Strategy and Implementation - Establish and manage a strategic research and innovation agenda and framework within SRD&I aligned to business strategy which enables RD&I to seek opportunities for improvement and innovation in every area. Provide strategic leadership and guidance to the Research, Development & Innovation function to enable the successful achievement of required business objectives and deliverables. Provide input into the ATNS strategy based on research findings. Develop, implement and articulate the RD&I strategy and value proposition to the organization. Drive delivery of the required RD&I research and innovation project portfolio and initiatives within the agreed time, budget and standard/quality requirements. Analyze trends and metrics in partnership with the Chief SRD&I that will inform the development of current and future required solutions, programs, and policies aligned to business priorities

Operationalization of RD&I - Conduct or commission strategic market, industry and technology research. Develop and coordinate a roadmap for ATNS of the future in collaboration/partnership with all internal stakeholders. Manage and administer the end-to-end innovation management process from idea management to business case review. Provide RD&I thought leadership to the organization aligned to the vision and overall business strategies, and provide recommendations and advice on the research, development and innovation agenda. Develop and implement the RD&I operating model based on end-user requirements, benchmarking and strategic objectives. Conduct research and statistical analysis to identify opportunities for improving efficiency across the function. Benchmark service delivery of RD&I against global best practices. Provide specialist advice with regards to RD&I issues in the organization. Maintain, promote and continuously improve RD&I efficiency and related processes. Drive cost-effectiveness and efficiencies in the function’s operations through implementation of appropriate initiatives and methods. Formulate and implement appropriate RD&I policies and practices to guide processes within the function. Drive system improvements to ensure availability of the most effective systems and tools to enable efficiency within the function. Identify and undertake RD&I related projects to enable achievement of the ATNS business strategy and related initiatives. Attend seminars, conferences, workshops, etc on RD&I related matters to remain abreast of the current and future landscape

Manage the Research, Development & Innovation Agenda - Establish an in-depth understanding and analysis of the macro air traffic control and navigation environment and ATNS strategic objectives to inform the research agenda and identify innovation opportunities. Focus research, development and innovation on Air Traffic Management solutions and associated services that meet the needs and expectations of the ATM community and that will support the long-term financial sustainability of ATNS. Develop a research agenda that actively supports the company’s strategic objectives and business priorities. Provide plans and guidelines on the establishment of long-term ATM/cns systems to ensure system capacity that is aligned to stakeholder requirements. Prepare plans, processes, procedures and safety cases for introducing new technologies into the operations environment. Lead Intellectual Property management and manage projects from research to commercialization. Provide a RD&I thought leadership into the organization aligned to the vision and overall business strategy. Support the organization's competitive position and profitability by conducting continuous research into innovative products. Plan and direct all aspects of the ATNS research and development objectives and initiatives. Produce key research reports, journals and papers from those emanating technology areas that the business invest in. Scan the market to monitor research and development initiatives of other organizations to spot trends in innovation and supplement research findings in the aviation industry. Develop business cases for the implementation of new technologies to drive innovation. Drive continuous improvements in conceptualization of ideas to attract new opportunities. Identify and undertake research and development projects that will advance the corporate objectives of ATNS. Prepare plans, processes, procedures and safety cases for introducing new technologies into the operational environment. Design and develop research questionnaires and surveys to gather market intelligence   amongst other things. Follow-up customer responses to new ideas, track and analyze the success of new products or services and provide feedback to customer questions or concerns. Compile technical and functional specifications aligned with business requirements and user needs. Drive improvement through a stronger focus on research and innovation. Direct and contribute to the preparation of market research, cost benefit analysis, dissemination and deployment roadmaps, guidelines, and other relevant documents. Identify improvements in existing processes and procedures to enhance innovation and research. Work with other departments/ functions to integrate research and innovation into their day-to-day work to achieve the RD&I and ATNS business strategies aligned to the ATNS vision. Embed design thinking principles to create disruptive solutions in the organization. Consider commercial implications in all decision-making including IP protection processes. Monitor and technically appraise the RD&I decision making tools and models and update periodically. Evaluate the outcomes of new products and processes to ensure continuous and improved business results and drive improvement on existing offerings. Evaluate benefits, trade-offs and impact of new technologies. Recognize promising ideas and find ways to introduce them into the organization’s future plans and discard ideas that are ineffective, costly, or unaligned to the strategy of ATNS. Formalize product development, innovation and marketing intelligence processes across the company. Actively contributes to building a high performing and collaborative culture with customers being at the heart of the company’s offerings. Lead continuous engineering and innovation analysis and best solution investigations and concepts based on technology trends and innovation. Responsible for engaging in the structuring, negotiation and closing of potential licensing deals and new venture formation which emerge from our research and innovation projects. Set the ATNS technology and innovation agenda and path in line with the ATM Roadmap and ATM enabling technologies roadmap. Make presentations to ATNS and third parties on RDI project outcomes. Analyze current airport and airspace capacities and future traffic growth and related CNS system requirements and developments. Partner with the wider business to build and foster innovation in our culture of service excellence. Work with Customer Solutions and other relevant departments to gain and embed customer insights into innovation and ensure that customers are at the heart of everything we do. Instill and embed a passion for innovation; recommend strategies for removing barriers to re-wire creative and innovative thinking solutions across the asset management group. Drive identification of solutions to identified issues, now and into the future using the best-in-class decision making processes to develop best for business solutions. Participate in relevant conferences and events to present the innovation agenda and to stay current with respect to the most recent technical breakthroughs, key thought leaders, and new approaches to the management of research and innovation. Undertake data analysis and development of theoretically sound tools which when implemented will improve customer service through development and rollout of the most relevant products. Manage overall co-ordination and tracking of involvement in research and innovation within the company. Manage project activities in collaboration with key stakeholders and internal partners. Lead Intellectual Property management, taking projects from research to commercialization. Identify product commercialization opportunities of the products and how projects can move towards scaling and commercialization. Prepare commercialization plans and agreements, including managing benefit products and identifying potential spinoffs. Gather and analyze relevant data, trends and patterns, and identify gaps and opportunities, particularly in respect of key ATNS products and services to enable efficient achievement of the ATNS strategy. Set clear targets for RD&I and ensure achievement of such targets by cascading them throughout the function

Governance, Risk, Compliance & Reporting - Manage and implement a robust governance framework for the RD&I function. Continuously monitor and measure compliance with all ATNS policies and procedures and relevant legislation. Manage the function’s performance against strategy and set targets and corporate objectives. Lead overall risk assessment of RD&I projects and issue management and develop and implement effective mitigation plans and actions. Develop product level risk analyses as appropriate. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policy and standards. Consolidate input from all relevant parties to prepare strategic level reports for the Chief SRD&I and other relevant stakeholders. Prepare formal and ad hoc reports as required

Stakeholder Relations Management - Build, maintain and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with relevant stakeholders. Develop, manage and maintain sound relationships with key stakeholders. Build and maintain effective collaborative relationships with all relevant business functions and teams within ATNS to enable alignment and optimal service delivery

Financial Management - Manage expenditure in line with business priorities and objectives, and within approved financial parameters. Develop and manage the RD&I budget in line with strategic business objectives and the ATNS mandate. Ensure compliance to company financial policies and procedures. Report on all costs incurred against the approved budget as well as any possible deviations thereto

People Management - Manage staff in accordance with HC policies, processes and practices. Ensure that new employees have been properly on-boarded prior to commencing work. Monitor the time and attendance of subordinates, take appropriate action in the case of absenteeism, and report issues to management and Human Capital. Ensure the availability of skilled and competent staff in the strategy function to meet the current and future needs aligned to the departmental and overall business strategies. Ensure that staff is managed in accordance with HC policies, processes and practices. Promote high levels of discipline and performance standards to achieve the ATNS strategies. Lead and manage the RD&I team to utilize their skills and expertise to support an integrated approach to research and innovation in the company. Manage performance outputs of the team by using the performance management system and taking corrective action promptly and effectively. Mentor and coach staff as required to ensure continuous development and availability of the required at all times. Ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills to enable sustainability within RD&I from a succession management perspective. Perform talent management aligned to the HR policies and procedures. Manage implementation of the transformation initiatives within RD&I to ensure an inclusive environment. Drive employee engagement and retention within RD&I function.

Interested applicants are requested to register their CV’s and apply on https://atns.ci.hr/ by no later than 14 OCTOBER 2025.

If you have not been contacted within 3 weeks of the closing date of this advert, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.

 ATNS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to achieve a diverse workforce broadly representative of our people. This position will be filled in line with the objectives of ATNS’ Employment Equity Plan and therefore candidates from designated groups as per the Employment Equity Act of 1998, are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.