• Function title: Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) Expert
• Reference: NOC-NM-2024-AD/815
• Location: Brussels
• The selected candidate must reside either at this location or within a reasonable proximity that allows for the satisfactory execution of their duties – Information about living in Brussels
• Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
• Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
• Type of post: Administrator
• Job level: AD6-AD9 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Expert
• Number of posts: 1
• Duration of appointment: 5 Year(s) – extension or conversion of the contract is possible – see “Useful information” section
• Security clearance: Security vetting may be required in accordance with the relevant EUROCONTROL security policies
• Directorate/Service: NMD/INF/CNS – Integrated CNS Unit
• Working arrangement: Hybrid work (A blend of onsite and remote work). Please note that EUROCONTROL does not offer full-time remote working arrangements.
• Competition publication date: 20/06/2024
• Competition closing date: 18/07/2024 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within the Network Management Directorate, the Infrastructure Division manages the European infrastructure deployment projects and programmes, and aims at making the SES digital sky a reality. It develops, organises and provides European common services including network support services, aeronautical information services and the radio frequency function.

The EUROCONTROL Network Manager has been invited by the European Commission to become the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) Programme Manager – a new and important function under the Single Sky legislation. Its primary objective is to ensure the successful modernisation of the CNS systems across Europe, leading to accelerated and synchronised deployment of ground facilities and airborne equipment. The CNS Programme Manager role is executed by a dedicated team assigned to the CNS Unit in the Infrastructure Division of NM and consists of experienced professionals who will work in close collaboration with stakeholders across Europe. You will play a pivotal role in supporting this team.

As CNS Expert, you will collaborate, guide and lead, as required, internal teams and external stakeholders to conduct projects and studies, supporting the implementation of CNS architecture and CNS infrastructure services based on the operational requirements and criteria.

Your role

Your role will be to:

• Contribute to development of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) evolution plan in view of optimising existing infrastructure.
• Collecting and analysing future evolution of Communication (focused on Datalink), Navigation and Surveillance needs in the network and capture spectrum, cyber, resilience and other transversal requirements supporting this evolution.
• Contribute to the design of the future CNS infrastructure in Europe to ensure that applications and technology proposed are responding to operational needs of civil-military stakeholders, fully in line with the European ATM Master Plan and European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) and responding to expectations and process of Member States and institutional partners (EU, EASA, S3JU, SDM, PRB and EDA).
• Contribute to the design and the execution of the CNS Evolution Plan to assess the progress of implementation, and alignment of national CNS evolution plans with the European one.
• Collaborate with subject matters experts and external partners in an overall integrated CNS context, while still addressing individual CNS application domains.
• Develop contract specifications, lead contracted projects and oversee the execution, while ensuring high quality deliverables.
• Provide recommendations at regulatory level (e.g. EASA, EC, etc) and participate to relevant meetings, workshops, etc as needed.
• Produce technical reports, working papers, international publications, guidance and awareness material using a variety of media means including delivery of training.
• Carry out any other task in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Candidates must meet one of the following educational and experience criteria, where studies in a relevant field (e.g. Engineering, Technology, Aerospace, ATM, Data Science, Physics, etc.) and experience acquired in the aviation industry or in an aviation industry-related government role are needed:

• • Completed university studies of 4 years followed by minimum 3 years’ relevant professional experience
  • Completed university studies of 3 years followed by minimum 4 years’ relevant professional experience

• Internal candidates can check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
• Experience working on several of the following areas in a technical role:

o Communication (Datalink related technology, 8.33kHz)
o Navigation (PBN, GNSS, terrestrial navigation)
o Surveillance (Mode S, ADS-B, etc.)
o Spectrum and radiofrequency
o CNS infrastructure optimisation
o CNS infrastructure planning
o CNS innovation
o CNS monitoring

• Understanding of Air Traffic Management (ATM) and CNS evolution.
• Experience in policy development would be an asset.
• Project Management skills.
• Stakeholder management skills, preferably acquired in a European / international context.
• Technical writing skills (English).
• Effective presentation skills.
• Analytical thinking: you analyse information and are able to identify relationships.
• Communication: you are able to foster two-way communication.
• Influencing: you tailor your style and approach to influence others.
• Creativity & Innovation: you apply new approaches.
• Networking: you know how to maintain and expand effective networks.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1/C2. The selected candidate will be required to become at least a basic user of French at level A1/A2 before the end of the probation period.
  The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• The selected candidate will be offered a contract of 5 Year (s) pursuant to the provisions of the Staff Regulations governing officials at EUROCONTROL. The contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 9 years or converted into an undetermined contract. Before being established in the post, the selected candidate will be requested to provide certified copies of their degrees and successfully serve a probationary period of 9 months.
• Internal candidates
  If selected, the person will keep their current type of appointment duration (undetermined or determined).
  The internal staff member with a determined contract will be offered, in principle, an appointment for 5 Year(s) with a maximum total duration of 9 years.
• The successful candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.
• Candidates declared suitable who are not selected for the post will be placed on a reserve list for similar roles. The reserve list will be valid for one year from the closing date of applications.
• Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
• EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
• Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.