LOCATION
East Midlands Airport, with requirement for regular UK-wide travel. Some overseas travel expected.
RESPONSIBLE TO
Head of Specialist Operations
HOURS & TERMS
Full-Time. Permanent Contract. Shift work including nights and weekends.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Core to RVL Aviation's successful business model is its people and culture. RVL makes a difference in every aspect of its operation. The service that RVL provides to its airborne reconnaissance and oil-spill dispersant spray customers is at the heart of these values.
As a Task Specialist, you will have responsibility to represent the customer's interests onboard the aircraft, and on the ground, to ensure that mission objectives are achieved. Such operations cover a broad range of missions, including;
* Combatting major oil spills and efforts to prevent pollution incidents through enforcement and monitoring.
* Locating persons missing at sea and those that use the sea as a domain for criminal activity.
* Protection of the UK's economic interests in its sea areas by providing reconnaissance for fisheries regulation, and maritime security.
Responsibility for the operational effect is what sets the fulfilment of these missions aside from our other Specialist Operations, and RVL requires a team of skilled and dedicated Task Specialists to meet that obligation.
Task Specialists are responsible for the success of a mission, from the planning, to execution, and post flight reporting.
In the air, Task Specialists are a functioning member of the aircrew and operate a suite of reconnaissance and communications equipment. The reconnaissance equipment includes Electro-Optic/Infra-Red (EO/IR) Systems, multi-mode radar, and geospatial mission systems. Communications equipment includes satcom, multi-band tactical radios, and line-of-sight downlinks.
The manipulation and management of mission data is a very important aspect to this role. We produce mission reports that may be distributed amongst specialist teams and government departments, without further refinement or processing from the very report produced by RVL's Task Specialists upon landing.
Aside from flight operations duties, you will holistically support the capabilities described above, including:
* Tasks relating to the care and maintenance of our reconnaissance and mission equipment
* Day-to-day liaison and engagement with our customers
* Planning and practical roles that relate to technical trials, training, and protracted incidents. The latter may include being at-sea in small work boats
* Being a member of an install team for our modular airborne spray systems or being deployed as a liaison officer in an incident room.
SUMMARY OF TASKS INCLUDE
* Mission planning, customer liaison to determine objectives
* Operation of reconnaissance equipment onboard the aircraft
* Operation of communication equipment onboard the aircraft
* Being an effective and safe member of the aircrew
* Management and manipulation of mission data, production of geospatial data and post flight reports
* Routine engagement with customers, concerning preparedness, planning, and reporting
* Proactive contribution to team projects, which may include contribution to:
* Training activities
* Manual and SOP authoring
* Exercise planning
* Engagement activities and events
* Being a member of an installation team, if required, for our modular dispersant spray systems
* Participation in the company Safety Management System
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Given the unique and varied role, RVL encourages interest from applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds.
Essential knowledge/skills/experience include:
* Mathematical proficiency
* Strong written and verbal communication skills
* Willingness and confidence to participate in high-profile debriefings, meetings etc.
* Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite of applications, and the aptitude to learn/use specialist computer programs with appropriate training
* Aptitude to grasp technical concepts, sufficient to understand the use and limitations of equipment such as cameras, communication equipment etc (full training given)
* An interest in the relevant subject matters (aviation/maritime/environment/technology). The role is very demanding and therefore a genuine enthusiasm for what we are striving to achieve is essential.
Desirable
* Flight operations experience
* Aviation experience
* Maritime / Offshore Oil & Gas industry experience
* Counter pollution / Marine environmental experience
* Search and Rescue experience
* Law enforcement / regulation experience
* Military/emergency services/critical incident operational experience
* Interest/skills/knowledge in photography, whether professional or otherwise
* Experience/knowledge of more sophisticated remote sensing equipment, such as electro-optic/infra-red systems and radar
* Extended IT skills/knowledge/experience
* GIS experience/skills
* Experience/skills/aptitude to become involved in the authoring of training materials and/or manuals and standard operating procedures (scope to augment this with the role, to be discussed at interview)
* Experience/skills/aptitude to become involved in business development activities (scope to augment this with the role, to be discussed at interview)
Other Requirements
Must be willing to undertake the following checks and training:
* Airport Airside Security Pass screening process (5 year continuous education/work and residence history)
* Baseline Personnel Security Clearance process
* English language proficiency to industry standards
* CAA Class 2 Medical
* Ditching training (water survival)
* Aircrew fire & smoke training
* First aid training
* RYA VHF Licence & Aircrew FRTOL
* Extensive training on the systems and equipment used
Special Considerations
This role involves duties onboard a light aircraft, for extended periods of time day/night, within all weather conditions as permitted by our Operations Manuals. You must be able to operate safety equipment onboard the aircraft, and access/egress the aircraft safely – therefore a general level of fitness and mobility is required.Unfortunately, due to the nature of our work and the role, you may be confronted with unpleasant situations akin to those you would expect in an emergency services capacity. Support will be available, but this aspect should be considered.You may be required to present evidence as an expert witness. Full training and support will be provided.This role involves working shift patterns that include night-time and weekend working. Travel within the UK and Europe is sometimes necessary, including temporary forward-basing in the event of a protracted incident.