Civil Aviation Authority
Head of Consumer Enforcement
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Salary: £97,000 up to £110,000 dependent upon experience
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time
Security Level: CTC
Location: London – Canary Wharf – 40% in the office per week
Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship
Closing Date: 5th October 2026
Interview Date: 20th October 2026
As part of the application process, please upload a cover letter explaining how your skills, experience, and leadership capabilities align with the requirements of the Head of Consumer Enforcement role, and how you would contribute to establishing and leading this new function.
We are the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator and recognised as a world leader in its field. Our activities are diverse, enabling the aviation industry to meet the highest safety standards, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the constantly evolving aviation environment.
The Role
The role holder will be responsible for establishing and implementing the CAA’s approach to consumer enforcement. This will ensure that the CAA is well positioned to make full use of existing enforcement powers, while also preparing for and helping to shape the implementation of any future direct consumer enforcement powers, including those that may be introduced through the Aviation Bill currently progressing through Parliament.
The purpose of the role is to lead and develop the Civil Aviation Authority’s consumer enforcement function, setting strategic direction, governance and delivery for complex regulatory investigations and enforcement action. The role is accountable for ensuring the CAA uses its consumer enforcement powers effectively, proportionately and transparently to improve compliance, secure better outcomes for consumers and maintain confidence in the aviation sector. As a senior leader, the postholder will shape regulatory strategy, where needed advice Executive and Board-level stakeholders, influence government policy development in collaboration with other senior managers in the consumer protection team and contribute to building organisational capability to deliver a modern, intelligence-led enforcement function.
This is a new and strategically important role that will lead the development and delivery of the CAA’s consumer enforcement function. It will support the CAA’s and government’s vision to protect consumers, ensuring their fair treatment by the aviation sector. This function will play a vital role in holding the aviation industry to account.
Core Accountabilities
- Establish and embed the approach to consumer enforcement at the CAA.
- Provide strategic leadership for the consumer enforcement function, including operating model, governance, capability and performance.
- Establish and maintain an intelligence-led enforcement framework covering prioritisation, risk assessment, investigation, decision making, sanctions and follow-up activity.
- Lead the most complex, sensitive and high-profile investigations and enforcement cases, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, legally robust and proportionate.
- Advise Directors, Executive Committee and Board-level stakeholders on enforcement strategy, case risks and regulatory interventions.
- Shape the CAA’s approach to consumer protection and contribute to future regulatory frameworks, including implementation of new statutory powers.
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary team including enforcement, investigation, policy and analytical specialists.
- Develop strong partnerships with government departments, competition and consumer authorities, ombudsman services and other regulators.
- Oversee legal, financial, operational and reputational risks associated with enforcement activity.
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Decision Making
- Exercises substantial delegated authority over enforcement strategy, investigation direction, case escalation and recommendations regarding regulatory intervention. Decisions influence industry behaviour, consumer outcomes, public confidence and organisational reputation.
- Influence the development and delivery of consumer enforcement investigations and actions, providing direction on the approach needed to drive successful outcomes.
- Develop materials for publication, setting out the CAA’s consumer enforcement approach and activities, taking a balanced approach considering regulatory, consumer and industry impacts.
- Make and oversee evidence-based decisions and recommendations to senior leadership at the CAA on consumer enforcement strategy and approach in individual enforcement cases.
Influencing Others
- Provides visible leadership in the Consumer Protection team and across the Consumer and Markets Group.
- Influences senior internal and external stakeholders, regarding complex and sensitive issues, and represents the CAA in public, regulatory and governmental forums.
- Advocate for the CAA's position with other regulators, government departments, and industry bodies.
- Communicate positions and decisions clearly to diverse audiences, including CAA Board, industry bodies and consumer stakeholder groups.
- Create partnerships across regulatory groups and influence emerging standards and frameworks.
- Foster collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
- Direct line management responsibilities within the Consumer Protection team, managing and supporting colleagues to get the most out of their career at the CAA by supporting their wellbeing, development and career progression
About You
Essential:
- Significant senior leadership experience within enforcement, regulation, competition, consumer protection, compliance, legal or investigative environments.
- Proven track record of leading complex investigations and regulatory interventions with significant public impact.
- Experience developing organisational strategy, governance and operating models.
- Strong understanding of enforcement principles, administrative law, evidential standards and regulatory decision making.
- Experience advising senior executives, boards or government stakeholders.
- Strong people leadership capability with experience building and leading high-performing specialist teams.
- Excellent judgement, political awareness and risk management skills.
- Outstanding communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience
Desirable:
- Knowledge of aviation, transport, or economic regulation.
Additional Information
For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. For these roles the post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance.
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To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 3 years.
If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.
For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK
For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance
The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to complete a declaration of interest.
Relocation & Property
The CAA will be relocating from Aviation House (Our Gatwick Office) to new premises in a few years’ time. Our move is driven by strategic, operational and environmental considerations.
We will be moving to a new local home, up to a 15-mile radius of Aviation House, to minimise disruption for our valued colleagues and customers.
We are now working with colleagues and visitors to understand what we need in our new office, before we start our property search. We will sell Aviation House and land, vacate the site and move to new premises, but we do not expect to move before 2028
Inclusive Recruitment
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident employer, candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be guaranteed an interview. Find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Use of Artificial Intelligence by candidates in the CAA recruitment process
We recognise that many of our candidates find Artificial Intelligence to be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected on that basis.
Working With Us
Explore What We Offer section on our careers website to find out about our benefits and how we support work-life balance.
Our Values
- Do The Right Thing
- Never Stop Learning
- Build Collaborative Relationships
- Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here
Closing Date: 5th October 2026
Interview Date: 20th October 2026
As part of the application process, please upload a cover letter explaining how your skills, experience, and leadership capabilities align with the requirements of the Head of Consumer Enforcement role, and how you would contribute to establishing and leading this new function.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
No recruitment agencies please.
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