Validation Assistant (Air Transport Domain)

Job Posting Organization:
EUROCONTROL is an intergovernmental organization established in 1960, dedicated to supporting European aviation. With a mission to develop a seamless, pan-European air traffic management system, EUROCONTROL operates across 41 member states and employs over 1,800 staff members. The organization plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of air transport in Europe. It collaborates with various stakeholders, including national authorities, air navigation service providers, and the aviation industry, to implement innovative solutions and improve air traffic management processes.

Job Overview:
The Validation Assistant will be a key member of the Aviation Transformation Directorate, specifically within the Centre of Expertise (CoE). This role focuses on providing specialized support for the validation of new Air Transport concepts through operational simulations. The assistant will be responsible for planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on validation activities related to innovation programs. The position requires a proactive approach to developing validation plans, conducting validation exercises, and analyzing results to ensure the successful implementation of new air transport methodologies. The assistant will work closely with subject matter experts and contribute to the continuous improvement of validation methods and tools, ensuring adherence to established quality assurance practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Validation Assistant include:

• Providing specialized support for validation activities related to Air Transport operational simulations.
• Developing comprehensive validation plans that outline objectives, exercise arrangements, scenarios, conditions, success criteria, metrics, and data-collection materials.
• Contributing to the preparation and operational readiness for validation exercises, including conducting checks on platforms and tools, dry runs, and preparing training materials.
• Supporting the execution of validation exercises through structured observations, questionnaires, interviews, and debriefings, ensuring adherence to agreed methodologies.
• Preparing, cleaning, structuring, and documenting both quantitative and qualitative datasets, performing preliminary analyses, and producing clear data visualizations.
• Analyzing and interpreting results from validation exercises in collaboration with experts, formalizing findings in technical notes, reports, and presentations.
• Contributing to the enhancement of validation methods, templates, and tools, ensuring consistent application of quality assurance practices.
• Reporting any detected issues or anomalies during the validation process.
• Sharing knowledge and best practices with colleagues and assisting less experienced staff. 1
• Continuously developing expertise under the guidance of senior staff and performing any other tasks aligned with the job's main purpose.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a post-secondary education in a relevant field that meets the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 5 or higher, accompanied by at least five years of relevant professional experience. Internal candidates should verify their in-house experience equivalency on the intranet. Candidates should have experience in applying validation methods, human-centered methodologies, and experimental design approaches. Familiarity with preparing and monitoring validation exercises, as well as descriptive and statistical data analysis, is essential. Proficiency in data-analysis and visualization tools such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, R, or Python is required. Knowledge of Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) techniques and experience in Air Traffic Management or Air Transport is also necessary. Candidates should demonstrate strong technical drafting and presentation skills in English, with proficiency at level C1 being mandatory.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes the completion of post-secondary education in a relevant field that aligns with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 5 or higher. This educational foundation should be complemented by substantial professional experience in the field, ensuring that candidates are well-equipped to handle the complexities of validation activities in the air transport domain.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, particularly in applying validation methods and methodologies related to air transport. Experience in executing validation exercises, conducting data analysis, and utilizing data visualization tools is crucial. Familiarity with human factors assessments and techniques, as well as experience in Air Traffic Management or related fields, will be considered advantageous.

Languages:
Proficiency in English at level C1 is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary working language of the Agency. Additionally, candidates are required to become basic users of French at level A2 before the end of their probation period. This bilingual requirement reflects the Agency's commitment to fostering a multilingual work environment and ensuring effective communication among diverse teams.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as an Assistant role at the AST4-AST6 job level, with a duration of five years, subject to renewal or conversion under specific conditions. The selected candidate will be required to complete a nine-month probationary period before being established in the post. The working arrangement follows a hybrid model, allowing for a combination of onsite presence and teleworking opportunities, with specific guidelines on teleworking days. Applications are accepted only from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States, and candidates must provide documentary evidence confirming their educational qualifications if required. The selected candidate will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency, with potential for contract renewal up to a maximum of nine years.