Senior Advisor - Airline Licensing

Civil Aviation Authority; City Of London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory aviation body is seeking an expert for a pivotal role in airline licensing. This position involves providing regulatory advice, contributing to policy development, and managing a small team. Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills are essential. The role requires regular office attendance in London and offers a salary up to £55,000.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Free onsite gym

28 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess information and make sound decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven experience in regulatory, compliance, or licensing environments.
• Educated to degree level in a finance, policy, legal or related subject.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on regulatory matters affecting UK and third-country air carriers.
• Contribute to the development of regulatory policy.
• Support the Head of Airline Licensing in shaping strategic direction.
• Lead, train and motivate a small team of Assistant Licensing Officers.
• Establish and maintain stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management skills

Experience in regulatory environments

Ability to lead and motivate teams

Education

Degree in finance, policy, legal or related subject

Job description

Salary: Up to Maximum £55,000

Contract Type: Full time Permanent.

Location: London - This role will require regular office attendance

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

Security Level: CTC

Closing date: 26th November 2025

Interviews: WC 08 December 2025 In person Westferry London

Please include a cover letter with your application

The Role

This role plays a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) airline licensing function by providing expert advice and analysis on regulatory matters affecting UK and third-country air carriers. This includes assessing complex licensing issues such as insurance, traffic rights, ownership, and control, contributing to the development of regulatory policy, and leading data-driven evaluations of air carrier operations.

It also supports the Head of Airline Licensing in shaping strategic direction across safety, commercial, and market access matters, and helps manage the operational framework that underpins the team's work. This entails contributing to the work of UK Government in relation to air transport in influencing the political and strategic initiatives of States, Governments, and operators where it has been identified that change would benefit the UK travelling public and promote UK global influence.

Key area of focus/responsibility

Licensing

• Take, contribute, and make recommendations in the evaluation and licensing of new and existing UK and non-UK air carriers, such as foreign carrier permits, third country operating certificate (TCO), Operating Licence.
• Contribute and provide expertise more generally to the Consumer and Markets Group (CMG) and CAA licensing work programmes surrounding policy and regulatory implementation.
• As part of a team undertake measured enforcement action against carriers that are in breach of the air navigation order and report outcome to the Head of Airline Licensing (HoAL).

Airline Licensing Policy

• Contribute to the development of new and the enhancement of existing policies and guideline.
• Draft and deliver external publications in relation to airline licensing policy issues ranging from direct communications, website material and official records.

Team Management

• Lead, train, and motivate colleagues to support personal development.
• Work across multiple streams and balance workloads within the team.
• Identify emerging and future risks arising from UK Operators and non-UK operators in UK Airspace and UK operators overseas.
• Assist or represent the Head of Airline Licensing (HoAL), with matters which may include management of resources, operational development, and risk mitigation.

Stakeholder Management

• Actively support with establishing and maintaining stakeholder relationships at government departmental and carrier level.
• Represent the CAA at conferences, events, workshops, forums and for the engagement with senior stakeholders of the Total Aviation System.
• Support relevant CAA departments in delivering safety enhancements in line with air safety activities.

Airline Licensing Operations

• Play a key role in the Airline Licensing with the development, management, and improvement of internal and 'customer' facing IT platforms that the team rely on for operational delivery.
• Focus on continuous improvement ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the licensing process.
• Assist the HoAL to identify and develop clear indicators for delivery to the Airline Licensing objectives, as well as seeking to mitigate risks to their delivery.

You will also

• Be responsible for making decisions or escalating to the Manager Airline Licensing, which may include decisions on the grant or variation of licences or permits, compliance issues, proposals for regulatory or other remedial action or complex matters arising from the failure of an airline.
• Offer technical support to Air Safety Unit (ASU), CAA Strategy & Planning (CSP), Innovation, International Group, the Department for Transport (DfT) and other working groups.
• Consult closely with colleagues in Safety Airspace Regulation Group (SARG) and the Department for Transport in relation to decision making and the grant of licences and foreign carrier permits.

About You

You will be able to manage and support, a small team of Assistant Licensing Officers, and confidently will liaise and collaborate within a wide of stakeholders. You will be able to confidently manage risk and support the team to learn when to spot risks and when to elevate. Additionally, you will understand the legislation and frameworks around airline licensing and be able to escalated matters, and to clearly communicate at all levels, both in person and with written documentation. The role will require you to support urgent operational needs outside core hours when required, such as air ambulance licensing.

Essential Criteria

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess information and make sound decisions against a published framework.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present well‑reasoned recommendations and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead, develop and motivate multi‑disciplinary project teams.
• Proven experience in regulatory, compliance, or licensing environments, ideally within aviation, transport, or a similarly regulated sector.
• Sound understanding of designing and working in accordance with internal operational guidance and audit methodology.
• Confidently deliver in a fast pace and against evolving time constraints in a highly regulated environment.
• Educated to degree level in a finance, policy, legal or related subject.
• Confidently influence and engage with an extremely broad level of stakeholders.
• Able to prepare reports that include recommendations.

Desirable Criteria

• Able to independently and manage competing priorities, while contributing to team objectives and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working with digital systems and contributing to the development of online processes.
• Understand licensing and permit processes in a regulatory environment.
• Qualification in Project management, Auditing, Management, or leadership.

Additional Information

For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. For these roles you must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance. To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 3 years. For more information on CTC SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK www.gov.uk

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, up to a 15-mile radius of Aviation House. We are working to understand our needs before we start our property search, but we do not expect to move before 2028.

Inclusive Recruitment

We are enthusiastic 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

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.