Civil Aviation Authority
Principal - Aviation and Travel Policy
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Salary: circa £60,000 dependent upon experience
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time
Security Level: BPSS
Location: London, Canary Wharf (40% per month office attendance)
Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship
Closing Date: 7th August 2026
Interview Date: 25th August 2026
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.
About the Team You’ll Be Part Of
The ATOL & Airline Licensing Department within the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Consumer and Markets Group is responsible for managing the ATOL Scheme, which protects customers in the event of a travel company failure. In addition, the Department oversees the airline operating licensing and the foreign carrier permit functions.
The Policy, Governance & Insights Team is a key part of the ATOL & Airline Licensing Department, playing an important role in shaping and maintaining the regulatory framework for the UK aviation and travel sector. The team develops forward-looking policies and clear, practical guidelines that enable effective and proportionate regulation. Through its work, the team ensures that consumers are adequately protected while supporting a competitive and resilient travel industry. Alongside policy development, the team provides insight-driven analysis and promotes strong governance oversight internally.
We are looking for an individual with a regulatory policy background and a strong belief in doing the right thing for consumers to join our team.
The Role
We are looking for a Policy Principal to join our team.
This role reports to the Head of Policy, Governance & Insights and requires leading complex policy projects across the organisation. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues in the ATOL & Airline Licensing Department as well as with colleagues across the wider CMG and the CAA. The role also involves engaging effectively with a broad range of external stakeholders, ensuring that policy development is well-informed, evidence-based, and aligned with strategic priorities.
The role combines the need for strong analytical skills, excellent written communication skills and a broad understanding of aviation and travel issues, consumer issues, and market dynamics.
Colleagues in our team work closely with other teams across the CAA, other regulators, Government, and a range of external stakeholders to address problems that affect the aviation and travel industry.
Your Key Responsibilities
We are seeking an experienced policy professional with a strong track record in delivering complex policy projects to a high standard, producing clear accessible documents, alongside proactively managing and influencing effective stakeholder relationships.
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Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the development and delivery of complex policy projects in areas affecting the aviation and travel sectors, ensuring high-quality and timely outcomes.
- Drafting high-quality policy papers, consultation documents and regulatory guidance.
- Ensuring policies are evidence-based and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Undertaking robust data analysis to form insights, identifying industry trends, risks, and emerging issues.
- Conducting impact assessments, including financial, operational, and regulatory implications.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships across CMG and wider CAA, industry stakeholders, and Government bodies to influence policy direction through effective communication.
- Leading stakeholder engagement activities, including consultations and workshops.
- Producing clear, concise, and accessible documents for a range of audiences.
- Providing briefings, presentations, and recommendations to senior decision-makers within the CAA and external stakeholders.
- Planning and managing policy projects, and monitoring progress to ensure delivery to agreed deadlines and quality standards.
- Acting as a role model, actively demonstrating the CAA’s values of: Do The Right Thing; Never Stop Learning; Build Collaborative Relationships; and Respect Everyone.
The Skills, Knowledge, and Experience You Will Need for Success
- Interest in aviation and travel issues, with the desire to strengthen the effectiveness and resilience of the sectors and deliver positive outcomes for consumers.
- Experience of working in consumer and related policy areas.
- Ability to write concise, well-structured regulatory documents and to effectively present output to senior decision-makers within the CAA, government bodies and industry.
- Excellent communication skills, with an ability to bring together arguments and analysis clearly and robustly and convey these in a way that engages stakeholders and senior CAA colleagues.
- Ability to build, develop, and maintain strong, effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Understanding of the legislative process and how policy is developed, consulted on and implemented in this context.
- Strong attention to detail and critical-thinking capability, and the ability to exercise sound judgement and make effective decisions.
Desirable Skills
- An understanding of aviation and travel markets and their regulatory frameworks.
- Experience of using external market research organisations to undertake research on consumer priorities and preferences.
- Excellent data analysis skills.
- Experience of assessing organisational compliance with key regulatory requirements.
- Project management experience, including setting objectives, planning, tracking progress, and managing risks.
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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.
To be vetted, you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.
If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.
For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - [BPSS clearance](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](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](What We Offer) 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](Click Here).
Closing Date: 7th August 2026
Interview Date: 25th August 2026
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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