Duty Manager - IOCC

About the role

Astral Aviation is looking for a seasoned aviation operations leader to take charge of shift-based control in the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC). This position sits at the heart of the airline’s day-of-operations activity and demands confident, timely decision-making in a 24/7 environment with alternating morning and evening shifts.

As Duty Manager, you will hold operational authority during your shift and be accountable for delivering safe, lawful, compliant, and dependable execution of the flying schedule. The role brings together dispatch, crew coordination, ground handling, terminal coordination, and maintenance liaison into one coordinated command structure.

You will be expected to maintain strict adherence to standard operating procedures, audit checkpoints, communication controls, and overall operational standards across all flights.

Job details

• Department: Flight Operations
• Work location: Head Office, Nairobi County, Kenya
• Shifts: 24/7 dual-shift IOC coverage with AM/PM rotation
• Positions available: 3
• Application deadline: 30-Jun-2026

Key responsibilities

• Lead live operational execution during your assigned shift within the Integrated Operations Centre.
• Act as the main decision-maker for operational matters while on duty.
• Coordinate flight dispatch, crew control, ground operations, terminal activities, and maintenance support into a single workflow.
• Ensure the airline’s flying programme is run safely, legally, and in line with company and regulatory standards.
• Apply SOPs, audit controls, and communication protocols without exception.
• Manage operational integrity across all flights and respond decisively to disruptions.
• Support predictable on-time performance and oversight of disruption handling.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Operations Management, Communications, Logistics, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in airline operations, IOC/OCC settings, dispatch, or flight operations control.
• Demonstrated ability to make operational decisions in a high-pressure airline environment.
• Strong working knowledge of flight operations control and dispatch workflows.
• Sound understanding of crew legality and scheduling rules.
• Practical familiarity with weight and balance, payload handling, and flight tracking systems.
• Experience with OTP governance and irregular operations/disruption management.
• Background in 24/7 shift-based operational work.
• Solid grasp of SOP compliance, aviation regulations, and operational risk management.

Application notes

Applications are accepted online through the company’s official website only. Candidates should submit a detailed CV and a cover letter that highlights regulatory leadership experience, audit exposure, and engineering financial management capability. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Astral Aviation is an equal opportunity employer.