.
• Lead development, utilisation, and management of the Region’s budget.
• Ensuring effective leadership in the management of operational costs to enable efficient utilisation of financial resources.
• Ensuring compliance to the financial policies and procedures applicable in ATNS.
• Ensuring accountability and reporting on all costs incurred against the approved budget. 
• Ensuring the availability of skilled and competent staff in the Region to meet the current and future needs aligned to the operating model and overall business strategies.
• Promoting high levels of discipline and performance standards to achieve Air Traffic Management service delivery objectives and the ATNS business strategy.
• Leading and managing the Regional Management team to utilise their skills and expertise to support an integrated approach to managing the Region.
• Managing performance outputs of the regional teams by using the performance management system and taking corrective action promptly and effectively.
• Training, mentoring and coaching staff as required to ensure continuous development and availability of the required skill and talent.
• Ensuring the transfer of knowledge and skills to enable sustainability within region from a succession management perspective.
• Performing talent management aligned to the HR policies and procedures.
• Driving employee engagement and retention within the Regional Management function.

Minimum requirements

Required Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Air traffic control qualification (aerodrome control, or approach control, or area control)
• Post graduate qualification in Business Management or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in conceptualizing, designing, implementing, and managing air traffic management Operations or functions or managing air navigation services regulatory function of which at least 5 years must be at management level within a complex air traffic services / air traffic management environment / air navigation service regulatory function. 

Candidates who do not have postgraduate qualification, may apply, if they meet the following Alternative Qualification and experience:

• Air traffic control qualification (aerodrome control, or approach control, or area control)
• Tertiary qualification in Business Management or related field or Management Development Program certificate.  
• Minimum 10 years of experience in conceptualizing, designing, implementing, and managing air traffic management Operations or functions or managing air navigation services regulatory function of which at least 7 years must be at management level within a complex air traffic services / air traffic management environment / air navigation service regulatory function.

Note: A candidate appointed with alternative qualification must be prepared to undergo compulsory development (sponsored by ATNS) to achieve the required post graduate qualification within three years.