Operational Safety Manager

Aviation Services (Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics)

Full time

Add expected salary to your profile for insights

• Leadthe Operational Safety function at Airways
• Greatopportunity to be part of our Safety & Assurance Group
• Rolebased in Christchurch or Auckland Office (5 weeks annual leave + staffcarpark etc)

About Airways:  

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

Our organisation is made upof operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporateservices functions. To learn more about our people and organisationalstructure, check out

About the Role:  

The Operational Safety Team is responsible for AirTraffic Control, Technology and Aeropath safety investigations and OperationalSafety reporting within Airways. It is also responsible for managing internaland external data requests, undertaking safety advisory activities, and supportingsafety promotion activities. Operational Safety Team also takes a leadershiprole regarding best practice for measurement and monitoring of OperationalSafety performance whilst ensuring compliance with relevant Civil Aviationrules. 

Due to an internal progression, we are now looking for OperationalSafety Manager to join our Safety & Assurance Group and to lead theOperational Safety Team. 

Reporting to the GM Safety & Assurance, you will beresponsible for ensuring Airways Operational Safety team and its activitiessupport the improvement of safety both internally and externally. This includesenhancing Airways safety culture, providing strong safety leadership andmanaging collaborative relationships. The manager ensures compliance andadherence to the various standard operating practices within the integratedmanagement system that fully complies not just within the Regulatoryenvironment in which Airways operates, but the expectations of customers andstakeholders. 

Key focus areas in the position: 

Relationships

• Manages theoperational safety investigation pipeline and process, ensuring efficiency andquality of investigation reports to the relevant stakeholders, including theCivil Aviation and internal Airways business partners. Ensures elements of security and Health andSafety are considered by bringing in the experts from the Safety and Assuranceteam or other teams, as required.
• Supports thedevelopment and management of relationships between the Safety team and thewider organisation (including Policy & Standards and the wider Air TrafficServices business unit) and externally (including Civil Aviation, TAIC andUnion Partners) to ensure learnings from safety events are utilised for continuoussafety improvement.
• Chairs theOperational Safety Collaboration Group with NZALPA.
• Acts as liaisonwith industry partners and the Civil Aviation on operational safetyinvestigation matters. 

Safety Investigations

• Ensure all operationalsafety occurrences (Air Safety Incidents [ASI], Facility Malfunction Incidents[FMI], routine and minor air safety investigations) are investigated in athorough and timely manner in accordance with approved investigative proceduresand reporting, Civil Aviation Rules and Airways policies.
• Ensure all SRCs(Safety Related Concern’s) managed appropriately, including determination ofwhen the business should investigate and when there should be an independentinvestigation manged through operational safety.
• Ensures alloperational safety reporting and investigations are conducted in accordancewith Civil Aviation /MBIE/ WorkSafe procedures and relevant legislation.
• Performs SafetyInvestigator duties in accordance with Just Culture and promotes Just Cultureboth internally and externally. 

Operational Safety Risk

• Promotes theoperational risk framework ensuring alignment with the Airways Barrier Model.
• Ensures thatAirways meets its regulatory and business obligations in regard to operationalsafety risk. 

Safety Performance and Delivery

• In consultationwith the GM Safety and Assurance; plans, develops and implements work programsaligned to our integrated Safety Management System (SMS).
• Workscollaboratively to influence operational improvement activities, implementationand standards across the organisation and across the aviation system. 

Operational SafetyManagement

• Provides adviceand ensures, in conjunction with the Air Traffic Services group, the TechnologyGroup and Aeropath (who implement), the adherence to operational safety policyand standards.
• Keeps abreast ofCANSO, ICAO, Civil Aviation, and all regulatory and legislative investigationrequirements, practices and procedures. 

Governance

• Ensures that theunit complies with the provisions of all legislation and governancerequirements, including financial delegations.

About You:  

To besuccessful in the role, you will have: 

• Tertiaryqualification in the relevant discipline or professional experience in investigation and SMS.
• 5 – 10 yearsproven experience in an operational safety leadership role preferably, in asimilar role or industry.
• Extensive practicalexperience in safety management systems (SMS), investigations, preparingreports, developing guidelines and framework, and strategic communications aroundsafety good practice.
• Strong peopleleadership experience required with the ability to lead, empower, mentor,motivate and work well with the team.
• Human Factorsqualifications / training / experience / or awareness.
• Specialistknowledge and experience in aviation,including knowledge of aviation legislation; and knowledge of aviation, such astraining management, aircraft operations, air traffic management, aerodromeoperations and maintenance organisation management.
• Knowledgeof ICAO / Civil Aviation safety management principles and practices.
• Ability to workin a dynamic business environment, influence and collaborate with peopleinternally and externally, show resilience and agility, take ownership andfocus on delivering successful business outcomes.

To Apply:  

If you areinterested in this exciting leadership opportunity, please submit your application(CV and Cover Letter) via the job advertisement. 

Thisposition will require pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, Ministry ofJustice checks as well as other background checks. 

• Leadthe Operational Safety function at Airways
• Greatopportunity to be part of our Safety & Assurance Group
• Rolebased in Christchurch or Auckland Office (5 weeks annual leave + staffcarpark etc)

About Airways:  

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

Our organisation is made upof operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporateservices functions. To learn more about our people and organisationalstructure, check out

About the Role:  

The Operational Safety Team is responsible for AirTraffic Control, Technology and Aeropath safety investigations and OperationalSafety reporting within Airways. It is also responsible for managing internaland external data requests, undertaking safety advisory activities, and supportingsafety promotion activities. Operational Safety Team also takes a leadershiprole regarding best practice for measurement and monitoring of OperationalSafety performance whilst ensuring compliance with relevant Civil Aviationrules. 

Due to an internal progression, we are now looking for OperationalSafety Manager to join our Safety & Assurance Group and to lead theOperational Safety Team. 

Reporting to the GM Safety & Assurance, you will beresponsible for ensuring Airways Operational Safety team and its activitiessupport the improvement of safety both internally and externally. This includesenhancing Airways safety culture, providing strong safety leadership andmanaging collaborative relationships. The manager ensures compliance andadherence to the various standard operating practices within the integratedmanagement system that fully complies not just within the Regulatoryenvironment in which Airways operates, but the expectations of customers andstakeholders. 

Key focus areas in the position: 

Relationships

• Manages theoperational safety investigation pipeline and process, ensuring efficiency andquality of investigation reports to the relevant stakeholders, including theCivil Aviation and internal Airways business partners. Ensures elements of security and Health andSafety are considered by bringing in the experts from the Safety and Assuranceteam or other teams, as required.
• Supports thedevelopment and management of relationships between the Safety team and thewider organisation (including Policy & Standards and the wider Air TrafficServices business unit) and externally (including Civil Aviation, TAIC andUnion Partners) to ensure learnings from safety events are utilised for continuoussafety improvement.
• Chairs theOperational Safety Collaboration Group with NZALPA.
• Acts as liaisonwith industry partners and the Civil Aviation on operational safetyinvestigation matters. 

Safety Investigations

• Ensure all operationalsafety occurrences (Air Safety Incidents [ASI], Facility Malfunction Incidents[FMI], routine and minor air safety investigations) are investigated in athorough and timely manner in accordance with approved investigative proceduresand reporting, Civil Aviation Rules and Airways policies.
• Ensure all SRCs(Safety Related Concern’s) managed appropriately, including determination ofwhen the business should investigate and when there should be an independentinvestigation manged through operational safety.
• Ensures alloperational safety reporting and investigations are conducted in accordancewith Civil Aviation /MBIE/ WorkSafe procedures and relevant legislation.
• Performs SafetyInvestigator duties in accordance with Just Culture and promotes Just Cultureboth internally and externally. 

Operational Safety Risk

• Promotes theoperational risk framework ensuring alignment with the Airways Barrier Model.
• Ensures thatAirways meets its regulatory and business obligations in regard to operationalsafety risk. 

Safety Performance and Delivery

• In consultationwith the GM Safety and Assurance; plans, develops and implements work programsaligned to our integrated Safety Management System (SMS).
• Workscollaboratively to influence operational improvement activities, implementationand standards across the organisation and across the aviation system. 

Operational SafetyManagement

• Provides adviceand ensures, in conjunction with the Air Traffic Services group, the TechnologyGroup and Aeropath (who implement), the adherence to operational safety policyand standards.
• Keeps abreast ofCANSO, ICAO, Civil Aviation, and all regulatory and legislative investigationrequirements, practices and procedures. 

Governance

• Ensures that theunit complies with the provisions of all legislation and governancerequirements, including financial delegations.

About You:  

To besuccessful in the role, you will have: 

• Tertiaryqualification in the relevant discipline or professional experience in investigation and SMS.
• 5 – 10 yearsproven experience in an operational safety leadership role preferably, in asimilar role or industry.
• Extensive practicalexperience in safety management systems (SMS), investigations, preparingreports, developing guidelines and framework, and strategic communications aroundsafety good practice.
• Strong peopleleadership experience required with the ability to lead, empower, mentor,motivate and work well with the team.
• Formal training inIncident Investigation.
• Human Factorsqualifications / training / experience / or awareness.
• Specialistknowledge and experience in aviation,including knowledge of aviation legislation; and knowledge of aviation, such astraining management, aircraft operations, air traffic management, aerodromeoperations and maintenance organisation management.
• Knowledgeof ICAO / Civil Aviation safety management principles and practices.
• Ability to workin a dynamic business environment, influence and collaborate with peopleinternally and externally, show resilience and agility, take ownership andfocus on delivering successful business outcomes.

To Apply:  

If you areinterested in this exciting leadership opportunity, please submit your application(CV and Cover Letter) via the job advertisement. 

Thisposition will require pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, Ministry ofJustice checks as well as other background checks. 

Don’t provide your bank or credit card details when applying for jobs.