JOB SUMMARY

Can you turn complex data into decisions that shape the future of UK aviation?
Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced, high-profile policy area, collaborating with finance experts and policymakers to shape strategy and influence senior decisions?
Have you proven your ability to deliver results in a high-stakes, public-facing environment?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
The Aviation Directorate works to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader in aviation. We work hard to support a strong aviation sector that helps the UK exert its influence across the world. We work with the sector to ensure that investment, trade, jobs and social opportunities, which aviation creates, allows our country to thrive – connecting all the regions of the UK with an increasingly globalised society.
The CAA Sponsorship team sits within the Aviation Commercial, Strategy and Sponsorship Division whose work includes monitoring and interventions in commercial aviation, the Aviation Futures Forum, and the rights of consumers including those with disabilities, the overall aviation strategy. The Sponsorship Team will maintain its portfolio of oversight of the CAA/DfT relationship, CAA grants and CAA appointments.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it’s like working at DfT: Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

JOB DESCRIPTION

The CAA Sponsorship Senior Policy Advisor will also act as one of the main links between the Department and the CAA. The role involves collaborative working with the CAA, and the wider Aviation Directorate to manage the governance, funding, priorities, policy and performance of the CAA. The role requires flexibility to ensure ministerial and Director expectations are met and that the CAA remains reactive to external factors outside of its control.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to

• Regular communication with the CAA Strategy team to drive and monitor delivery against the government’s priorities and key policy areas set by the Secretary of State.
• Working closely with the Aviation and Heathrow Directorate, Finance, Public Bodies Centre of Excellence and the Public Appointments Team to understand key processes and policy and drive forward changes and improvements.
• Supporting the government grant funding provided to the CAA on an annual basis and the monitoring of those grant payments and any additional audits to ensure the CAA are meeting their planned KPIs and milestones.
• Managing the ministerial response to the CAA’s annual consultation on changes to regulatory charges to an exacting timetable including commissioning analytical assurance and collaborating with HM Treasury.
• Hosting the Sponsorship Board; working through the implications of the Spending review; and getting the ball rolling on new internal reporting processes for grant management.
• Providing briefings for the Director, Director General, Permanent Secretary and ministers for their governance meetings with the CAA’s Chair and CEO.
• Supporting the implementation of the recommendations from the recent commissions from the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Lead on regular correspondence regarding the CAA from the public and coordinate briefings with other government departments and the CAA.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

WORKING HOURS, OFFICE ATTENDANCE AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.
This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.
The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.
Occasional travel to other offices will be required.
If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to

• Regular communication with the CAA Strategy team to drive and monitor delivery against the government’s priorities and key policy areas set by the Secretary of State.
• Working closely with the Aviation and Heathrow Directorate, Finance, Public Bodies Centre of Excellence and the Public Appointments Team to understand key processes and policy and drive forward changes and improvements.
• Supporting the government grant funding provided to the CAA on an annual basis and the monitoring of those grant payments and any additional audits to ensure the CAA are meeting their planned KPIs and milestones.
• Managing the ministerial response to the CAA’s annual consultation on changes to regulatory charges to an exacting timetable including commissioning analytical assurance and collaborating with HM Treasury.
• Hosting the Sponsorship Board; working through the implications of the Spending review; and getting the ball rolling on new internal reporting processes for grant management.
• Providing briefings for the Director, Director General, Permanent Secretary and ministers for their governance meetings with the CAA’s Chair and CEO.
• Supporting the implementation of the recommendations from the recent commissions from the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Lead on regular correspondence regarding the CAA from the public and coordinate briefings with other government departments and the CAA

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior officials, public bodies, and external partners.
• Ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to influence and inform decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions at pace in a dynamic environment.
• A proactive and collaborative team player, able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and contribute to wider team goals.
• Good understanding of project management principles, with the ability to plan, monitor progress, identify risks, and drive delivery against objectives.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, with strong personal impact and the ability to produce high quality written material for ministers