Chief Ground Validator

ATNS SOC Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

ATNS SOC Limited, based at Bruma, seeks a Chief Ground Validator to lead the validation of Flight Procedure Design, charts and obstacle assessments ensuring ICAO and SACAA compliance. You will manage QA processes, maintain SOPs and contribute to procedure design manuals.

The role requires 8+ years in flight procedure design, advanced software experience, and strong data quality knowledge, with responsibilities spanning audits, stakeholder engagement and on-the-job training.

Responsibilities

• Validate Flight Procedures, Aeronautical Charts and Obstacle Assessments per ICAO SARPS and SACAA requirements.
• Design Instrument Flight Procedures and Airspace with ICAO standards and SACAA manuals; advise stakeholders.
• Manage Flight Procedure QA checks and ISO 9001 alignment; update SOPs and Manuals.
• Provide OJT and training; maintain training records and timelines for FPS staff.
• Governance, risk management & reporting for flight procedures compliance.
• Coordinate internal/external client interactions; participate in technical groups and committees.
• Prepare for SACAA audits and publish procedures aligned to AIRAC cycles.
• Ensure data quality and use of advanced procedure design software.

Job description

Job category: Transport, Logistics and Freight

Location: Southern Africa

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: No

Introduction

Applications are invited for the position of Chief Ground Validator (Peromnes Grade 6) based at Bruma. The successful applicant will be reporting to the Chief Air Traffic Management Officer.The role requires a candidate to lead and manage the validation of Flight Procedure Design, charting and obstacle assessment ensuring compliance with national and global regulatory requirements. To approve Flight Procedure Designs, Aeronautical Charts, and the delivery thereof to the Chief Designer and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

Validation of Flight Procedures, Aeronautical Charts and Obstacle Assessments - Ensure compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, and the Manual of Procedures & Standards (MOPS). Ensure the maintenance of relevant QA standards in compliance with ISO 9001/2000.Manage and maintain the Flight Procedure QA checklist that is in AP020 to ensure alignment with ATNS Safety Management System. Contribute to the continual updating and development of the Flight Procedure Operations Manual in line with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS)

Prepare for the annual SACAA audit process. Regularly produce procedures in line with the AIRAC dates for publication into the SACAA AIP and other publications. Produce detailed Instrument Flight Procedural Charts accompanied by tabulation pages, textual descriptions, and supplementary information for submission to the external clients. Provide specialist technical advice regarding Aeronautical Charts in terms of ICAO and the SACAA Requirements.

Flight Procedures and Airspace Design - Design safe, efficient, effective and environmentally considerate (NEMPAA) Instrument Flight Procedures and Airspace, ensuring compliance with ICAO Standards & Recommended Practices, the SACAA Manual of Procedures, and any other relevant criteria. Ensure adherence to the South African Civil Aviation Regulations. Produce / design / validate Instrument Flight Procedure drawings, detailed reports, tabulations, textual descriptions and supplementary information as stipulated in the SACAA Manual of Procedures. Provide advice to internal and external stakeholders regarding new, existing, amended or suspended instrument flight procedures as part of the stakeholder engagement process. Conduct airspace design function. Prepare information regarding flight procedure design activities for workshops, etc.

Flight Procedures Data Input and Management- Provide technical advice in preparation for and during the URS consultation process. Facilitate the sourcing of data relevant to procedure design and process raw data for incorporation into the design environment. Initialise and prepare the design environment,utilising correct and verified data Assist in the preparation of base drawings for charting purposes. Produce conceptual design procedures for stakeholder consultation, as stipulated in ICAO Doc 9906.

Validation of Flight Procedures, Aeronautical Charts and Obstacle Assessments - Ensure compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, and the Manual of Procedures & Standards (MOPS). Ensure the maintenance of relevant QA standards in compliance with ISO 9001/2000.Manage and maintain the Flight Procedure QA checklist that is in AP020 to ensure alignment with ATNS Safety Management System. Contribute to the continual updating and development of the Flight Procedure Operations Manual in line with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS)

Prepare for the annual SACAA audit process. Regularly produce procedures in line with the AIRAC dates for publication into the SACAA AIP and other publications. Produce detailed Instrument Flight Procedural Charts accompanied by tabulation pages, textual descriptions, and supplementary information for submission to the external clients. Provide specialist technical advice regarding Aeronautical Charts in terms of ICAO and the SACAA Requirements.

Flight Procedures and Airspace Design - Design safe, efficient, effective and environmentally considerate (NEMPAA) Instrument Flight Procedures and Airspace, ensuring compliance with ICAO Standards & Recommended Practices, the SACAA Manual of Procedures, and any other relevant criteria. Ensure adherence to the South African Civil Aviation Regulations. Produce / design / validate Instrument Flight Procedure drawings, detailed reports, tabulations, textual descriptions and supplementary information as stipulated in the SACAA Manual of Procedures. Provide advice to internal and external stakeholders regarding new, existing, amended or suspended instrument flight procedures as part of the stakeholder engagement process. Conduct airspace design function. Prepare information regarding flight procedure design activities for workshops, etc.

Flight Procedures Data Input and Management- Provide technical advice in preparation for and during the URS consultation process. Facilitate the sourcing of data relevant to procedure design and process raw data for incorporation into the design environment. Initialise and prepare the design environment,utilising correct and verified data Assist in the preparation of base drawings for charting purposes. Produce conceptual design procedures for stakeholder consultation, as stipulated in ICAO Doc 9906.

Collate and document all relevant information/data associated with the design of flight procedures as part of the preparation of the Procedure Design Package in accordance with SACAA MOP’s

Management of Operations - Lead and manage the validation of Flight Procedure Design, charting and Obstacle assessment ensuring compliance to regulatory requirements of the Flight Procedure Design (PART 173), Charting (PART 177), Obstacle Evaluations (Part 178) and Aeronautical Information processes and output . Manage key performance areas of the section to ensure achievement of defined goals and objectives

Provide OJT training to internal and external FPS trainees. Maintain training records of FPS trainees. Amend, maintain and provide input to internal Quality Assurance concerning flight procedure design in accordance with ISO Standards. Complete projects in line with defined projected timelines

Facilitate and assist with FPS software related matters, including software support Amend, maintain and provide input to internal Quality Assurance concerning flight procedure design in accordance with ISO Standards. Complete projects in line with defined projected timelines. Facilitate and assist with FPS software related matters, including software support. Ensure effective office Management and management of employees. Provide input on the development of relevant Civil Aviation legislation. Implement new ICAO developments and SARPS within the Flight Procedure Design and Cartography scope. Establish and maintain training manuals as required, including progress tests, reports, and training logs as per the South African Civil Aviation Authority Regulations and all relevant ICAO Annexes and Documents for in-house and external training

Governance, Compliance, Risk Management & Reporting - Identify risks related to effective flight procedure design and develop and implement effective mitigation. Ensure compliance of flight procedures with South African Civil Aviation Authority Regulations, the Manual of Procedures & Standards (MOPS), all relevant ICAO Annexes and Documents, and ISO 9001/2000 Quality standards

Internal and External Client Interaction - Communicate Flight Procedure services available to existing clients. Liaise with internal stakeholders and external clients regarding proposals and associated information

Advise and participate in technical work groups and committees. Provide input concerning the establishment of committees and work/task groups.

On-The-Job Training and an ADVANCED PANS-OPS Course in line with ICAO requirements

Must have completed the on-the-job training programme for Flight Procedure Specialists

8 years’ experience in flight procedure design

Advanced Procedure Design software experience

Sound knowledge of data quality requirements and quality assurance processes in aviation