ORAT Manager - Airport Readiness

Overview

ORAT Manager – Airport Readiness (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a senior position responsible for leading operational readiness, airport transfer, testing, trials, certification, and transition activities for a major airfield development.

• Location:
  
  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Industry: Airlines / Aviation
• Function:
  Project-Program Management
• Job Type: Full‑time
• Experience
  
  Required:
  
  Minimum 15 years
• Salary: 38,000 – 52,000 (estimated, based on similar jobs in the city; confirm final offer with the employer)

• Develop and implement the airfield operational readiness and airport transfer strategy.
• Prepare the ORAT roadmap, execution plan, milestones, readiness criteria, and governance procedures.
• Define the scope, objectives, deliverables, responsibilities, and success measures for airside and landside readiness.
• Align ORAT activities with construction completion, systems commissioning, certification, and operational opening dates.
• Lead readiness planning for airfield facilities, airport systems, operational teams, and support services.
• Manage the transition from construction to live airport operations.
• Coordinate phased openings, soft launches, shadow operations, and final activation.
• Ensure asset handover activities are planned, documented, and completed.
• Coordinate operating manuals, standard operating procedures, maintenance records, training materials, and handover documentation.
• Plan and oversee integrated testing, operational trials, simulations, and readiness exercises.
• Confirm participation from airport operators, airlines, regulators, ground handlers, emergency services, and other operational stakeholders.
• Coordinate readiness activities for baggage handling systems, airport operational databases, flight information display systems, security systems, and air traffic control interfaces.
• Support the testing and integration of airfield ground lighting, safety systems, communications, and operational technology.
• Identify defects, readiness gaps, system failures, procedural weaknesses, and operational risks during trials.
• Assign corrective actions and monitor their completion before airport opening.
• Act as the primary ORAT interface between project teams and operational stakeholders.
• Coordinate airport operators, airlines, regulators, concessionaires, contractors, consultants, and service providers.
• Facilitate readiness workshops, trial planning sessions, stakeholder reviews, and executive briefings.
• Maintain transparent communication across all parties throughout the readiness lifecycle.
• Coordinate with aviation authorities, state agencies, emergency services, and security organizations.
• Ensure readiness activities comply with applicable national and international aviation requirements.
• Support airport certification, licensing, operating approvals, and regulatory submissions.
• Verify alignment with ICAO, IATA, and relevant local aviation standards.
• Ensure the safety management system is operational before opening.
• Coordinate testing of emergency response plans, incident procedures, escalation arrangements, and recovery protocols.
• Identify operational, technical, regulatory, resource, and programme risks affecting readiness.
• Maintain the ORAT risk register and dependency tracker.
• Develop mitigation plans and contingency measures for critical readiness risks.
• Lead issue‑resolution activities to protect opening milestones and minimize operational disruption.
• Monitor construction, commissioning, documentation, training, and stakeholder readiness dependencies.
• Coordinate with project controls teams to track ORAT milestones and critical‑path activities.
• Lead the Parsons ORAT team, consultants, contractors, and operational specialists.
• Define team responsibilities, reporting arrangements, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Mentor junior ORAT personnel and operational readiness specialists.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, safety, and a results‑focused working culture.
• Prepare ORAT dashboards, readiness reports, issue summaries, and risk updates.
• Present status, recommendations, decisions, and opening‑readiness assessments to senior management.
• Provide objective advice on phased activation, transfer…