Strategic People Partner

Civil Aviation Authority; Gatwick; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aviation regulator is seeking a Senior People Partner to drive alignment between business objectives and the People Strategy. This role involves workforce planning, cultural development, and acting as an advisor to senior leaders. Candidates should have HR Business Partner experience, strong analytical skills, and a strategic mindset. Offers hybrid working and various benefits including a free onsite gym.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Free onsite gym at Gatwick

Discounted gym membership for London

28 days annual leave

Generous pension

Qualifications

• Experience as an HR Business Partner in complex organizations.
• Ability to challenge senior leaders and foster relationships.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and organization design.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders for strategy implementation.
• Drive workforce planning and cultural maturity initiatives.
• Implement organizational change initiatives and local people plans.

Skills

Workforce planning

Change management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

CIPD Membership

Degree in Human Resources or related field

Job description

Salary: £70,094 to £93,459 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 our 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.

Please note that both a CV and a cover letter are required for any application detailing how you meet the requirements for the role set out in the “About You” section below.

The Role

The Strategic People Partner (SPP) is accountable for partnering with senior leaders to ensure alignment of CAA strategy and business objectives with the CAA People Strategy and local people plans and objectives. Broad responsibilities include driving workforce planning, organisational and directorate performance and cultural maturity, and using data-driven insights to improve local decision making in relation to people and culture issues and priorities.

Core Accountabilities

• Leadership and People Partnering
  • Part of a team of four SPPs and a senior leader within People and Culture, partnering with senior leaders of one or more business areas to develop and implement corporate and local people strategies to deliver business objectives.
  • Act as trusted advisor to local senior leadership teams on culture, employee engagement, workforce planning, leadership, talent management, organisation design and change management.
  • Model CAA values and leadership competencies, promote a matrix team approach and reduce siloed working.
  • Build strong relationships with business leaders to understand challenges and implement tailored strategies based on evidence and data insights.
  • Manage complex employee relations, performance management, wellbeing and succession planning, coordinating with the People Services Casework Manager as required.
  • Ensure delivery of the CAA’s 3-year wellbeing and 3-year diversity and inclusion plans at local levels, championing diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing.
• Culture and Change
  • Support senior clients to improve how the CAA communicates and implements change, against a backdrop of increasing performance ambition.
  • Deliver organisational change initiatives, including operating model reviews, restructures and TUPE transfers.
  • Act as a change agent and champion to improve the CAA culture.
  • Ensure each client group has a local people plan to drive employee engagement and cultural improvement, responding to colleague feedback.
• Workforce Planning, Evidence Based Practice and Data Insights
  • In partnership with Finance and Integrated Planning, capture and monitor the resource forecast monthly.
  • Partner with leaders and colleagues to create, amend and deliver the CAA’s operational and strategic workforce plans.
  • Ensure client groups receive, discuss and act on evidence and data insights to improve local cultures, people performance and engagement.
• People Strategy
  • Provide expertise as part of People and Culture matrix teams to develop and implement people and culture products and services, ensuring effective implementation of the CAA People Strategy.

About You

To be considered for the role you must:

• Be an experienced HR Business Partner with experience in workforce planning, structural change programmes and improving cultural maturity in a complex organisation.
• Have proven ability to challenge senior leaders constructively while fostering positive relationships.
• Evidence strong professional knowledge including organisation design at a strategic level, organisation development, employment law relating to organisational change and broader HR generalist capabilities.
• Possess excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Significant experience in analysing data and crafting data insights and recommendations for action.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills with adaptability to stakeholder needs.
• Operate flexibly with resilience and a high tolerance for change, able to remove ambiguity.

Desirable

• Membership of CIPD.

Additional Information

• For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. Post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate clearance.
• To be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.
• This role only requires BPSS level clearance.

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 relocate from Aviation House to new premises in the coming years, within a local radius to minimise disruption. The move is planned for up to 2028.

Inclusive Recruitment

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 will be guaranteed an interview. If you require an adjustment, please let us know.

Working With Us

We are progressing toward being more adaptable, with cross-functional collaboration. We offer hybrid working and flexible patterns, and we discuss what works for you to support work-life balance.

Benefits include flexible working arrangements, free onsite gym at Gatwick, discounted gym membership for London, 28 days annual leave, 5 days leave purchase, a generous pension, and more.

Our Values

Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone.

Closing Dates

Closing Date: Sunday 19th October 2025

CV Sift: Week commencing 20th October 2025

Interview Date: Week commencing 10th or 17th November 2025

No recruitment agencies please.

Job Segment: Change Management, Employee Relations, HR Generalist, Performance Management, Human Resources, Management, Aviation