Cabin/Ground Safety Specialist at South African Airways (SAA)

Job Purpose    

• The incumbent of this role is responsible for developing, managing, and implementing safety and quality assurance programs across Ground Handling, Cabin, Security, Cargo, and Customer Services. This role ensures full compliance with regulatory standards, proactively identifies hazards, monitors operational risks, and drives continuous improvement through structured audits, inspections, and investigations.
• The role is further responsible for interaction with various levels of management both internally and externally to recommend, initiate and approve corrective action in these instances in line with SAA’s Safety Programme and ISO standards, to ensure the principles of continual improvement are applied throughout the organisation.
• The incumbent will support the Airline’s compliance with:
• Airline Safety Management System
• SACAA Regulations/Technical Standards (Part 121 & Part 140)
• ICAO standards (Doc 9859)
• IATA/IOSA/ISAGO requirements, and
• Internal policies, safeguarding the Airline’s safety performance and service delivery
• Continual Safety Improvement and Compliance

Principal Accountabilities    

• Engage as a subject matter expert with stakeholders, both internally and externally, who are at the highest levels of industry, including regulatory authorities by using specialised operational and regulatory expertise so as not to expose the organisation to possible non-compliance to industry standards and/or compromised safety standards
• Manage and maintain the Safety Database (e.g., IQSMS) and support training for risk assessment/management
• Plan, execute, and document safety and quality inspections, audits, and investigations across all relevant areas
• Implement IOSA and/ or ISAGO principles to enable the retention of required certifications, as and when requested
• Implementation of strategies within the applicable areas of the organisation
• Promote, create awareness and conduct educational sessions
• Correlate and analyse data received, compile reports and make recommendations for improvements
• Liaise & negotiate with all levels of management and provide information and advice on effective and efficient corrective actions and improvement initiatives
• Oversees the correct application of processes and systems in area of responsibility
• Utilises resources in area of responsibility/ own area of work in a time and cost-effective manner
• Utilises technology to enhance internal and external customer expectations
• Executes work outputs according to customer requirements
• Adheres to Governance and Risk Management policies, processes and systems
• Delivers on regular, irregular and timeous reporting of information to key stakeholders
• Participates in continuous optimisation programmes, projects and initiatives
• Manage and ensure all office administrations duties are current and up-to-date
• Conduct and co-ordinate all internal Safety Audits and Pre-flight and Ramp Safety Audits
• Monitor SMS training for both Cargo, Passenger, and Ramp operations provided by the Airline Training Organisations
• Conduct and co-ordinate all 3rd party Ground Safety audits and inspections (Airchefs and Code Share partners)
• Conduct and co-ordinate all external Ground Safety audits (International Airline Transport Association Operational Safety Audit, Airline Operators Certificate)
• Conduct and co-ordinate all internal and external safety inspections (South African Civil Aviation Authority)
• Conduct drafting of the internal safety audit checklist and audit schedules for, but not limited to:
• Aviation Training Organisation
• Cargo Operations
• Ground Operations
• Ensure operations and updating as necessary to ensure compliance to all relevant regulatory authorities are met and required standards are maintained
• Monitoring the implementation of all corrective action measures arising from but not limited to the following audits: Aviation Training Organization, Cargo Operations, Ground Operations, Airport Operations
• Conduct and coordinate Ground Safety incident investigations in order to establish findings, root causes of failures, human errors/violations and contributory latent conditions
• Ensure all corrective actions arising from Ground Safety incidents are implemented and monitor the effectiveness of the corrective actions
• Compile regular and ad-hoc reports regarding Ground Safety hazard, trends, investigations and activities
• Analyse all Ground Safety reports in order to establish Ground Safety trends
• Conduct root cause analysis and identify human and systemic factors contributing to safety incidents
• Review safety procedures in the Ground Operational Manual and Ramp Operational Manual
• Monitor the reactive, proactive and predictive Hazard Identification process for Ground Safety
• Conduct the risk assessment process for Ground Safety incidents
• Monitor known safety risks, detect emerging safety risks and to determine any necessary corrective actions

Qualifications & Experience    

• A relevant Bachelor Degree in Safety Management Systems and/ or related field e.g. Quality Management Systems at NQF level 7 and/or 5 -7 years’ experience in a Safety/ Quality assurance role
• At least 3-5 years experience in Airport, Airside and Cargo Operations environment
• IOSA/ISAGO Internal Auditor Certification
• Certificate in Aviation Auditors course will be an advantage
• Experience with IOSA ground handling audits and knowledge of the ISAGO programme
• Experience conducting Safety Inspections
• Dangerous Goods Certification (Category 6) is advantageous
• Additional training:
• Safety Management Systems (SMS)
• Root Cause Analysis
• Risk Management
• Human Factors
• Aircraft Weight & Balance (advantage)
• Accident/Incident Investigation
• Hold or have held a Cabin Crew Members License (SACAA CARS Part 64) will be an advantage
• Detailed knowledge of South African Civil Aviation Authority Regulations and Technical Standards Part 121 and Part 140, International Civil Aviation Organization Doc 9859 and International Airline Transport Association Operational Audits, legislation and associated regulations
• Knowledge and Skills    
• Detailed Knowledge of SACAA Legislation & Associated Regulations:
• ICAO
• IOSA
• IATA
• ISAGO
• Continuous improvement models
• Methodologies & practices with a specific focus on Safety/Quality Management Systems
• Detailed knowledge of quality assurance database (IQSMS) and administration functions
• Audit/inspection principles, ISO standards, and documentation management standards
• Aircraft operations, cargo and baggage processes, ground handling protocols
• Detail knowledge of IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
• Knowledge of Air Cargo Operations
• Detail knowledge of Aircraft Weight & Balance
• Human factors
• Management of the Aircraft Accident processes
• Safety Auditing
• IATA Dangerous Goods
• Route cause analysis
• Risk Management
• Effective Communication and interpersonal skills
• Advanced MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word)
• SMS Safety Reporting System
• Risk identification and assessment
• Report writing and audit/inspection documentation
• Analytical and problem-solving ability
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Information processing and data accuracy
• Resource utilisation
• Project management and Change Management
• Planning and organising skills
• Attention to Detail
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation
• Professional High integrity
• Self-driven
• Team player and an independent thinker who will take initiative
• Immaculate time keeping
• Positive attitude
• Strong work ethic
• Proactive approach towards delivery of duties
• Adaptable and flexible

Attributes    

• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Professional integrity and ethics
• Effective communication
• Technical Expertise
• Stakeholder Relationships
• Flexibility, adaptability and resilience
• Drives Results
• Organisational Awareness
• Ethics and Integrity
• Collaboration and team orientation
• Proactive, results-driven approach
• Engages in Crucial Conversations
• Manages Projects
• Facilitates Change and Innovation
• Implements and aligns to vision
• Delivers value
• Values Team Diversity
• Role models behaviours and values