Technical Standards Specialist June 2025 at ATNS

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