Air Navigation Services Director

About the role

The Air Navigation Services Director leads the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of air traffic services (tower and ground operations) at an airport. This senior position provides both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring alignment with national aviation regulations and ICAO standards while driving continuous improvement in safety and capacity.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure safe and efficient ATC operations (TWR/GND) in line with ICAO and national regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement operational procedures, SOPs and contingency plans; monitor performance and capacity optimisation.
• Act as focal point for regulatory audits, inspections and certifications; oversee Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Management System (QMS).
• Oversee the availability, reliability and compliance of CNS, AIS and MET systems; support modernisation initiatives such as airspace design and PBN implementation.
• Lead airspace restructuring, capacity enhancement projects and represent ATC in national and international forums.
• Manage recruitment, training, licensing and competency of ATCOs, AIS officers, CNS engineers and MET staff.
• Develop and control annual OPEX budgets and CAPEX plans for ATC functions.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in air traffic control operations and management.
• Proven leadership ability to coordinate multi‑disciplinary teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of national aviation regulations and ICAO SARPs.
• Experience with safety and quality management systems, risk assessment and incident investigation.
• Demonstrated capability in strategic planning, project delivery and budget management.

Required skills

• ICAO SARPs (Annexes 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 19) and PANS‑ATM Doc 4444.
• Safety Management System (SMS) implementation.
• Quality Management System (QMS) implementation.
• Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS) systems.
• Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) systems.
• Meteorological (MET) systems.
• Airspace design and Performance Based Navigation (PBN) concepts.