Project Manager

Civil Aviation Authority; Horley; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A national aviation and aerospace regulator in the UK is searching for a Project Manager to oversee the successful delivery of IT and business projects. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in project management, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage budgets effectively. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including flexible working arrangements and a hybrid work model. The closing date for applications is 4th January 2026.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Free onsite gym

28 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in managing a range of IT and business led projects.
• Planning skills and ability to create and manage project plans.
• Experienced in managing relationships with stakeholders up to Senior Manager level.
• Good leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure with good problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage either a medium project or a number of assigned projects concurrently.
• Engage, lead, direct and motivate the project team(s).
• Provide coaching/mentoring to less experienced staff.
• Work alongside the Procurement function to manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Budget Management

Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Formal Project Management qualifications such as Prince 2, APM or Agile

Job description

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Salary: Up to £55,000 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

Security Level: BPSS

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

As Project Manager, the role holder will be responsible for the successful delivery of projects, ensuring effective project management methods are applied to deliver to time, quality and cost. This includes effective planning, project governance, risk, issue and dependency management, and budget management, whilst also working within the organisation's standard governance and processes. The role holder will typically focus on medium sized projects and are expected to have the experience of managing both IT and business projects throughout the whole life cycle. The Project Manager will be responsible for identifying and securing project resources and for their subsequent management throughout the project which could include both internal and third-party resources.

This is a hands‑on role which will rely on the role holder having excellent communication skills to enable effective and regular engagement with internal and external stakeholders up to Senior Manager level.

Core Accountabilities

• Managing either a medium project or a number of assigned projects, often concurrently, including:
  • Stakeholder Management up to senior management level.
  • Planning all aspects of work through the full lifecycle, working to the appropriate project management methodology.
  • Delivery to agreed time, cost and quality measures.
  • Risk, Issue and Dependency Management.
  • Engaging, leading, directing and motivating the project team(s).
  • Project governance and reporting to stakeholders up to Senior o Management level but producing reports suitable for presentation at Executive Committee and Board level.
  • Financial management of budget.
  • Management of internal and third‑party resources (where applicable).
• Providing coaching/mentoring to less experienced staff
• Taking responsibility for personal continued professional development.
• Working alongside the Procurement function to manage supplier relationships.

About You

To be considered for the role you will need to have:

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in managing a range of IT and business led projects, and a good understanding of practical project management.
• Planning skills and ability to create and manage project plans.
• Experienced and capable in managing relationships with stakeholders up to Senior Manager level both internally and externally.
• Experience in managing budgets and working with financial reporting tools.
• Good leadership, management and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with staff and management.
• A team player with a can‑do attitude, focused on results and delivery.
• Strong enough to stand ground on key decisions, and willing and able to positively challenge stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work under pressure with good problem‑solving skills.
• Formal Project Management qualifications such as Prince 2, APM or Agile.

Desirable

• Experience of working in change programmes and communication project portfolio environments.
• Knowledge and understanding of the aviation industry and business of CAA and the environment in which it operates.
• Some procurement experience is desirable, so that, if required, the role holder can work with our internal Procurement department, and participate fully in end‑to‑end procurement activities, including taking ownership of supplier relationships in some cases. However, for this role the management of suppliers would be primarily handled by the procurement team, with the Project Manager working alongside.

Additional 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.

BPSS - To be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance

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.

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.

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: Sunday 4th January 2026

Interview Date: W/C Monday 5th or 12th January 2026

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.