Senior Operational Safety Specialist – Air Traffic Services

Airways New Zealand; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Airways New Zealand is seeking a Senior Operational Safety Specialist – Air Traffic Services based in Christchurch or Auckland. You will lead safety risk management, assurance, and investigations, guiding ATS safety strategy and improvement initiatives.

You will partner with ATS leaders and subject matter experts to identify hazards, assess risk, and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen safety across the ATS business. Applications close 12 November 2026.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in aviation, safety management or risk management.
• At least five years’ experience in a business environment involving cross-functional safety management.
• Strong knowledge of safety legislation and safety management principles.
• Ability to analyse complex operational information, identify trends and systemic issues, and communicate clear insights to different audiences.
• Strong facilitation, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to provide trusted advice and constructively influence decision making.
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk assessments and safety improvement workstreams across ATS.
• Analyse safety trends, emerging risks, and perform investigations and occurrences.
• Provide evidence-based advice to ATS leaders and support safety performance initiatives.
• Coordinate safety workshops, learning reviews, and coaching for leaders and staff.
• Strengthen safety capability across ATS and manage the Safety Point of Contact network.

Skills

Safety management

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Facilitation

Analytical thinking

Written & verbal comms

Leadership

Education

A relevant tertiary qualification in aviation safety or risk management

Job description

About Airways

Our people manage New Zealand's 30 million square kms of airspace, providing air traffic control, surveillance, communication, flight inspection, mapping, and airspace design services. We work with government, regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, and the general aviation community to ensure pilots, passengers and goods reach their destination - safely. At Airways, our values underpin all that we do. We value Safety, One Airways, Excellence and Success in all that we do.

About The Role

We are looking for a Senior Operational Safety Specialist – Air Traffic Services to provide specialist operational safety expertise and leadership across Airways’ Air Traffic Services (ATS) business.

Based in Christchurch or Auckland, you will work closely with the Manager ATS Safety and operational leaders to support the delivery of the ATS Safety strategy, work programme and safety improvement initiatives.

This is a broad and influential role spanning operational risk management, safety assurance, occurrence analysis and investigations, operational change, safety performance and organisational learning. You will lead risk assessments and safety improvement workstreams, analyse safety trends and emerging risks, support operational change and assurance activities, and provide evidence-based advice to ATS leaders.

You will also play an important role in strengthening safety capability across ATS. This includes facilitating workshops and learning reviews, coaching leaders and operational personnel in the practical application of safety management principles, and coordinating the ATS Safety Point of Contact network to support engagement, learning and continuous improvement.

The role provides an opportunity to combine technical safety expertise with strong stakeholder engagement and practical problem solving, helping ensure operational safety risks are understood, effectively managed and continuously improved.

About You

You are an experienced safety professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with sound judgement, analytical thinking and the ability to influence people across a complex operational environment.

You will bring significant experience in safety and risk management, ideally within aviation, air traffic management or another high-reliability industry. You are confident working with operational leaders and subject matter experts to identify hazards, assess risk, evaluate the effectiveness of controls and turn complex information into practical, evidence-based recommendations.

You Will Also Bring

• A relevant tertiary qualification in aviation, safety management or risk management, or equivalent operational safety experience.
• At least five years’ experience in a business environment involving cross-functional safety management.
• Strong knowledge of safety legislation and safety management principles.
• The ability to analyse complex operational information, identify trends and systemic issues, and communicate clear insights to different audiences.
• Strong facilitation, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to provide trusted advice and constructively influence decision making.
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Human Factors qualifications, training or experience would be an advantage.

Above all, you will bring a strong safety-led mindset and a genuine interest in helping others understand, manage and continuously improve operational safety.

Applications close on 12 November 2026.

At Airways, our people are at the heart of what we do to keep NZ skies safe. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where people feel they belong and can bring their whole self to work. We make our recruitment decisions based on the best candidate for the job and encourage applications from diverse candidates. We are proud to hold both Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick accreditations.