Head, IOSA

International Air Transport Association; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aviation organization in Montreal is seeking an experienced professional to oversee the IOSA program, ensuring efficient delivery of audits to airlines. This role involves managing a team across multiple locations and requires significant operational experience in aviation, alongside solid skills in leading audits and teams. Candidates should possess a relevant university degree and have excellent communication abilities. The organization promotes diversity, continuous learning, and a flexible work environment.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Flexible work options

Community involvement support

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of IOSA program and audit principles.
• Solid understanding of regulatory oversight and ICAO standards.
• Demonstrated experience of managing a large pool of experts.

Responsibilities

• Manage IOSA program operations and audits.
• Oversee auditor recruitment, training, and performance.
• Drive strategic alignment between IOSA and Quality Management.

Skills

Operational airline experience

Safety assurance

Auditing principles

Regulatory oversight

Advocacy skills

Team leadership

Excellent communication skills

Education

University degree in relevant discipline

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent • Contract Duration:

Why you will love working here

About the team you are joining

The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program is an internationally recognized and accepted safety assurance program designed to assess the safety and operational management systems of an airline. The IOSA office, within the IATA Safety department, is responsible for the administration, operational delivery and continuous evolution of the IOSA program worldwide. Reporting to the Global Director, Safety, you will lead the worldwide operations of the IOSA program to ensure the seamless delivery of audits to over 440 airlines on the IOSA Registry across the globe.

What your day would be like

You will be responsible for managing the whole IOSA program including:

• Overseeing all aspects of IOSA program administration including the timely allocation of audit initial/renewal dates to airlines, and the assignment of IOSA auditor teams to deliver these.
• Delivering IOSA audits from pre-audit preparation, onsite delivery, and post-audit closure through the IOSA Operations team; and acting on audit feedback to refine program offering.
• Ensuring IOSA Standards and Recommended Practices (ISARPs) continue to evolve so that IOSA maintains its position as recognized center of excellence for global best practice in safety assurance.
• Driving forward evolution of other program documentation, such as IOSA Program Manual (IPM) and IOSA Audit Handbook (IAH), to deliver most effective IOSA document suite for program delivery.
• Acting as IOSA Oversight Group (IOG) secretary to engage effectively with IATA nominated airlines to ensure evolution of IOSA considers, and utilizes, industry intelligence to evolve and mature program.
• Overseeing auditor recruitment, training and performance management to ensure IOSA auditors are best in class with latest knowledge, skills and experience commensurate with needs of risk-based program.
• Working across multiple IATA teams to utilize intelligence garnered from audits, such as safety insights, to ensure value of IOSA is assimilated into organizational thinking for the benefit of industry stakeholders.
• The maintenance of current, and design of future IT solutions, to deliver program efficiencies across internal IOSA teams, and through IATA Connect, for IOSA registered airlines.
• Advocating the value of IOSA to airlines, regulators, ICAO and other agencies through the promotion of safety audits standardization, leveraging the joint use benefit of audit reports to reduce redundant audits.
• Driving strategic alignment between IOSA and Quality Management teams to support continuous improvements in IOSA governance through effective quality control and quality assurance process.
• Managing a team across multiple locations and time-zones, providing both inspiring leadership and pastoral care, through the setting of a shared vision and motivational annual objectives.
• Managing IOSA program accounts from day-to-day operational costs, financial reporting according to IATA internal requirements, and annual budget setting.

We would love to hear from you if

• Significant operational airline experience with demonstrated success in safety, audit and/or quality assurance related activities; university degree in relevant discipline preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of IOSA program, solid understanding of high-level operational audit principles and procedures, and in-depth knowledge of comparative worldwide regulatory operational requirements.
• Solid understanding on regulatory oversight, preferably with rulemaking experience, and knowledge of how ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices relate to regulatory oversight and IOSA provisions.
• Ability to challenge the status-quo to identify new opportunities both within, and outside, the aviation system to deliver program improvements and efficiencies.
• Politically astute, with proven advocacy skills, to understand and influence stakeholders to drive alignment relating to IATA positions across industry partners.
• Proven skills in leading a multi-cultural team to deliver an engaged and motivated workforce in a high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated experience of managing a large pool of experts, such as auditors, with experience as IOSA or ISAGO auditor and/or instructor an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in English, with a willingness to deliver complex presentations with confidence, and in a manner suitable to the audience, across multiple diverse forums.

Travel Required: 10

Learn more about IATA’s role in the industry, our benefits, and the team at iata/careers/. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Why you will love working here

• Our Values are not just words on a page - they are the energy behind everything we do: ONE IATA - We collaborate across teams, TRUSTED - We do the right thing, INNOVATIVE - We make tomorrow better, INCLUSIVE - We embrace diverse perspectives.
• With over 30,000 courses available, we believe in continuous learning and support your growth in an ever-changing industry.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are our priorities. We are certified by the Equal Salary Foundation, offering equal pay and family-friendly policies.
• We encourage community involvement through volunteering and strive to make tomorrow better for aviation and our communities. We offer time off so you can support causes important to you.
• We promote work-life balance with flexible work options, including remote and hybrid work, a generous 'work from abroad' policy, and you get your birthday off!