Job Description

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To provide strategic and operational support for the Aviation Medicine division aligned to legislative requirements. Oversee the planning and conducting of safety oversight and surveillance on all medical certification processes, public health events in civil aviation, air ambulances, and Cabin Crew First Aid Training procedures as well as evaluating and assessing medical conditions of flight safety significance.
OVERSIGHT OF THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATON PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES

• Participate in the management of identifying and initiating regulatory revision in line with ICAO State Letters and International Best Practice through workshops and submit to CARCOM for approval and promulgation.
• Assist in the development and facilitate implementation of the Master Surveillance Plan.
• Manage the duties of Medical Assessors, Senior Medical Assessors, and Professional Nurses to ensure they exercise the powers delegated to them under the legislation, authorizing matters related to medical certification processes.
• Manage the accredited medical conclusions are reached and ensure that the terms of reference and procedure of the Aeromedical Committee are met. Identify gaps in the Aeromedical committee procedures and processes, and compliance with the Terms of Reference and propose solutions.
• Manage the medical appeals processes to ensure that they are implemented in line with the Act, procedures, terms of references, and that appropriate research is conducted, and specialist service level agreements are valid and appointed by the Director.
• Manage and ensure compliance of the safety management processes in the medical certification processes are complied with by the Medical Department and Designated Aviation Medical Examiners to ensure that they identify areas of increased medical risk, analysis and identify interventions.
• Manage and continuously re-evaluate the medical assessment process to focus on identified areas of increased medical risk, conducted by aviation medical examiners, medical assessors, and professional nurses. Ensure operators report in-flight medical incapacitations, routinely collect and analyse in-flight incapacitation and active-duty data, and enforce processes related to non-compliance.
• Conduct continuous ad hoc auditing of the verification processes carried out by Medical Assessors and Professional Nurses to ensure compliance with the Regulations, CATS, Code of Conduct, and SMS prescribed for aviation medical examiners.
• Conduct ad hoc audits of the functions of the authorized officers.
• Manage and analyse queries to ensure that the department meets the service level agreement.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE OVERSIGHT FOR THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVENTS OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN

• Identify and manage gaps in legislation related to ICAO Annex 6,9,11,14,18 and other International Health Regulations (2005).
• Develop a Master Surveillance Plan for Airlines, Charter Operators and Airports and conduct audits and ensure compliance by authorized officers.
• Evaluate procedures for airlines, charter, and airport operators to ensure compliance to the spread of communicable disease by air travel.
• Develop guidance material and conduct table-top/live exercises to ensure adequate response and improvement of preparedness plans.
• Participate in training and consultation forums with industry.
• Participate at the National Department of Health and Facilitation Committee of the NDOT.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE OVERSIGHT FOR AIR AMBULANCE OPERATIONS AND FIRST AID CABIN CREW TRAINING

• Identify gaps in legislation, conduct research, and review according to best practices, and propose suitable solutions.
• Ensure that authorized officers evaluate and approve the Manual of Procedures in line with the regulations.
• Conduct inspections of air ambulance operations and Cabin Crew First Aid ATOs in accordance with the Master Surveillance Plan.
• Participate in the revision of Part 64 First Aid training content applicable to cabin crew.
• Continuously provide training through consultation with the aviation industry.
• Plan and conduct route and base checks for air ambulance operations.
• Create a schedule for inspectors to ensure a timely response to operational demands.

MANAGEMENT OF DIRECT REPORTS

• Develop, lead, discipline, supervise, and foster human relationships within the department.
• Motivate and manage a team of personnel within the Aviation Medical Department to work in a manner that ensures maximum staff efficiency and compliance with performance management policy.
• Manage key performance areas of directly reporting personnel to ensure achievement of their agreed objectives.
• Train all Medical Assessors and Professional Nurses accordingly to perform their tasks in line with Technical Guidance Material.
• Manage all Medical Assessors to ensure that safety is not being compromised.

COMMUNICATION AND SAFETY PROMOTION

• Represent the Authority in negotiations and liaise with stakeholders and industry bodies.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders on changes in policy, regulations, processes, etc.
• Communicate, promote, and sustain safety measures for departmental clients and stakeholders.

BUDGETING AND CONTROL

• Control of expenditure and implementation of control procedures.

QUALITY STANDARDS

• Identify gaps in the procedures, amend and monitor adherence to quality standards in all Aviation Medicine work processes. Update and amend all documentation, checklists, and procedures to ensure compliance with ICAO international regulations.

ICAO WORKING GROUPS, COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LETTERS, STATE ASSISTANCE MISSIONS, AND INNOVATION

• Ensure compliance with ICAO SARPs and monitor State Letters and State Assistance Missions.
• Participate in ICAO Working Groups.
• Participate in the company's research and innovation processes.

ADMINISTRATIVE DELIVERABLE

• Provide quality monthly reports on submissions and operational delivery on time.
• Ensure that authorized officers, staff, and designated aviation medical examiners comply with conflict of interest policies, ethics, and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure the closure of Internal Audit Findings and Quality Assurance Audit Findings.
• Drive a performance culture.

MANAGE RISK AND ENFORCEMENT

• Ensure that authorized officers initiate enforcement action where necessary for non-compliance in the medical certification processes, air ambulances, public health in aviation (airports, airlines, others), and first aid training organizations.

Minimum Qualification:
MBChB with a Postgraduate Diploma in Aviation Medicine / Public Health / Occupational Health / Commercial Pilot License, or other relevant equivalent qualification.
Ideal Qualification:
MBChB with a Postgraduate Diploma in Aviation Medicine / Public Health / Occupational Health / Commercial Pilot License, or other relevant equivalent qualification, including a management qualification.
Experience:

• 4 years Aerospace Medical Advisor / Or Regulatory Oversight Experience / Military or Management experience

Closing Date: 27 September 2025
All SACAA appointments are subject to S98 of the Civil Aviation Act, 13 of 2009 and all successful candidates will be subjected to security vetting. Employment Equity candidates will be prioritised in line with Employment Equity Plan. If you have not heard from the SACAA 90 days after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful.

Skills Required