Chief, Facilitation Section

The Chief of the Facilitation Section leads and manages the facilitation work programmes related to international air transport, including the development and update of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in Annex 9, traveller identification management under the ICAO TRIP Strategy, and the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) programme. The role involves strategic planning, coordination with international organizations, capacity building, and supervision of section staff to ensure effective delivery of facilitation-related services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the facilitation and all related work programmes and items included in Annex 9, ensuring integrated, comprehensive and timely analysis, planning, delivery, assessment and reporting of facilitation-related projects and activities.
• Update and maintain Annex 9 and guidance material, supporting the Facilitation Panel to ensure the global aviation facilitation policy framework is relevant and forward-looking.
• Align projects and activities with Assembly and Council decisions, ICAO’s policies and strategies, and available resources.
• Coordinate projects and activities with other programmes such as aviation security to optimize synergies and maximize growth of air passenger and cargo traffic.
• Coordinate with other ICAO sections on Facilitation-related matters, including auditing of Annex 9 Standards under relevant audit programmes.
• Promote States’ compliance with Annex 9 SARPs.
• Foster partnerships with other international and regional organizations and with industry stakeholders.
• Provide effective and efficient support to ICAO governing and technical bodies related to Annex 9.
• Represent ICAO’s interests at meetings of other international organizations related to Facilitation.
• Lead and manage work programmes related to traveller identification management in accordance with the ICAO TRIP Strategy.
• Ensure timely analysis, planning, delivery, assessment and reporting of MRTD-related projects and activities, including implementation of MRTDs and use of reading systems such as Automated Border Controls.
• Develop proposals to enhance ICAO specifications for MRTDs (Doc 9303) and guidance material to uniquely identify individuals.
• Stimulate partnerships with State authorities, international and regional organizations, industry and other stakeholders to secure compliance with MRTD implementation.
• Provide support to governance and technical bodies related to traveller identification management.
• Lead and manage the PKD programme including governance, management, administration and operations.
• Manage all PKD-related activities to ensure smooth operation of the Programme and capacity-building activities.
• Make recommendations for PKD managerial and operational procedures and strategic direction.
• Liaise with the PKD Board Chairman and members and participate in PKD Board meetings.
• Promote PKD membership and liaise with external representatives and the Operator.
• Coordinate capacity building and assistance activities for States’ programmes, focusing on partnerships to recruit and mobilize financial and in-kind resources.
• Coordinate planning, delivery, assessment and reporting of technical assistance and capacity development projects related to Annex 9 across Headquarters and Regional Offices.
• Maintain communication and relationships with ICAO Regional Offices, State authorities, international and regional organisations, industry and other stakeholders.
• Negotiate capacity-building agreements and partnerships with States and donors.
• Develop ICAO strategies and proposals to mobilize resources in the facilitation field.
• Facilitate access to financial and technical resources for States requiring assistance with Annex 9 SARPs implementation and MRTD upgrades.
• Organize and oversee regional seminars, global symposia and other advocacy and promotion initiatives to support States.
• Lead and provide subject matter expertise and quality assurance oversight to support Facilitation training and technical projects in collaboration with the Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau.
• Design and develop project concepts and charters to address gaps identified in needs analysis reports.
• Provide oversight, management and coordination to ensure proper content development and validation of project material.
• Serve as Facilitation focal point supporting development of training and Implementation Packages (iPacks) material and partnerships.
• Provide technical input and expert guidance during vetting and selection of SMEs for facilitation projects.
• Contribute to end-of-assignment reports, post-evaluation impact reports and document lessons learnt for management approval.
• Provide oversight and coordinate development and validation of Facilitation training materials.
• Supervise and manage the Facilitation Section ensuring alignment with ICAO’s Strategic Goals, policies, regulations and business plans.
• Identify and resolve issues impeding effective conduct of Section activities.
• Develop and decide on section-level business systems and practices in line with ICAO rules and policies.
• Manage resources including staff performance, team contributions and succession planning.
• Oversee orderly and safe conduct of missions by Section staff.
• Integrate planning, execution and reporting related to revenue-generating activities with relevant Sections.
• Review and control working papers, reports, briefings and other deliverables.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• An advanced level university degree (Masters’ degree or academic equivalent) in a civil aviation-related field, international affairs, public/business administration, security or law, or related field, is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience in a civil aviation-related field, international affairs, public/business administration, security or law, or related field, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Professional qualification in international management or specialized training in the administration of customs or immigration law is desirable.
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in progressively responsible positions with accountability for work related to facilitation of border clearance, issuance of MRTDs, and/or managing facilitation, border clearance-related programmes or other domains of air transport facilitation, including at least three years with the civil aviation community (government, inspection agency, national identity and travel document issuance authorities, civil registries, passport offices, immigration, customs and other border inspection and law enforcement agencies, airlines, airports or international organizations), is required.
• Experience with the legal framework of travel document issuance and border management, is required.
• Experience with Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, and Doc 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents and other guidance material, is required.
• Experience in effectively communicating with a wide variety of audiences on an international basis, in cultivating productive relationships with diplomacy and tact, is required.
• Experience in automated data processing systems and electronic data interchange capabilities, is required.
• Experience in developing professional relationships with senior officials at key institutions whose activities are related to international civil aviation, is desirable.
• Experience in facilitation-related international Conventions, ICAO SARPs, and associated guidance material and documents, is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking is required.

Skills

• Civil Aviation Expertise
• Border Clearance Facilitation
• Machine Readable Travel Documents
• Travel Document Issuance Law
• International Civil Aviation Law
• Annex 9 Compliance
• Doc 9303 Knowledge
• Electronic Data Transmission
• Automated Data Processing Systems
• International Relations
• Diplomatic Communication
• Programme Management
• Standards and Recommended Practices Development
• ICAO TRIP Strategy
• Public Key Directory Management
• Capacity Building
• Strategic Planning
• Staff Supervision

Languages

English