SMS Manager

Job Purpose:

The SMS Manager is responsible for leading, governing, and continuously improving Tibah Airports' Safety Management System in accordance with applicable GACA regulations, ICAO requirements, company policies, and recognized aviation safety practices. The SMS Manager leads the implementation of the four SMS pillars, oversees safety assurance and performance, manages the SMS team and associated resources, and provides management with reliable safety information to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the organization's Safety Management System.

• Establish and maintain SMS policies, procedures, manuals, standards, and governance frameworks in alignment with GACA regulations, ICAO requirements, and company policies.

• Translate organizational safety objectives into departmental plans, priorities, initiatives, and measurable performance targets.

• Ensure effective implementation and integration of the four SMS pillars: Safety Policy & Objectives, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.

• Periodically review the effectiveness and maturity of the SMS and recommend improvements to senior management.

• Lead the organization's hazard identification and safety risk management processes.

• Ensure appropriate methodologies are applied for risk identification, assessment, mitigation, acceptance, and escalation.

• Oversee the organizational safety risk register and ensure identified risks, mitigations, responsible parties, and target dates are appropriately maintained.

• Review and challenge significant safety risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are established before risk acceptance.

• Ensure safety risks arising from operational, organizational, procedural, infrastructure, or system changes are properly assessed through the Management of Change process.

• Escalate significant or unacceptable safety risks to the appropriate management level.

• Establish, monitor, and continuously enhance Safety Performance Indicators, Safety Performance Targets, and other safety performance measures.

• Govern the organization's safety reporting and occurrence reporting processes.

• Ensure significant incidents and occurrences are appropriately investigated, documented, classified, and communicated.

• Lead or oversee major safety investigations and root-cause analyses.

• Ensure corrective and preventive actions resulting from investigations are appropriate, assigned, monitored, and closed within agreed timelines.

• Identify recurring or systemic causes and recommend organization-wide preventive actions.

• Act as a key organizational focal point for SMS-related regulatory and oversight matters.

• Maintain awareness of applicable GACA regulations, ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, and other relevant safety requirements.

• Coordinate and support GACA, regulatory, certification, and external SMS audits and inspections.

• Ensure regulatory findings, observations, corrective action plans, and commitments are appropriately managed and closed.

• Assess regulatory changes and ensure corresponding SMS policies, procedures, and practices are updated.

• Work closely with Operations, Facility Management, Security, ARFF, Commercial, and other relevant departments to ensure safety requirements are integrated into organizational activities.

• Ensure effective coordination of safety responsibilities across departmental boundaries.

• Participate in operational and management committees where safety input or decision-making is required.

• Support safety assessments associated with new projects, infrastructure, operational changes, contractors, and major initiatives.

• Coordinate SMS requirements with relevant external stakeholders, service providers, contractors, and airport partners where applicable.

• Support the development, review, and continuous improvement of emergency response and crisis management arrangements.

• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop employees within the SMS function.

• Set individual and departmental objectives and monitor performance against agreed targets.

• Prepare and manage the department's operating requirements and budget, where applicable.

• Monitor departmental plans, projects, initiatives, and expenditure and take corrective action where required.

• Prepare and present periodic SMS reports, dashboards, risk profiles, trends, and recommendations to senior leadership.

• Ensure significant safety risks and compliance concerns are communicated and escalated to management in a timely manner.

• Provide management with appropriate analysis and recommendations to facilitate safety-related decisions.

• Maintain accurate and auditable records of SMS activities, decisions, risk assessments, investigations, and management reviews.

• Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of safety information and records.

• Ensure appropriate documentation control for SMS manuals, procedures, registers, and records.

• Perform other related responsibilities assigned by the line manager in support of organizational objectives.

Education requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Safety Management, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.

• Master’s degree is preferred.

Certification Requirements:

• Recognized SMS/Safety Management certification or equivalent professional training.

• Relevant certification or training in Safety Risk Management, Incident Investigation, Root Cause Analysis, or Aviation Safety is preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable GACA regulations, ICAO Annex 19, and ICAO Safety Management principles.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in in safety management, risk management, or a related discipline; prior SMS implementation experience preferred.

• With at least 3 years in a leadership role.

Languages:

• Fluent in Arabic

• Professional in English

Technical Skills:

• Safety risk assessment methodologies

• Incident/safety management software

• Data analysis and trend reporting

• Knowledge of applicable regulatory/compliance frameworks

• Audit and inspection techniques

• Document control and SMS manual management

• Proficiency in MS Office / reporting and presentation tools