Officer - Wildlife Management

About Bahrain Airport Company:

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) is the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), the gateway that connects the Kingdom with the world. Tasked with developing the airport’s infrastructure, facilities, and commercial offerings, BAC has transformed BIA into the most modern boutique airport in the Gulf. With a strong focus on innovation, efficiency, and culture, BAC’s goal is to ensure that BIA stands out as a best-in-class airport that reflects the Kingdom’s distinct character and strengthens its position as a financial, cultural, and aviation center in the region. Since assuming the responsibility of managing and operating the airport in 2010, BAC has cemented BIA’s reputation as an attractive hub for airlines and passengers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensures that BAC has a robust WHMP to reduce the risk of wildlife strikes.
• Reviews statistical performance and ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to reduce risk.
• Ensures that the aerodrome bird maps are produced taking in to consideration bird strike risks, bird nesting and roosting sites within a 13km from the ARP that may have the potential to increase the bird strike risk.
• Ensures an annual review of the WHMP is undertaken taking into account any bird strike incident data with the aim of defining and reducing the risks from bird strikes and to ensure all recommendations have been implemented.
• Undertakes off-aerodrome inspections to investigate known bird habituating locations and identify new ones. This may be delegated to other members of the team as required.
• Analyse data from on-airport and off-airport bird patrols.
• Update the WHMP on a yearly basis including recommendations to prevent or minimize potential bird strikes
• To conduct annual reviews on all wildlife management related documents and associated procedures and to manage the quality control process as required
• Provide specialist advice to help manage wildlife and safeguard the aerodrome and surrounding areas
• Review bird strikes and advise Manager – Aerodrome Safety (MAS) of any recommendations for improvement.
• Provide advice to Manager – Aerodrome Safety (MAS) on appropriate forms of training and equipment required to enable the Airside Ops Team to undertake the tasks
• Carry out monthly inspections in the winter season and quarterly inspections in the summer season on off-aerodrome sites within the 13km radius, to gather data of attractants and to ascertain if any new species are present.
• Coordinate and work closely with Air Traffic Control (ATC) in regard to any bird or wildlife activities within the vicinity of the aerodrome
• Be available 24/7 and on-call to respond to abnormal activities or events.
• Ensure the wildlife management program risk assessment is conducted and updated every 6 months or as and when required
• Carry out regular safety promotion activities and awareness sessions to BAC staff, BIA stakeholders and contractors
• Conduct wildlife inspections on stakeholder premises and advice of necessary actions to be taken and follow up on the report for corrective action.
• Carry out any other relevant duties as and when requested by Manager – Aerodrome Safety (MAS) and in accordance with business needs.
• Conduct and maintain all wildlife committee meetings to ensure they are conducted on time and disseminate relevant minutes
• Conduct research and development on behalf of Aerodrome Safety in order to identify opportunities for improvement with data collection, recording, and reporting. This includes the proposal of new systems and applications and the development of business case studies and/or RFPs as and when required

Academic Qualification & Experience:

Minimum Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in biological science (i.e., at least 31 semester hours), with at least 9 semester hours in wildlife subjects, 12 semester hours in zoology, and 9 semester hours in botany or related plant science. Must be certified through an Airport Wildlife Hazard Management training course and have worked under the direct supervision of a qualified airport wildlife biologist conducting at least one Wildlife Hazard Assessment acceptable to the CAA/ICAO. Applicant must possess a valid driver's license at time of employment.

Minimum Experience: Two years of experience in wildlife management; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job