The Athens International Airport (AIA) is undergoing a billion-dollar expansion project, which is transformative and is targeted to cater to the growing passenger traffic and to meet the demands of current air travel. The development is a difficult project that would make AIA a leading player hub in Europe, and development initiatives entailing the expansion of terminals will be made, improvement in airport infrastructure will be implemented, and new facilities will be added. In light of such an enormous project, there was a need to have a highly skilled and specialized workforce for smooth implementation. It is at this point that the Dynamic Staffing Services (DSS) stepped in and came in handy to supply the talent needed to fulfill this vision.
The Challenge: Sourcing Skilled Workforce for a Complex Airport Expansion
Sourcing a capable workforce required for the Athens Airport Expansion project was one of the most critical bottlenecks in the exercise. The professionals needed for the project were specialists in a specific field, such as airport construction engineers, managers, safety officers, electricians, and mechanical specialists. These jobs required more than just technical abilities, but an understanding of dealing with large-scale, highly precise tasks in the intense atmosphere of an international airport.
As the project developed, the pressure to meet deadlines and cope with the diversified set of technical issues only increased. There was a strict deadline for the project timelines, and the workforce had to be deployed on short notice. The incredible number and specialization of the workforce to be managed, and the necessity to comply with the local and international safety regulations, brought several more aspects to the recruitment process that need to be comprehended and satisfied.
The Rigorous Process: Recruiting and Vetting Skilled Professionals
Dynamic Staffing Services (DSS) had to source first-rate professionals from a worldwide pool of talent in order to service the project’s requirements. Due to the nature of the expansion, the Dynamic Staffing Services team had to collaborate with AIA to determine the technical and safety standards for different positions. The recruitment process was elaborate and needed a serious testing of the skill sets, certifications, and experiences required for other positions.
Ms. Aparna, Senior Project Manager at DSS, commented, “The challenge wasn’t just on finding skilled professionals, but also ensuring that they were aware of the stringent standards faced in working in an airport setup. Each of the positions necessitated individual competence, and it was of the essence to ascertain whether the applicants possessed the requisite experience and education. We needed to hire not just construction engineers but managers, safety officers, electricians, and mechanical specialists. To overcome this problem, at Dynamic Staffing Services, we introduced a rigorous selection process in the form of in-depth interviews, trade tests, and strict safety training. Also, we worked with local authorities to ensure that they maintained the rigorous compliance standards stipulated for the airport’s expansion and that everyone involved was compliant.”
Overcoming Obstacles: Ensuring Quick Mobilization and Meeting Deadlines
One of the key barriers that came up in the course of the recruitment process was the limited time frames of the projects that required the speedy mobilization of the workforce. Dynamic Staffing Services needed to send qualified and trained professionals to Athens and do it in a reasonably short amount of time, which means expediting the visa and moving process of international applicants. This involved delicate coordination with embassies, local authorities, and transport logistics to bring the workers to the site in time.
Ms. Aparna said, “We had an enormous challenge of ensuring that workers from all over the world could be mobilized easily without affecting the deadlines of projects. We were determined to make sure that the team was going to arrive at the right time, and this meant beating bureaucracies and efficient management of logistics. The on-time deployment of skilled workers has been very important to the success of the Athens Airport expansion project, as each stage of the project has been successful since it was launched.”
Wrapping Up: A Key Contributor to Athens Airport’s Transformation
Dynamic Staffing Services turned out to be an essential partner for the Athens Airport $1 billion expansion project since we provided a necessary workforce for the project, which required intensive input. We have achieved this by making strategic hiring, testing ruthlessly, and mobilizing the right talents towards driving the expansion forward.
Dynamic Staffing Services remains among the best providers of workforce solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects due to our over 47 years of operations and the global network of offices in Europe and Asia. From handling complicated staffing requirements to tackling logistical issues, we help to make sure that the suitable experts will be available to handle any project of any size and complexity.
With 16 offices in 24 countries across Europe and Asia, Dynamic Staffing Services provides 15000 candidates to 500+ companies each year.
For any recruitment needs, you can reach out to Dynamic Staffing Services at clientservices@dss-hr.com to ensure you have the right talent to make your projects a success.
