SACAA Qualified Quality, Safety + Security Professional

The opportunity

Responsibilities

• Serve as a nominated post-holder for assigned client organisations where appropriately qualified and accepted.
• Provide ongoing regulatory, technical and advisory support to a portfolio of aviation clients.
• Understand each client’s operational scope, approvals, risk profile and regulatory obligations.
• Maintain effective working relationships with accountable managers, operational personnel and SACAA representatives.
• Ensure sufficient time, attention and professional independence across assigned clients.
• Identify and appropriately manage potential conflicts of interest.
• Prepare clients for regulatory inspections, audits and approval activities.
• Establish, maintain and improve client Quality Management Systems and compliance-monitoring programmes.
• Develop and manage risk-based audit and surveillance programmes.
• Conduct audits against applicable SACAA regulations, technical standards, approved manuals and organisational procedures.
• Record findings and coordinate corrective and preventive actions through to effective closure.
• Monitor regulatory changes and assist clients in keeping manuals and procedures current.
• Report quality and compliance performance directly to each client’s accountable management.
• Establish, maintain and continually improve client Safety Management Systems.
• Lead hazard identification, safety-risk assessment and risk-control activities.
• Monitor safety performance indicators, operational trends and emerging risks.
• Manage safety reporting, occurrence analysis and safety-assurance activities.
• Coordinate or participate in accident and incident investigations where required.
• Deliver safety training and promote a positive, just and proactive safety culture.
• Assist clients with required safety and security occurrence reporting.
• Develop, maintain and oversee client Aviation Security Programmes.
• Support compliance with the National Aviation Security Programme and applicable SACAA Parts 108 and 109 requirements.
• Coordinate aviation-security training, vetting and access-control interfaces.
• Monitor security risks, incidents, controls and corrective actions.
• Liaise with SACAA and other relevant authorities on aviation-security matters.
• Promote security awareness throughout client organisations.

Non-negotiable requirements

• A recognised Quality Assurance or Lead Auditor qualification.
• Relevant aviation quality, auditing and compliance-monitoring experience.
• Substantial full-time aviation safety or Safety Management System experience.
• Current SMS training completed through an appropriately approved Part 141 Aviation Training Organisation, preferably within the past three years.
• Current AVSEC Level 3 training applicable to a Part 109 Aviation Security Training Organisation, with the required 24-month currency.
• Practical experience developing, implementing or managing an aviation security programme.
• Sound working knowledge of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations, associated Technical Standards and relevant SACAA requirements.
• Ability to manage responsibilities across several aviation clients without compromising regulatory independence or service quality.
• Strong consulting, report-writing, communication and client-management skills.
• Legal right to work in South Africa.
• Qualifications, competence, integrity and availability required for applicable nominated post-holder responsibilities.

Useful experience

Preferred but not required:

• Previous SACAA-approved or nominated post-holder appointments.
• Consulting to multiple aviation organisations.
• Auditing within aviation operators or approved aviation organisations.
• Preparation for SACAA certification, surveillance or renewal audits.
• Accident or incident investigation.
• Human factors and safety-risk management.
• ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
• Aviation-security vetting, access control or security-risk assessment.
• Liaison with SACAA inspectors and other aviation authorities.

What to submit

• Curriculum vitae (CV) (required) — Detailed curriculum vitae including aviation employment history, responsibilities and relevant achievements.
• Certified copy of ID / passport — Optional at initial application; proof of identity and right to work may be requested if shortlisted.
• Qualification certificates (required) — Upload recognised qualification and Quality Assurance / Lead Auditor certificates.
• Training certificates (required) — Upload current SMS, AVSEC Level 3 and other relevant aviation training certificates.
• Licences / ratings — Upload or describe relevant licences, ratings and professional registrations, if applicable.
• Post-holder appointment history (required) — Provide details or evidence of previous SACAA nominated post-holder appointments.
• References (required) — Provide contactable professional references, including name, organisation, role and contact details.

Application process

1. Submit the online application and documents.
2. We screen applications using transparent, rule-based criteria (not automated AI hiring decisions).
3. A human recruiter reviews match signals and written responses.
4. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for next steps.

Screening scores (and any optional AI shortlist notes for recruiters) are decision-support aids only. Final hiring decisions are made by people. We do not use automated systems as the sole basis for employment decisions, and we do not use AI to infer sensitive personal characteristics.