Personnel Licensing Policy Lead
Salary: Up to £75,000 subject to experience
Contract Type: Full Time Permanent
Security Level: BPSS
Location: Gatwick / Hybrid
Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently 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
As the Personnel Licensing Policy Lead, you drive the delivery of various workstreams in support of the licensing activities carried by the CAA. You will lead on all policy issues related to personnel licensing (flight crew, engineering and air traffic controllers (ATCOs)), to deliver and co-ordinate the activities of the respective Policy Specialists within Flight Operations (FO). You will oversee the provision of Safety and Airspace Regulation Group (SARG) technical and policy advice, and provide guidance, support and direction to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Rulemaking Team and Shared Service Centre (SSC), while maintaining strong working relationships with the CAA and SARG Capability Teams, in particular Flight Operations, General Aviation (GA), Medical Team, Office of General Counsel (OGC), and International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) as appropriate.
This role offers you a unique opportunity to lead a team in the delivery of a broad set of objectives covering a wide variety of subject matter. Its work will impact a significant proportion of the UK aviation community, and its contributions have the potential to be hugely influential, externally through the delivery of safety improvements and efficiencies but also internally as a representative of Personnel Licensing in cross functional working groups.
Both National and International travel may be required.
Core Accountabilities
* Lead and manage the Personnel Licensing Policy Team, providing direction, oversight, and training where required.
* Ensure that SARG, and thereby CAA, specialist personnel licensing policies remain up to date and where appropriate are in line with ICAO guidance.
* Maintain ability to review, formulate, and inform specialist policy by providing technical leadership, advice and support to the policy specialists.
* Ensure effective and consistent implementation of CAA policies, providing guidance on policy interpretation where appropriate
* Ensure CAA new or revised policies deliver high levels of standardisation within the Capability Teams and meet better regulation and performance-based regulation (PBR) principles.
* Inform and influence a broad range of CAA policy development.
* Inform and influence other teams within the CAA.
* Engage with other policy makers within CAA and wider government to ensure multi-disciplinary issues are addressed through effective collaborative working.
* Support international policy development to mitigate safety concerns and support Civil Aviation Authority International (CAAi) contract delivery where appropriate.
About You
Essential Criteria
* Aviation experience, preferably in a licensed occupation or experience of issuing licences for or another aviation regulator.
* Knowledge of relevant UK, European and global legislation, such as ICAO, FAA, EASA EU Regulations.
* Professional credibility to support effective application of previous experience and expertise to novel and potentially contentious issues.
* Strong personal and professional standards to ensure proportionate and appropriate development and application of policy.
* Strong interpersonal skills with experience of managing complex projects to support responsibility for leading, coordinating and contributing to multi-disciplinary teams.
* Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
* Experience and proven track record in working on policy issues and developing policy.
* Able to engage appropriately on key decisions; willing and able to influence with authority and positively challenge stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Stakeholder management experience - proven experience of operating with tact and diplomacy with diverse groups of stakeholders.
* Influencing and negotiation skills of a high order will be important to ensure the right outcomes are achieved with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
* Experience in decision making and balancing needs to make informed decisions .
Desirable Criteria:
* Experience of leading and managing a team of aviation professionals.
* Project management experience – with experience of leading a policy task being particularly desirable.
* Extensive knowledge and experience relating to personnel licensing – flight crew, engineering and/or ATCOs.
Additional Security 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. If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application. To be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance
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 passionate about diversity and ensuring all are included at the CAA. We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a member of the Disability Confident scheme, applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role with us will be guaranteed an interview. We use fair and inclusive selection approaches to hire the best person for the job based on merit alone. If you require an adjustment for any reason, 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: We are on a journey towards being increasingly adaptable, where our colleagues collaborate as part of cross-functional teams. This approach ensures we never stop learning together. It also means that you may become involved in activities that take you out of your day-to-day role, providing you with opportunities to develop and grow your career with us.
We have embraced hybrid working and offer flexible working patterns, being open to having a conversation about what works for you. We know where and when we work is important in achieving a work-life balance. We offer a range of excellent benefits such as flexible working arrangements, free onsite gym at Gatwick, discounted gym membership for London, 28 days annual leave, additional 5 days leave purchase scheme, a generous pension scheme and much more!
Our Values: Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here
Closing Date: 26th February 2026
Interview Date: WC 9 March 2026
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.
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.