Join to apply for the RPAS Product Owner role at Civil Aviation Authority
Salary: £56,000 up to £67,303 dependent upon experience
Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time
Security Level: CTC
Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.
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
Reporting to the FS&I Product Manager, the RPAS Product Owner will be responsible for the prioritisation and agile delivery of enhancements across the CAA’s digital services. Currently, the scope of the RPAS Product Owner’s responsibilities includes the management and continuous improvement of the Specific Category Operational Authorisations (based on SORA) process, Predetermined Risk Assessment (PDRA) and the Drone Model Aircraft Education Service (DMARES). The RPAS Product Owner will also manage the output of the DMARES Systems Owner and manage the team’s input into the development of new policies for Future of Flight (FoF) that impact the CAA’s digital service offering.
Core Accountabilities
* Lead a team to deliver services and iteratively improve them.
* Owns the Product Roadmap for development of technologies and processes.
* Work directly with key stakeholders on related stories for the agile team, voice of the user to the team, and voice of the team to the users.
* Help the delivery team build the right things in the right order by developing and prioritising product roadmaps and backlogs.
* Establish the methods by which to measure benefits throughout the delivery.
* Consider the total cost of ownership in decision making to demonstrate value for money in delivery and operation, including finance tracking and monitoring of revenue and costs for annual budgeting and Scheme of Charges.
* Develop an expert understanding of users’ needs within the context of evolving market, legal and policy requirements, and champion these in delivery.
* Define, explain and iterate a product vision that is compelling to users, teams and stakeholders.
* Build, prioritise and groom a product backlog, ensuring delivery of requirements with data-informed decisions, stakeholder input and team input.
* Ensure user stories have acceptance criteria and tests defined, and that tests are conducted to deliver against a story.
* Validate that stories meet acceptance criteria, acceptance tests, and Definition of Done.
* Collaborate with the Solution Architect and Agile team to understand needs and sequencing of key technology platforms hosting web services.
* Lead and participate in team demos and retrospectives.
* Set measurable goals for services and report progress against benefits.
* Ensure services align with Government Digital Service Standards and maximise value and user experience.
* Oversee 3rd party delivery of work items, including contracts, Statements of Work and milestone deliverables.
* Act as the 3rd party point of contact/relationship owner.
* Act as line manager for the DMARES Systems Owner, providing guidance and oversight.
About You
To be considered for the role you must have:
Essential
* A passion for developing public facing digital services with an outstanding user experience.
* A collaborative team player who is empathetic to team members and end users.
* A fast and committed learner.
* A strong communicator who can convey high level messages to senior managers and work in detail with delivery teams.
* Energy and enthusiasm to set the vision and inspire the delivery team to achieve it.
* A strong decision maker who can work with ambiguity and adapt techniques to the situation.
Desirable
* Experience as a Product Owner, Systems Owner or Product Manager.
* Technically proficient with prior digital role experience.
* Certificated in or working towards a certification in project management, SaFe, Agile, SCRUM, LEAN or Kanban.
* Experience of working in Agile teams and applying Agile Delivery principles.
* Experience or knowledge of user research techniques and how to articulate a user journey.
* Experience of working within the software development lifecycle.
* Understanding of modern digital platforms for large-scale public facing services.
* Understanding of integrating legacy technologies with modern platforms.
* Knowledge of the aviation industry and regulatory context.
* Contract and 3rd party supplier management experience (SOWs, milestones, CCNs, etc.).
* Line management experience.
Additional Information
For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. Post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance. Residency requirement is typically 3 years in the UK for vetting.
If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.
Vetting information: GOV.UK – Vetting explained.
The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity. If invited for interview you will complete a declaration of interest.
Relocation & Property
The CAA will relocate from Aviation House to new premises in a few years. The move will be within a 15-mile radius of Aviation House to minimise disruption. We will be moving to a new local home, and the project aims to avoid moving before 2028.
Inclusive Recruitment
We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident employer, applicants who meet minimum criteria will be guaranteed an interview. If you require an adjustment, please let us know.
Working With Us
We pursue adaptability with cross-functional teams, offering hybrid working and flexible patterns. We provide benefits including flexible working, onsite gym, pension, and more. Our values are: Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone.
Closing Date
Sunday 21st September 2025
Interview Date
Week commencing Monday 29th September 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. No recruitment agencies.
Job Segment: Developer, Project Manager, User Experience, Product Manager, Technology, Aviation, Operations
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