Aviation Infrastructure Audit Support Officer (Specified Purpose Contract)

Irish Aviation Authority; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 97,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to work

Tax-free travel support

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Learning and Development opportunities

Job summary

The Irish Aviation Authority seeks an Audit Support Officer to assist the 2027 USOAP Ireland inspection. You will help prepare, participate in, and follow up after audits across ANS and AGA areas, coordinating evidence, protocols and compliance documentation.

Key duties include maintaining an evidence matrix, liaising with regulatory bodies, and supporting subject-matter experts in responses. Hybrid working and a 41+ hour week are typical.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in aviation, safety, regulation or related field.
• Strong understanding of civil aviation regulatory environment and aviation regulation experience.
• Ability to interpret regulatory material, assess information against requirements and identify gaps.
• Excellent organisation, analytical and written communication skills with accurate documentation management.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to coordinate inputs from regulatory colleagues and industry partners.
• Proficient IT skills including Office 365 and familiarity with specialist software.

Responsibilities

• Assist audit activities across ANS and AGA areas.
• Review ICAO SAAQ sections, Protocol Questions and compliance checklists.
• Organise evidence, create an evidence matrix and maintain document control.
• Support liaison with regulatory bodies, aerodrome operators and service providers.
• Prepare responses, compliance statements and supporting explanations.
• Track actions, deadlines and progress using an action register.
• Support audit readiness activities, mock audits and reporting.

Skills

Regulatory environment

Aviation regulation

Air navigation services

Aerodrome operations

Safety management

Compliance monitoring

Auditing

Quality assurance

Technical administration

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Written communication

Stakeholder management

Office 365

Specialist software

ICAO USOAP CMA knowledge

Regulatory audits experience

Education

Third-level qualification in aviation, engineering, safety or related field

Tools

Specialist software

Office 365

Job description

Please note: availability is required 4 weeks from offer date and placement in planned to cease on the 31st July 2027.

Job Description

The Aviation Infrastructure Audit Support Officer reports to the Head of Aviation Infrastructure. The role is focused on the 2027 ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) inspection of Ireland, and will include tasks such as, audit preparation, audit participation, and post audit activities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Provide dedicated additional capacity for Audit activities across the Air Navigation Services (ANS0 and Air Ground Air (AGA) audit areas.

• Reviewing the applicable ICAO SAAQ sections, Protocol Questions and compliance checklists for ANS and AGA.
• Supporting audit preparation relating to ICAO Annexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, relevant elements of Annex 12, Annex 14 and Annex 15.
• Identifying, obtaining and organising the legislation, regulations, procedures, guidance, oversight records and other objective evidence required to support the State’s responses.
• Developing and maintaining an evidence matrix linking each applicable Protocol Question and SAAQ response to the relevant supporting evidence.
• Reviewing evidence for completeness, accuracy, currency, consistency and traceability.
• Liaising with regulatory teams, government bodies, aerodrome operators, air navigation service providers and other stakeholders to obtain information and supporting documentation.
• Assisting subject-matter experts in preparing and updating SAAQ responses, Protocol Question responses, compliance statements and supporting explanations.
• Identifying evidence and compliance gaps and maintaining an action tracker to record responsibilities, deadlines and progress.
• Establishing and maintaining a controlled electronic repository for audit documentation, including document naming, version control and cross-referencing.
• Supporting consistency and quality-assurance reviews across the ANS and AGA audit areas.
• Preparing progress reports, management briefings, dashboards and other audit-readiness material.
• Supporting internal readiness reviews, mock audits and the preparation of personnel who may be interviewed by the audit team.
• Supporting the timely retrieval and presentation of evidence during the audit and recording requests for additional information or follow-up action.
• Undertaking other related duties necessary to support audit readiness.

This job description is not exhaustive, and other duties may be added as the Authority may reasonably require.

Skills and Qualifications

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications and skills:

Required

• A relevant third-level qualification, or equivalent professional experience, in aviation, engineering, safety, regulation, compliance, quality assurance, public administration or a related field is required.
• Excellent understanding of the civil aviation regulatory environment and experience in aviation regulation, air navigation services, aerodrome operations, safety management, compliance monitoring, auditing, quality assurance or technical administration.
• Demonstrable ability to interpret technical and regulatory material, assess information against defined requirements, identify gaps and determine whether available documentation provides adequate evidence of compliance.
• Strong organisational, analytical and written communication skills are required, together with experience in gathering, reviewing and managing documentation with appropriate accuracy, traceability and version control.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills and be capable of coordinating inputs from regulatory colleagues, technical specialists, government bodies, service providers, aerodrome operators and other aviation stakeholders.
• They must be able to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, and recognise when technical advice or validation is required.
• Excellent IT skills, including the full range of O365 is a prerequisite. Ability to familiarise and become proficient with specialist software is also required.
• Knowledge of ICAO USOAP CMA, including the SAAQ, Protocol Questions and corrective action processes, is desirable, as is familiarity with the ANS and AGA requirements contained in ICAO Annexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, relevant elements of Annex 12, Annex 14 and Annex 15.
• Experience supporting regulatory audits, inspections, compliance reviews or maintaining evidence matrices and audit repositories would also be an advantage.

Key Competencies Required for Effective Performance

For assessment of applicants the following competency model will be used. This model reflects the changing and more complex environment in which those at this level operate. Each competency is supported by a list of key performance indicators set out below.

EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Leadership Potential
• Judgement, Analysis & Decision Making
• Management & Delivery of Results
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills
• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self-Development

Salary Rate

The salary range for this role is Point 1 €96,967 to Point 14 €149,389 pro rata per annum.

Probationary Period

The position is subject to a probationary period of 3 months from the date of actual commencement and is subject to the provision of satisfactory performance during that period.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 41 hours gross per week. The successful candidate will be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations.

Annual Leave excluding public holidays is 28 days pro rata per annum.

Pension

The successful candidate will on date of joining become a member of the Irish Aviation Authority pension scheme details of which will be communicated to the successful candidate on offer of appointment.

Other Benefits

• Access to cycle to work scheme
• Tax free Bus/ Luas/ Rail to assist with travel costs to and from work
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to IAA health and wellbeing initiatives
• Learning and Development opportunities

Location

The IAA is based in the Times Building, 11-12 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 near Trinity College. We are convenient to all Luas lines; several Dublin Bus routes and are about 5 minutes from Tara Street Railway Station. We are also just minutes from O’Connell Street and St. Stephen’s Green.

Hybrid working arrangements may be agreed in line with IAA Flexible Working policy.

Application

Candidates should note that eligibility to compete is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, the UK and those with an IRP with stamp 4. To qualify candidates must be citizens of the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or have an IRP with stamp 4 on the date of application.

The IAA are not in the position to offer sponsorship for this role.

The IAA promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from people from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups including, but not limited to, ethnic minority and people with disabilities. IAA firmly believes that such diversity enriches our workplace culture and drives innovation.

If you have a disability or need any specific accommodations during the application or selection process, please let us know. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments to ensure all candidates have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the recruitment process. You can contact us at [e-mail].