Careers

As a key member of the management team, the Legal Manager reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and plays a strategic role in overseeing legal matters and challenges faced by the PNGAIC. The successful candidate will lead the legal function in alignment with ICAO standards, governance frameworks, and transport safety regulations. Additionally, the Legal Manager provides secretariat support to the AIC Board, contributing to the Commission’s overall governance and decision-making processes.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide timely, clear and authoritative legal advice to the CEO, AIC Board and management on aviation safety, corporate governance, administrative law, contracts, and multi‑modal transport investigation frameworks.
• Researching and analysing statutes, decisions, legal articles, and providing professional written and oral legal advice to AIC Board, managers, and officers.
• Lead the drafting and revision of Bills, Regulations, Rules, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and other statutory instruments to support AIC mandates and ICAO compliance.
• Liaise with the Department of Justice & Attorney‑General, State Solicitor’s Office, Department of Transport and other stakeholders on legislative amendments and regulatory proposals.
• Represent the AIC before administrative tribunals, arbitration panels, National Court and Supreme Court in all legal proceedings.

• Serve as Secretary to the AIC Board: prepare agendas, draft minutes, monitor action items, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and corporate standards.
• Advise on Board governance frameworks, conflict of interest policies and risk‑management protocols.
• Lead, mentor and supervise any legal or governance staff; manage workload allocation, performance reviews and professional development.
• Oversee the Commission’s legal compliance program in relation to PNG legislation, international aviation standards (ICAO), and emerging multi‑modal transport investigation obligations.
• Provide legal guidance throughout the lifecycle of aircraft accident and serious incident investigations, including evidence protection, data privacy, and stakeholder communications.
• Draft legal guidance notes and internal policies to uphold the AIC’s “no‑blame” and “independent/objective” principles.
• Advise on corporate matters: procurement, contracts, intellectual property, human resources, ICT and financial management.
• Ensure all Commission operations comply with public service regulations and PNG statutory requirements.

Minimum Qualification/Requirements:

• Bachelor of Laws Degree with more than 7 years post-admission with leadership/strategic advisory experience, and a registered member of PNG Law Society.

• Demonstrated experience researching and analysing statutes, decisions, legal articles, and providing professional written and oral legal advice to AIC Board, managers and officers with a proven strong sense of urgency and results orientation.
• Proven ability and proven experience drafting legislation and other legal instruments and liaising with the State Solicitor and other relevant legal entities.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with government agencies, regulators and industry stakeholders. Well-developed oral and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to compile concise, logical, considered and technically correct reports meeting Public Service and Legal reporting requirements and standards.

• Demonstrated ability to represent the AIC at meetings, conferences and other forums, making speeches and presentations on relevant topics.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills of a high order, having a cooperative and supportive attitude and ability to learn and work as an individual or as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Ability to liaise with a variety of individuals and organisational representatives from differing cultural backgrounds.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office suite and legal research databases.

Application Submission Details

Full details of salary, conditions of employment, and job descriptions will be provided during the interview.

Please forward your written applications including relevant certificates together with recent updated CVs to:

The Chief Executive Officer

PNG Accident Investigation Commission

P O Box 1709, BOROKO,  111 NCD

or via email: jobs@aic.gov.pg 

NOTE: Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks from the closing date of application, then you may consider your application unsuccessful.

Applications close on 20th August 2025.

Position overview:

The Legal Officer supports the Legal Manager and the PNGAIC by providing operational legal and administrative assistance. This role contributes to ensuring that all Commission activities comply with the PNG Civil Aviation Act 2000, ICAO Annex 13, internal policies, and other relevant legislation. The Legal Officer will handle routine legal matters, drafting and reviewing documents, conducting research, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities:

• Conduct legal research on aviation safety regulations, administrative law, contract law, corporate governance, and related fields.
• Prepare concise legal memos, briefing notes and summaries of legislative provisions for the Legal Manager and senior staff.
• Assist in drafting and reviewing contracts, MOUs, legal notices, internal policies and procedural documents.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with statutory requirements and best practice precedents.
• Monitor updates to PNG legislation, ICAO Annexes and other regulatory requirements; maintain the legal compliance register.
• Provide administrative and research support in legal proceedings, tribunals and arbitration cases.
• Coordinate document compilation, evidence management, and scheduling for hearings under the supervision of the Legal Manager.
• Support the Legal Manager in preparing Board meeting materials, including agendas, minutes and follow‑up of action items.
• Maintain governance documentation and ensure record‑keeping complies with statutory timeframes and standards.
• Liaise with internal departments (Investigations, Corporate Services) and external bodies (State Solicitor’s Office, CASA PNG, Department of Transport) on routine legal enquiries.
• Manage legal file systems, track deadlines and ensure timely responses to requests for information.
• Contribute to ad hoc legal and policy projects, such as legislative amendment proposals and legal guidance development.
• Assist in workshop organization, presentations, and stakeholder consultations on legal topics when required.

Minimum Qualification/Requirements:

• Bachelor of Laws Degree with a minimum of three years post-admission experience, and current registration with the PNG Law Society.
• Demonstrated experience researching and analysing statutes, decisions, legal articles, and providing professional written and oral legal advice to managers and officers with a proven strong sense of urgency and results orientation.
• Proven ability to conduct thorough legal research and draft clear, concise advisory notes.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications and familiar with legal research databases.
• High level of accuracy in drafting and reviewing legal documents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining legal concepts to non‑lawyers.
• Collaborative attitude, able to work under the direction of the Legal Manager and with multidisciplinary teams.
• Effective time management, able to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office suite and legal research databases.

 Application Submission Details

Full details of salary, conditions of employment, and job descriptions will be provided during the interview.

Please forward your written applications including relevant certificates together with recent updated CVs to:

The Chief Executive Officer

PNG Accident Investigation Commission

P O Box 1709, BOROKO,  111 NCD

or via email: jobs@aic.gov.pg 

NOTE: Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks from the closing date of application, then you may consider your application unsuccessful.

Applications close on 20th August 2025.