Senior Officer Aerodrome Certifications - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi Airports

Description

The Senior Officer Aerodrome Certifications supports the Manager and Senior Manager Aerodrome Certifications in delivering GCAA regulatory compliance and AD Airports' internal aerodrome certification functions. The role ensures that service delivery, operational processes, safety, and compliance consistently meet—and where possible exceed—regulatory requirements. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the role contributes to effective audit programmes, compliance verification, and administrative coordination, while supporting the development and implementation of strategies that enhance regulatory compliance, reduce operational risk, and improve service delivery across AD Airports.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of comprehensive aerodrome certification strategies and plans across all AD Airports in alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Act as audit support for GCAA and internal regulatory audit programmes.
• Collate and analyse non-conformance trends and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify improvement areas and support corrective actions.
• Develop, write, and cross-reference Aerodrome Certification documentation with the Airport Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Participate in reviews of operational processes, standards, and procedures to ensure compliance with safety, security, and operational regulations.
• Support audit leads in conducting audits and inspections, assessing process effectiveness, identifying gaps, and verifying implementation of corrective actions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of GCAA regulatory requirements and AD Airports' operational processes to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Support the preparation of reports on quality metrics, audit outcomes, non-conformance issues, and corrective actions, providing recommendations to senior management.
• Identify hazards and associated risks related to GCAA regulatory requirements, assess their operational and safety impact, and support implementation of effective risk mitigation measures.
• Actively participate in the identification, documentation, and management of non-conformances, including root cause analysis and Corrective and Preventive Action Plans (CAPA).
• Provide ongoing support to cross-functional teams to promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Support Managers and Senior Manager as a point of contact for GCAA regulatory and AD Airports certification-related matters and liaise with internal and external stakeholders to implement CAPA actions.
• Represent AD Airports in GCAA regulatory meetings, working groups, and industry forums to remain informed of regulatory changes, trends, and best practices.
• Support the implementation of the aerodrome projects process (AMC-59) to ensure infrastructure development complies with GCAA regulations and AD Airports' aerodrome standards.
• Verify aerodrome project compliance with GCAA regulations and internal standards.
• Manage cross-functional stakeholders' expectations regarding GCAA regulatory engagement and timelines.
• Support and complement the Safety Management System (SMS) through proactive implementation of SMS Manual Section 4.6.4.

Requirements and Skills

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation or a related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in aerodrome operations, aerodrome projects, or Safety Management Systems in an officer or supervisory role.
• Operational and organizational experience within an airport environment.
• Experience conducting turnaround audits, operational inspections, and risk assessments within an airport setting.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of aerodrome operations, ICAO standards, state regulatory frameworks, and Safety Management Systems.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and participate in safety initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present certification and compliance reports.
• Task-oriented, with a strong focus on accuracy and quality.
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal and teamwork capabilities.