Date: 22 Aug 2025
Location: Gatwick, GB
Company: Civil Aviation Authority
Salary: £52,143 to £58,000 – dependent on experience
Contract Type: Permanent – Full time
Location: Gatwick – Hybrid
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.

IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR APPLICATION.

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THE ROLE

As a regulator one of the biggest challenges, we face is ensuring that policy is developed in line with industry technological and methodological advancements. Post EU-Exit the CAA has been presented with an outstanding opportunity to enable a dynamic programme of policy advancement designed to enable the UK to be at the forefront of innovation in the future aviation global marketplace, and to build on past successes where mature requirements are already in place. This means building on the CAA’s current policy related to heliports and addressing some of the most technically exciting, controversial, and pressing issues in aviation today and into the future. The diverse topics covered by this role range from participation in international groups, servicing CAAI contracts for the development of helicopter landing sites at UK hospitals (feasibility studies etc), working with industry, Department for Transport and other stakeholders to, addressing outcomes for heliport operations from fatal accident enquiries and the integration of hybrid electric vehicles into UK Airspace, with the accommodation of these new vehicle types at state-of-art purpose built vertiports and their operation at heliports or aerodromes.
As a Policy Specialist with a responsibility for Heliports & Vertiports you are being presented with a unique opportunity that encapsulates both the well-established, but evolving world of heliport requirements, combined with the novel, future focussed policy challenges of vertiports, that will test your ability to problem solve, manage varied stakeholder groups, and drive delivery. If you are the kind of person who thrives in an environment with a high degree of variety and stakeholder engagement, where you will be leading in the development of policy and safety improvements in a mature helicopter industry on the one hand but forging new ground in a fledgling eVTOL industry on the other, then this position offers you an unparalleled opportunity to make an impact in both these environments. The role will entail you partnering with external customers and other internal subject matter experts to deliver pragmatic and proportionate policy. Having as a pre-requisite a good working knowledge of heliport design and operations, you will be tasked with developing and applying your knowledge and expertise to ensure that the policy we are creating for vertiports is fit for purpose and does not stifle innovation but rather enables industry to develop quickly whilst prioritising the safety of the travelling and general public.
The decisions and actions you will take in this dual-hatted role will have far reaching implications and, will entail you developing further CAA’s suite of mature heliport requirements. You will have the opportunity to participate in international regulatory groups including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Minimum essential requirements for the role:

• You should possess a good understanding and familiarity with current heliport design standards as set out internationally in ICAO Annex 14 Volume II and the Heliport Manual. Familiarity with CAP 168, CAP 1264, CAP 437 and Reg 139/2014 (UK or EASA) is also considered to be an advantage. Military experience such as with RA3531 can be recognised.
• An understanding or background of working within a regulatory environment either within an aviation specialism (in particular an aerodrome and/or heliport design or a flight operations background) or another safety critical industry is desirable
• Demonstrable understanding and interest in innovation and technological trends, more specifically those that will shape the future of aviation, e.g. artificial intelligence, digitisation, and automation, RPAS, UTM, UAM, electrification and battery technologies
• Possessing a flexible and adaptable approach with evidence of working in highly dynamic and changing environments
• Having a proven aptitude for applying a risk-based and principles-led approach in an ambiguous environment where there are currently no standards or regulations and where priorities can change
• A curious and quick learner, able to seek out information to advise the project and generate new insights
• An effective written and verbal communication style with experience in management of relationships with industry and internal
• Having previously worked in the helicopter industry is considered to be an advantag