Civil Aviation Authority - Non-Executive Director and ARAC Chair

Department for Transport; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job description

Organisation Civil Aviation Authority
Sponsor department Department for Transport
Location Various
Sectors Transport
Skills Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Commercial, Regulation
Number of vacancies 2
Time commitment 60 day(s) per annum
Remuneration £25,000 per annum
Length of term 3 years
Application deadline 11:55pm on 29 April 2025

About the appointment

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in being a non-executive director on the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

This is an important time for the Department for Transport. We are prioritising investments in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, enhance connectivity, drive economic growth, and ensure a fairer distribution of opportunities across the country. Our mission is delivering a transport system that works for everyone, fostering equality and inclusivity in every community.

We are recruiting for two non-executive directors to join our team on the Board of the CAA. The CAA is the United Kingdom’s independent aviation and aerospace regulator for airspace, consumer rights, economic regulation, safety, security compliance and spaceflight.

Of the two positions, one requires accounting expertise and will chair the Audit & Risk Committee, and the other requires up-to-date professional experience of aviation safety. Appointees will contribute to the CAA’s direction by providing constructive challenge to the CAA’s executive team to help ensure the CAA delivers its strategic objectives, drawing on consumer experience where appropriate, and taking part in a programme to engage with specific stakeholders to increase the CAA’s visibility.

We strongly welcome applications from all backgrounds. As part of the Department’s commitment to diversity, we believe our public appointments should reflect our customers - the travelling public – who come from all walks of life and have different experiences. We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support better decision making for all. This includes people who have never applied for a public appointment – but could bring new ideas, insights and energy.

If you are interested in the role and work of the CAA, I would like to encourage you to apply.

Mike Kane MP
Aviation, Maritime & Security Minister

Appointment description

The CAA is seeking non-executive Board Members to join its Board. The successful candidates, through their membership of the Board, will provide challenge and support to a wide variety of management and operational issues and contribute to the effective strategic and operational leadership of the CAA.

As a non-executive Board member your key responsibilities will be to:

• Be an active and fully engaged member of the CAA Board, ensuring that the CAA maintains excellence in its vital day-to-day responsibilities, whilst also setting the organisation for the future.
• Provide independent and constructive oversight, challenge and, where appropriate, assurance to the work of the CAA, to help ensure that the CAA delivers its strategic objectives and retains the trust and confidence of all its stakeholders, including consumers.
• Contribute effectively to discussions on the leadership and performance of the business at the CAA Board and non-executive meetings.
• Engage with stakeholders to increase Board and NED internal and external visibility.
• Participate in CAA Regulation 6 review panels when requested.

Organisation description

The CAA is the UK’s civil aviation and space regulator. Recognised as a world leader in its field, the CAA is at the cutting edge of the exciting and ever-changing aviation environment. The CAA’s work includes activities such as:

• Managing safety and security risks, safeguarding passengers and the general public;
• Driving world-class change;
• Minimising the environmental impact of aviation on local communities;
• Running the ATOL holiday financial protection scheme; and
• Helping innovators to deliver the future of aviation.

The CAA values are:

• Respect everyone.
• Do the right thing.
• Build collaborative relationships.
• Never stop learning.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Person specification

Essential criteria – Role 1 Audit & Risk:

• A1. Professional accounting qualification - Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or equivalent.
• A2. Experience in preparing or assuring complex annual accounts so as to be able to chair the Audit & Risk Committee.
• A3. Significant financial audit experience in a commercial environment.
• A4. In-depth knowledge of risk management frameworks, internal controls, evaluating risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring alignment with the organisation’s risk appetite.
• A5. An understanding of economic regulation gained in an environment of comparable complexity.

Essential criteria – Role 2 Aviation Safety:

• S1. A thorough understanding of aerospace safety, from design, production through to operations and maintenance.
• S2. Experience of human factors from a design, manufacture, operations and consumer perspective.
• S3. Experience of aerodrome, air traffic and airspace safety regulations and impact on all parts of the aviation sector and consumers.
• S4. Extensive aviation safety and risk management knowledge.
• S5. Understanding of aviation security processes.

Application deadline 11:55pm on 29 April 2025 Sifting date 15 May 2025 Interviews expected to end on 13 June 2025

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.