SMS Manager

Job description

Responsible for leading, governing, and continuously improving the employer Airports' Safety Management System in line with GACA regulations, ICAO requirements, and company policies. Develop, implement, maintain, and enhance the SMS. Establish policies, procedures, manuals, standards, and governance frameworks aligned with regulations. Translate safety objectives into departmental plans, priorities, initiatives, and measurable targets. Ensure effective implementation of the four SMS pillars: Safety Policy & Objectives, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. Periodically review SMS effectiveness and maturity, recommending improvements to senior management. Lead hazard identification and safety risk management processes. Manage the safety risk register, ensuring risks, mitigations, responsibilities, and target dates are maintained. Review and challenge significant risk assessments, ensuring controls before risk acceptance. Assess risks from operational or organizational changes via Management of Change. Escalate significant risks appropriately. Establish and monitor Safety Performance Indicators and targets. Govern safety and occurrence reporting processes. Investigate, document, classify, and communicate significant incidents. Lead major safety investigations and root-cause analyses. Ensure corrective and preventive actions are assigned, monitored, and closed on time. Identify systemic causes and recommend organization-wide preventive actions. Serve as key focal point for regulatory and oversight matters. Stay updated on GACA regulations, ICAO SARPs, and safety requirements. Coordinate and support GACA, certification, and external SMS audits. Manage regulatory findings and corrective action plans. Assess regulatory changes and update SMS documents accordingly. Collaborate with Operations, Facility Management, Security, ARFF, Commercial, and other departments to integrate safety requirements. Coordinate safety responsibilities across departments. Participate in operational and management committees requiring safety input. Support safety assessments for new projects, infrastructure changes, contractors, and major initiatives. Coordinate SMS requirements with external stakeholders and airport partners. Support development and improvement of emergency response and crisis management. Lead, supervise, coach, and develop SMS staff. Set individual and departmental objectives and monitor performance. Prepare and manage department operating requirements and budget. Monitor plans, projects, initiatives, and expenditures, taking corrective actions as needed. Prepare and present periodic SMS reports, dashboards, risk profiles, trends, and recommendations to senior leadership. Communicate and escalate significant safety risks and compliance concerns promptly. Provide analysis and recommendations to facilitate safety-related decisions. Maintain accurate, auditable records of SMS activities, decisions, risk assessments, investigations, and reviews. Ensure confidentiality and integrity of safety information. Control documentation for SMS manuals, procedures, registers, and records. Perform other related duties assigned by the line manager

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Safety Management, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or related field
• Master's degree preferred
• recognized SMS/Safety Management certification or equivalent training
• certification or training in Safety Risk Management, Incident Investigation, Root Cause Analysis, or Aviation Safety preferred
• knowledge of GACA regulations, ICAO Annex 19, and ICAO SMS principles
• minimum 8 years' experience in safety management, risk management, or related discipline
• at least 3 years in a leadership role
• fluent in Arabic
• professional proficiency in English
• proficiency in safety risk assessment methodologies
• experience with incident/safety management software
• ability to analyze data and report trends
• knowledge of regulatory/compliance frameworks
• audit and inspection skills
• document control and SMS manual management
• proficiency in MS Office and reporting/presentation tools.

Skills