Chief Operations Technology Officer - October

Introduction

VACANCY: CHIEF OPERATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER (FIVE-YEAR PERFORMANCE-BASED FIXED-TERM CONTRACT) GRADE: PEROMNES LEVEL 3 LOCATION: BRUMA, JOHANNESBURG

• The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) is responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of air traffic services within South Africa’s airspace, including the surrounding oceanic areas designated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) over the Africa-Indian Ocean region. The company supports operations at nine statutory airports managed by the Airports Company of South Africa, 11 regional airports, and the St Helena Airport in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• We are seeking a visionary and principled leader to guide our Operations Technology Department. We are deeply committed to the highest standards of ethical leadership, corporate citizenship, and integrated reporting as embodied in the applicable King Code on Corporate Governance for South Africa.
• Job title: Chief Operations Technology Officer Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer Ref: ATNS COTO/2026 Conditions of Service: ATNS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to achieve a diverse workforce broadly representative of our people. This position will be filled in line with the objectives of ATNS’ Employment Equity Plan, and therefore, candidates from designated groups as per the Employment Equity Act of 1998 are encouraged to apply.
• Purpose To lead operations technology, communication and navigation systems that directly interact with aircraft operations, airport infrastructure, air traffic control, maintenance systems, and other safety-critical systems and equipment to ensure safe and efficient air traffic management and to continuously monitor the availability of required systems and infrastructure to ensure safe and effective aviation operations

Job description

Strategic Engineering Leadership -

• Develop and implement the Operations Technology strategy in alignment with ATNS strategic objectives and business requirements; Conceptualise and define the ATNS operations engineering services model considering end-user requirements, benchmarked global, regional, national ATM concept plans, and supporting ATNS strategic objectives;
• Influence the development of communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system (CNS) concepts and plans nationally and regionally over a 20-year timeframe by articulating and promoting the ATNS agenda to ICAO, international and domestic associations and other stakeholders;
• Ensure effective interpretation of global, regional and national air navigation plans while taking due cognisance of user requirements ensuring that the national ATNS systems and infrastructure meet international standards; Instill the core vision, mission and values of ATNS within the engineering environment, and ensure that activities and outputs are congruent.

Operations Technology Management -

• Manage Operations Technology (OT): Develop OT strategy and roadmap for ATM operations; Align OT strategy with air navigation and safety goals and objectives; Ensure management of total engineering quality, planning, design, specification and acquisition support; Deploy, integrate and operationalise OT systems; Ensure OT security, safety, governance and compliance in ATM;
• Monitor and optimise OT performance in ATM; Ensure the effective operation and maintenance of CNS/ATM OT systems; Ensure effective support of OT users and operators in ATM. Lead operations technology planning and adoption to ensure availability of the required systems and infrastructure to ensure safe and effective aviation operations;
• Develop an operations technology plan with relevant planning periods that take into account obsolescence of technology and equipment and the replacement thereof; Design and develop effective OT safety and security systems to ensure safe and secure operations systems and technology;
• Monitor and optimise OT performance to meet user requirements as measured by system availability, reliability, stability, security and other associated service levels in ATM; Provide strategic direction for operations technology and infrastructure maintenance, security, disaster recovery, and ATM end-user support;
• Ensure effective integration and implementation of engineering service plans that meet benchmarked capability in order to meet user requirements, measured by system availability and reliability and other associated service levels; Initiate and direct business-driven engineering projects; Ensure project management disciplines are implemented; Ensure projects are managed, that resources are appropriately allocated, and that deadlines are achieved

High-tech Infrastructure/CAPEX and Implementation -

• Lead and/or contribute to the mapping of the short-, medium-, long-term and high-value (multi-million rand) operations technology plans of ATNS and the implementation thereof from conceptualisation, feasibility, technical formulation, acquisition, operation, to maintenance; Perform contract management of high-tech suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers; Ensure the availability of the required systems and infrastructure that will enable safe and effective aviation operations.

Development of Technical Standards -

• Lead and direct the development of technical standards to meet engineering service requirements and project deliverables; Anticipate changes in engineering standards and requirements; Implement changes, and drive equipment, organisational and other requirements to meet new technical standards.

Service Excellence -

• Establish technical service delivery SLA’s;Ensure technical service delivery is achieved in line with identified engineering standards; Ensure the analysis and development of engineering services and standards in line with emerging trends and developments; Keep abreast of technical maintenance developments.

Commercial Revenue Streams -

• Consult the organisational strategy and deliverables to determine CNS-specific products and services requirements; Manage the development of CNS-related and collaborative products and services to meet identified opportunities;
• Ensure that the products and services meet market demands and take appropriate action where necessary to prevent possible losses.

Governance, Compliance, Risk Management & Reporting -

• Ensure a robust governance environment by leading the development, maintenance, monitoring and continuous review of Operations Technology policies, processes, procedures, and service level agreements;
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory standards, and ATNS frameworks; Prepare strategic level reports to EXCO, the Board and other key stakeholders;
• Identify strategic and operation business risks and develop and implement appropriate mitigation; Ensure all identified risks are appropriately and timeously measured, corrected, and managed in accordance with the ATNS Risk Management Framework.

Stakeholder Relations Management -.

• Develop, manage and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders including regulatory bodies, airports, professional institutions, and service providers to ensure ongoing alignment and collaboration; Monitor service delivery levels to ensure the provision of service excellence and user satisfaction

Financial Management -.

• Manage expenditure in line with business objectives and priorities within approved financial parameters; Develop the divisional budget in conjunction with Finance to ensure financial sustainability;
• Manage operations costs in accordance with the mandate matrix (delegation of authority); Ensure accountability and reporting on all costs incurred against the approved budget including monthly deviations; Manage the overall Operations Technology budget in accordance with financial policies and processes.

People Management -

• Ensure the optimal development, deployment, and management of human resources in order to meet the required targets and objectives; Manage staff in accordance with Human Capital policies, processes, practices and the disciplinary code;
• Ensure that new employees have been properly on-boarded prior to commencing work; Monitor the time and attendance of subordinates, take appropriate action in the case of absenteeism, and report issues to Human Capital; Promote high levels of safety, discipline, output standards within a motivational climate so that performance and other outputs are achieved;
• Manage performance outputs of employees through the performance management system, and take corrective action promptly and effectively; Facilitate change in the Operations Technology environment through ATNS change management processes.

Qualifications Requirement 

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering / BEng in Electronic / Electrical (Light Current) or equivalent post graduate NQF 8 is required.
• Master’s level qualification in engineering or technical or general business management or related field is advantageous.
• Formal Leadership and Business Management training as an added advantage.
• Registration as Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa is required. Alternatively, be registrable within a period of 2 years. 

Experience Requirement  

• At least ten (10) years engineering experience in an aviation environment or similar of which 7 years must have been at senior management level
• Air traffic navigation experience will be an added advantage

Apply by: 30 October 2026