Executive Manager Audit & Surveillance

MANAGER, AUDIT AND SURVEILLANCE

Department: Corporate Quality and Safety Department
Reports to: General Manager, Quality, Safety, Risk and Audit
Location: Port Moresby
Eligibility: Open to Papua New Guinea Nationals

Air Niugini Limited, Papua New Guinea's national airline, is seeking an exceptional and highly motivated aviation professional to join our leadership team as Manager, Audit and Surveillance within the Corporate Quality and Safety Department.

Reporting directly to the General Manager, Quality, Safety, Risk and Audit, you will lead the Audit Office, manage critical relationships with regulatory authorities including CASA PNG and the IATA Audit Organisation, and support executive management in identifying, assessing, and mitigating business risks. The position also serves as the deputy to the General Manager and provides strategic leadership in the oversight of Air Niugini's quality assurance, compliance, and surveillance activities.

The Manager, Audit and Surveillance is responsible for leading, developing, and continuously improving Air Niugini's Internal Audit Program to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies, and international aviation standards.

The successful candidate will oversee all internal audit and surveillance activities, provide management with accurate and timely assessments of organisational risk, and ensure that corrective and preventative actions are effectively implemented. This role is critical in maintaining Air Niugini's safety culture, regulatory compliance framework, and IOSA accreditation standards while supporting operational excellence across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant will:

Audit Leadership and Governance

• Develop, implement, administer, and continuously monitor the Internal Audit Program to ensure comprehensive audit coverage across all operational and corporate areas.
• Ensure the Audit Office maintains sufficient qualified auditors and achieves established performance and quality objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight of audit planning, scheduling, execution, and reporting activities.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

• Monitor compliance with Papua New Guinea Civil Aviation legislation, Air Niugini's Part 119, Part 141 and Part 145 Expositions, and the latest IOSA Standards Manual requirements.
• Ensure organisational compliance risks are identified, assessed, monitored, and appropriately reported.
• Serve as the principal liaison with CASA PNG and the IATA Audit Organisation on regulatory and IOSA-related matters.

Audit and Risk Management

• Lead and coordinate internal audits and surveillance activities throughout the organisation.
• Coordinate external regulatory, IOSA, and compliance audits and facilitate the successful closure of audit findings.
• Review and approve Audit Finding Notices to ensure they are accurate, objective, evidence-based, and clearly articulated.
• Validate root causes, causal factors, and risk assessments associated with audit findings.
• Monitor corrective and preventative actions and escalate overdue actions to the Quality and Safety Committee.

Reporting and Executive Assurance

• Provide timely and comprehensive audit reports, risk exposure profiles, trend analyses, and compliance updates to senior management.
• Prepare monthly risk and compliance reports for the Quality and Safety Committee.
• Contribute audit, surveillance, and risk information to Safety Review Board submissions and Board reports through the General Manager.
• Immediately escalate any High or Extreme Risk findings to the General Manager, Quality, Safety, Risk and Audit, or in their absence, the Chief Executive Officer.

Service Provider Surveillance

• Oversee the compliance and surveillance of contracted service providers.
• Conduct or coordinate Level 3 audits of prospective non-IOSA or provisionally IOSA-accredited service providers.
• Monitor the ongoing accreditation status and compliance performance of approved providers.

Systems, Training and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain audit databases, auditor registers, compliance matrices, controlled checklists, records management systems, and IOSA Conformance Reports.
• Drive continuous improvement in audit methodologies, audit tools, surveillance systems, and reporting processes.
• Deliver initial and recurrent auditor training programs.
• Mentor and coach Level 1 and Level 2 auditors to support capability development and succession planning.
• Promote audit independence, integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct across all audit activities.

Business Support and Leadership

• Support departmental planning, budgeting, expenditure control, and financial reporting activities.
• Champion safety, security, and quality initiatives within the department and across the organisation.
• Act on behalf of the General Manager, Quality, Safety, Risk and Audit as required.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, applicants must possess:

Mandatory Requirements

• Papua New Guinea citizenship.
• A recognised Lead Auditor Certificate from an accredited educational institution or training organisation.
• A recognised Certificate in Quality Assurance, or an equivalent tertiary qualification in Business, Management, Aviation Management, or a related discipline. Postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA will be highly regarded.
• A minimum of five (5) years' aviation industry experience, preferably with a Flight Operations or Aircraft Maintenance background.
• At least three (3) years' management-level experience within an airline environment in Flight Operations, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, or Compliance.
• Demonstrated audit experience equivalent to Level 3 audit requirements, including the ability to independently conduct audits and produce high-quality audit reports.
• Strong knowledge of audit methodologies, root cause analysis, causal factor identification, and risk assessment principles.
• Comprehensive understanding of aviation regulatory frameworks, IOSA standards, and safety management systems.

Leadership and Professional Capabilities

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven leadership capability with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the capacity to influence at all organisational levels.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities with sound professional judgement.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes within strict timeframes.
• High standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach to leadership and problem-solving.
• The ability to maintain a broad organisational perspective while identifying emerging risks and compliance issues.

As Papua New Guinea's national airline, Air Niugini plays a vital role in connecting people, businesses, and communities throughout the country and internationally. We are committed to operational excellence, safety, innovation, and the development of our people.

This is an outstanding opportunity to take on a strategically important leadership role, contribute to the continual strengthening of Air Niugini's safety and compliance culture, and be part of an organisation that serves the nation with pride.

How to Apply

This vacancy is open to suitably qualified Papua New Guinea Nationals who meet the requirements outlined above.

Applications should include:

• A current Resume/Curriculum Vitae detailing relevant qualification, experience, and achievements.
• copies of academic and professional qualifications.
• Copies of relevant aviation certifications and licences (where applicable).
• Contact details of at least three professional referees.

Submit Applications -by clicking on Apply now.

Closing Date: 17 November 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and  invited to participate in a formal interview process.

Applications will be assessed against the stated requirements of the position. Qualifications, experience, licences, and professional achievements will be verified with current and previous employers and relevant authorities.

If you are a results-driven aviation professional with a strong background in auditing, quality assurance, risk management, and regulatory compliance, and are passionate about advancing aviation safety and operational excellence, we invite you to build your future with Air Niugini and help shape the continued success of Papua New Guinea's flag carrier.

Air Niugini is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified Papua New Guinea Nationals committed to safety, excellence, and professional integrity.