Job Description

About SOS MEDITERRANEE

SOS MEDITERRANEE  is a European maritime and humanitarian organization founded in 2015 in response to the humanitarian tragedy and the persistent absence of adequate state-led rescue capabilities on the Central Mediterranean route — the deadliest migratory route in the world since 2014. 

Created by a collective of European citizens committed to upholding human dignity, our organization operates with a clear mission: 

1. To rescue people in distress at sea; 
2. To protect and assist survivors on board our rescue vessel; 
3. To bear witness and raise public awareness about the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean. 

Since launching operations in 2016, SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued more than 40,000 people in coordination with its network across Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland, using the ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. 

With the aim of increasing contextual awareness in the Central Mediterranean and to document the human rights violations and interceptions happening in this maritime region, SOS MEDITERRANEE, as a humanitarian civilian association, is planning to scale up our operational capacity in partnership with another organisation to launch a  civilian aerial monitoring mission . We are currently working to be operational as soon as possible, this context we are looking for these profiles. This six-month pilot operation will be based in  Italy.

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Mission (HoM) on ground and to the Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) while airborne, the Monitoring Officer (MO) is part of the air team and is responsible for spotting distress cases and important related elements during flight operations. The MO captures evidence through photos, videos, and audio recordings to support SOS Mediterranee activities and uploads them according to organisational standards. 

Responsibilities : 

• Observe the sea from the aircraft and identify element of interest regarding mission goal: distress cases, pushback attempts, or other relevant maritime events 
• Capture image, video, and audio content that supports SOS MEDITERRANEE’s humanitarian testimony mission 
• Archive and tag audiovisual material using internal naming, backup, and legal compliance procedures 
• Provide internal training on AV protocols and documentation best practices 
• Ensure proper care and readiness of AV equipment 
• Report equipment issues and coordinate with the Air Liaison and Log Officer for necessary supplies/maintenance 
• Ensure detailed handover reports and smooth transitions between rotations 

Flight involvement : Onboard the aircraft for most missions; may support from ground during rest periods. 

Profile

Requirements:

• One year field experience with maritime or aerial civil monitoring organisations  
• Extensive knowledge of SAR activities and the geopolitical context of SAR in the Central Mediterranean
• Strong skills in  photography, video shooting, and sound recording , with the ability to produce multimedia material. 
• Highly computer literate (MS Office, email, MS Teams/SharePoint), with basic knowledge of IPTC metadata and editing software 
• Deep understanding of and commitment to humanitarian principles and civilian ethics 
• Strong interpersonal skills, stress management, and conflict resolution abilities 
• Ability to work in isolated settings, with small multicultural teams, under pressure 
• Capacity to follow and apply protocols in sensitive, politically charged environments 
• Fluent in  English (spoken and written); French, Italian, or Arabic are strong assets

Certifications

• Valid civil aviation medical certificate (Class 2 or equivalent)
• Strong AV experience is an asset, but no formal certificate is required

Contract and Conditions

• Contract : Fixed-term, 6 months
• Start Date: September 2025
• Schedule : rotative system with around 4 weeks deployements + 4 weeks off-duty, including paid leave (might be adapted during contract period to align on operational needs)
• Location: this position is based in Lampedusa during deployment. Flights are carried out in light twin-engine aircraft (e.g. Diamond DA-42, Piper Seneca II).
• Salary : between 1700€ to 2 750€ gross/month - depending on former experience & contract nationality (due to social contributions changes) 
• All mission costs covered : travel, local accommodation (provided in the SOS Méditerranée Guesthouse), food (as per diem), insurance
• Psychological support
• All PPE and technical equipment provided

Please submit your application by the 11th of August.

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