About You

Not only will you bring the technical and operational expertise required for the role, but you will also be an inspiring people leader who can support, develop and motivate others while delivering high-quality outcomes in a complex and evolving environment. To be successful, you will have a proven track record of leading and developing individuals and teams to achieve organisational objectives. You will be confident in creating an inclusive and high-performing culture, enabling people to perform at their best while fostering engagement, accountability and continuous improvement.

You will demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a confident and approachable style that allows you to build effective relationships and influence a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders. You will be comfortable communicating through a variety of channels and formats, adapting your approach to meet the needs of different audiences. You will also have the ability to analyse complex issues, evaluate information, and develop clear, well-reasoned recommendations. You will be able to present supporting arguments and decisions in a concise, accessible and balanced way, helping to drive effective outcomes and informed decision-making.

Essential:

• Must have a detailed understanding of the safety regulatory requirements associated with the planning, provision and operation of Ground Handling Services in Aerodromes. In this regard, a detailed knowledge of the following documents is essential:
  • UK (EU) Reg No 139/2014
  • ICAO Annex 14
  • ICAO Annex 19
  • Various CAPs including (inter alia):
    • CAP 168 – Licensing of Aerodromes
    • ICOM – IATA Ground Operations Manual
    • AHM – IATA Airport Handling Manual
    • Relevant sections of the UK Air Navigation Order.
• You will demonstrate a sound understanding of the principles of Safety and Quality Management and will have or have held one of the following:
  • Practical experience of the provision of Ground Handling Operations in accordance with a Safety Management System (preferably having held specified Safety Accountabilities and Responsibilities).
  • Professional level qualification and/or experience of working in ground safety, aviation industry or regulatory environment.
• You will have completed training in (and will have experience of) risk management techniques in a Ground Handling environment and will have the ability to assess the effectiveness of an SMS at expert level.
• You will have completed training in (and will have extensive experience of) auditing skills and techniques, and typically, an appropriate combination of:
  • practical experience at management level in Ground Handling operations,
  • relevant professional qualification or industry equivalent.
  • previous experience in a regulatory role;
  • previous line management experience.
  • sound understanding of the principles of Safety Management, including the ability to assess the effectiveness of an SMS.
• You will be required to provide briefings of technical matters to a range of audiences, including expert witness input as required, and must therefore have a confident but approachable style, be comfortable in communicating in a range of formats and be able to present issues and supporting arguments in a concise yet comprehensive manner.

Additional Information

Please note that the teams work on a hybrid basis and several of the team work across various locations.

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. 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 5 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

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 the 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: 20 October
Interview Date: TBC October / November

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.