Global aviation role up for grabs as KCAA calls for director

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has announced a high-level job opening for the position of Director of its Permanent Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada.

The five-year appointment seeks a qualified Kenyan citizen to represent and advance the country’s aviation interests on the global stage.

KCAA, a state corporation under the Ministry of Roads and Transport, implements the Chicago Convention on behalf of the government.

Kenya has been a signatory to the convention since 1944, which established ICAO to ensure the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation.

The ICAO mission office works closely with the Kenya High Commission in Ottawa and the Ministry of Roads and Transport, playing a “critical advocacy and influencer role to promote and secure Kenya’s aviation interests,” according to the job notice.

The Director will have wide-ranging responsibilities. These include representing Kenya at ICAO, maintaining collaborative relations with ICAO and other member states, and providing technical leadership in the development of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).

The role also involves advising on Kenya’s ratification of ICAO conventions and protocols, securing technical and financial support, and facilitating participation of Kenyan experts in ICAO panels, work groups, and technical committees.

The Director will champion the interests of Kenya’s civil aviation sector, covering safety, security, air navigation, and environmental matters.

They will guide the domestication and implementation of international standards, advise relevant state agencies on ICAO Council and Air Navigation Commission matters, and prepare Kenya’s working and information papers for ICAO meetings and assemblies.

The position also entails overseeing mission office budgets, policies, work plans, and risk management, while facilitating participation of Kenya’s diplomats and delegates in international aviation meetings.

Applicants are required to have at least fifteen years of relevant experience, including five years at management level.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil aviation management, aeronautical engineering, electrical engineering, economics, business administration, management, law, or an equivalent field from a recognised university.

Professional qualifications in piloting, aviation engineering, air traffic control, or aeronautical information management are also essential. Membership in a professional body and proficiency in computer applications are required, while leadership training lasting at least four weeks is considered an added advantage.

The KCAA emphasises that the successful candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the aviation industry, local, national and international aviation conventions, and the Civil Aviation Act, CAP 394.

Interested applicants are asked to submit application letters, certified copies of academic and professional certificates, testimonials, and a detailed curriculum vitae including contacts for three referees.

Applications must be received by April 21, 2026 and can be sent by post to the Director General at Aviation House, JKIA, P.O. Box 30163 – 00100, Nairobi, or by email to [email protected]. The Authority noted that “only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.”

This recruitment underscores Kenya’s commitment to strengthening its presence and influence in global civil aviation affairs, while ensuring the country actively participates in shaping international aviation standards and policies.