Org. Setting and Reporting

This position located in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), duty station Abyei. The Chief of Unit, Air Operations, will report directly to the Chief, Service Delivery Services.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Unit, Air Operations will exercise supervisory, managerial, and technical responsibility across the following functional areas: 1. Operational Management and Regulatory Compliance • Manages and supervises the comprehensive activities of the Aviation Unit to ensure seamless service delivery. • Monitors that all Air Operations strictly comply with UN directives, Air Tasking Orders (ATOs), Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs), ICAO standards, and the host country’s Aeronautical Information Publications. • Ensures operations align with the UN Aviation Safety Manual, DPKO/DFS Aviation Manuals, and UN Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations (UN AVSTADS) • Supervises the provision of reliable and cost-effective air transport for passengers and cargo, including the specialized handling of dangerous goods. • Monitors the implementation of quality control procedures across all work processes and ensures the validity of data within management information systems. • Supervises the provision of efficient aviation search and rescue coverage for UN and other requested transport assets. 2. Strategic Planning and Technical Advisory • Develops cost-effective air transport plans in consultation with the Chief, Mission Support Centre, evaluating various air asset modalities for operational efficiency. • Serves as the primary technical advisor to mission substantive and support elements on all aspects of air transport activities. • Supervises the design and implementation of standard operating procedures for all aviation-related processes. • Oversees the preparation of operational plans, performance reports, and formal responses to internal and external audit observations. • Coordinates with other UN units, NGOs, government organizations, and intergovernmental agencies on mission-critical aviation matters. 3. Financial Management and Contract Administration • Develops the Aviation Unit budget and reports on budgetary performance at the end of each financial period. • Acts as the Certifying Officer for air transport tasking, ensuring accurate accounting of all resources and expenditures. • Determines technical specifications and Statements of Work (SOW) for air transport services and coordinates the requisition process with purchasing authorities. • Evaluates services provided under long-term aircraft charter agreements, Letters of Assist (LOA), and ground handling contracts. • Ensures all Unit activities remain in strict compliance with UN financial regulations and rules. • Participates in mission administrative bodies including the Local Committee on Contracts, Tenders Opening Committee, and Boards of Inquiry. 4. Personnel Management and Safety Leadership • Supervises aviation risk management for all UN aviation activities in accordance with established safety protocols. • Manages the Aviation Unit Staffing Table and acts as Line Manager for Sub-Unit Managers, including the allocation and rotation of work assignments. • Coordinates annual work plans and produces detailed performance assessments and evaluations for all staff. • Supervises the development and implementation of the Aviation Unit Training Plan, including workshops and courses coordinated with UNHQ. • Collaborates with insurance specialists to resolve issues related to insurance policies for air transport services. • Performs other related duties as required to support mission objectives.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Principally using data, identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Air Transportation / Aviation Management, Aviation Safety Management, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or graduation from an equivalent military educational establishment is required. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of education, professional training, certification in air transport operations, and two (2) additional years of work experience in air transport-related occupation, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

An Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) or its military equivalent is desirable. Training and certification as a Commercial Pilot or a Flight Operations Officer/Flight Dispatcher, or an equivalent military qualification is required. Aviation Risk Management training or equivalent is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in air transport operations or aviation safety, with at least five (5) years of managerial experience in a position directly related to the coordination of complex air transport operations in the international environment is required. Knowledge of UN financial regulations and rules is desirable. Experience in the use of ICAO standards and recommended practices is desirable. Comprehensive understanding of Long-Term Charter Agreement (LTCA) initial inspections and Air Contractor's performance evaluation is desirable. Experience in Quality Assurance program implementation is desirable. Experience in international operations in a post conflict environment is desirable. Experience in aviation risk management is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for a period of 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.