FEM/26/037 – FAM2402 – Civil Aviation Law Expert

Overview

Under the Capacity Development and Implementation Directorate (CDI), the Operations Section (FOS) is responsible for the strategic planning, development, execution, and evaluation of projects. FOS supports the identification of priority civil aviation development needs and provides technical cooperation to recipient States, executing projects in accordance with relevant organizational policies and contractual modalities.

This role supports institutional reform efforts in the civil aviation sector of the Republic of Armenia, focused on transforming the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) into an autonomous, technically competent, and financially sustainable authority capable of fulfilling its safety oversight mandate in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The project also aims to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID.

The project includes three integrated reform pillars:

• Institutional and Legislative Reform — establishing the legal, regulatory, and governance framework for an autonomous CAC and independent AASIID
• Organizational, Administrative and Functional Review — restructuring the institution’s organization, processes, and manuals
• Sustainable Financing and Human Resources Framework — establishing cost-recovery mechanisms and a competitive HR framework to attract and retain qualified staff

Responsibilities

Team members contribute across the project’s phases:

• Diagnostic Phase: Assess the current CAC and AASIID legal, institutional, organizational, financial, and HR frameworks; review USOAP findings and the national legislative context
• Reform Design Phase: Develop reform recommendations, legislative drafts, organizational models, financial frameworks, and HR policies aligned with ICAO SARPs and related guidance/best practices
• Implementation Support Phase: Provide technical assistance to CAC and AASIID to implement approved reforms, including staff capacity building and stakeholder engagement

Key functions for this position include:

Function 1 (Legal review, drafting, and regulatory advice)

• Conduct a comprehensive review and gap analysis of Armenia’s existing aviation legislation (including the Law on Aviation and subordinate regulations) for alignment with:
  • ICAO Chicago Convention obligations
  • ICAO SARPs
  • related guidance (including ICAO Doc 9734) and best practices, as applicable
• Develop recommendations and draft legislative amendments to establish the legal basis for an autonomous CAC, including:
  • governance model
  • regulatory mandate
  • enforcement powers
  • accountability framework
• Develop recommendations and draft legislative amendments to establish the legal basis for an effective, sustainable, and independent AASIID
• Draft or substantially revise the primary civil aviation law of Armenia to enable the transition from the current CAC to an autonomous CAC, including provisions on institutional and financial autonomy
• Develop a legislative and regulatory implementation roadmap, including transitional provisions, secondary legislation, and regulatory orders required to implement institutional reform
• Align Armenia’s legislative framework with ICAO Annex requirements and ICAO Doc 9734 provisions on:
  • CAC and AASIID governance
  • autonomy/independence
  • regulatory functions
• Advise on the regulatory framework for core safety oversight functions, including:
  • certification
  • licensing
  • surveillance
  • enforcement
  • accident and incident investigations
• Coordinate with other experts (via Project Coordinator/Expert 4) on legal aspects of HR and financial reform

Function 2 (Project support and coordination)

• Perform duties under the coordination of the Project Coordinator to achieve project objectives
• When necessary, contribute to the review and harmonization of sections developed by other expert team members
• Compile documentation needed to carry out the work
• Prepare meetings and field visits, including stakeholder lists, questionnaires, and visit/meeting reports
• Participate in coordination meetings organized by CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator
• Ensure applicable safety, security, and sustainability considerations are incorporated into deliverables
• Under the Project Coordinator’s direction, contribute to development of a detailed work plan with delivery dates and responsibilities for each team member
• Contribute to monthly project monitoring reports submitted to CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator
• Contribute to review and integration of reports and documents into final deliverables
• Prepare presentations for project progress briefings to the Government of Armenia, ICAO, and other stakeholders

Function 3 (Legislative drafting and compliance assessment)

• Review and map existing Armenian aviation legislation against:
  • ICAO Chicago Convention obligations
  • SARPs
  • related guidance (including ICAO Doc 9734)
  • best practices, as applicable
  • Produce a legislative gap analysis report
• Draft or substantially revise primary civil aviation law and key secondary regulations to establish the legal foundation for an autonomous CAC and independent AASIID
• Develop a legal and regulatory implementation roadmap with transitional provisions
• Advise on ICAO compliance from a legal perspective, including:
  • Chicago Convention treaty obligations
  • USOAP corrective action requirements
• Coordinate with government legal advisors, the Ministry of Justice, and parliamentary staff on legislative drafting processes
• Provide legal opinions on the institutional status, powers, and accountability of the reformed CAC and AASIID as required during the project

Function 4

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Reporting / Working relationships

• The Civil Aviation Law Expert reports to Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) Authorities and coordinates in close coordination with the ICAO Program Manager.
• The role coordinates with ICAO experts on administrative matters to ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Education

• University degree in Law, with a focus on public law, administrative law, or international law
• Specialized education in aviation law or air law (Master’s degree or equivalent) is desirable

Professional experience

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in aviation law, public law, or regulatory reform
• At least 5 years specifically in civil aviation legislation
• Demonstrated experience drafting aviation legislation or primary laws establishing or reforming civil aviation authorities
• Solid knowledge of the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), its Annexes, and ICAO SARPs
• Experience working with ICAO Doc 9734 (Safety Oversight Audit Manual) and functional governance frameworks for CACs
• Proven experience in governmental legislative reform processes, preferably in developing or transition-economy contexts
• Familiarity with the CIS/Eastern European aviation regulatory and legal context is desirable

Languages

• Strong command of written and spoken English
• Knowledge of Russian or Armenian is a significant asset

Compensation & Benefits

• Special Service Agreement: 500 USD per day worked plus DSA and airfare when on mission
• No other allowances are provided

Location

• Armenia (project related work supporting reforms in the Republic of Armenia)