Head of Capital Efficiency and Delivery

Salary: £90,000 up to £100,000 dependent upon experience\\nContract Type: Permanent, Full-time (Part-time or FTC available)\\nSecurity Level: BPSS\\nVisa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.\\nWe 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.\\nThe role\\nThe Economic Regulation and Competition Policy (ERCP) team is a vital part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Consumers and Markets Group (CMG). It protects consumers by ensuring that airports and air traffic service (ATS) providers do not exploit their market position, oversees the CAA’s competition responsibilities and provides economics input and support to the CAA’s wider policies and initiatives.

The team is responsible for the economic regulation of Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) and the monopoly air traffic services provider for the UK, NATS (En Route) Plc (NERL). Understanding the impact of policy options and our actions is essential in ensuring we protect the interests of consumers, while enabling wider aviation policy.\\nWe are looking for a highly experienced expert in capital expenditure and infrastructure projects to play a key role in leading significant elements of our work in the regulation of airports and NATS, and policy input to programmes across the CAA. Reporting to a Programme Director, as the Head of Capital Efficiency and Delivery, you will lead on key policy issues to support the successful delivery of high value capital programmes, by managing the work of economists and policy experts in the team, and overseeing the commission and delivery of work by consultants.\\nWe expect the initial focus of this role to be on developing our approach to the implementation and oversight of regulated companies’ capital programmes.

The challenge will be to ensure we can provide effective analysis and scrutiny of key technical investment proposals from the regulated companies, including monitoring of costs and efficiency, the delivery of benefits and implementation of incentives around timely delivery. This is also likely to include work on the scrutiny and oversight of regulated companies’ proposed capital expenditure as part of price control reviews and airport capacity expansion. We will need to be flexible to changes in specific responsibilities and work areas over time as the teams’ work programmes and priorities evolve.\\nYou will be responsible for developing and delivering cohesive work plans, identifying the best approach to analysis and oversight, and engaging with senior level stakeholders.

You will be responsible for the timely delivery of robust, evidence based and assured technical analysis and policy to support key decisions that stand up to intense legal and stakeholder scrutiny, applying first principles to solve important issues and the production of high-quality documents for publication – excellent drafting and editing skills are an essential requirement of the post.\\nThis role is permanent and offers the opportunity for professional development, through working within a highly experienced team, directly influencing and engaging with senior leaders, and working across a wide variety of high profile and interesting economic and policy issues.\\nWe understand that work-life balance is key and would be happy to consider those seeking part time work and/or a job share as well as those seeking a full-time role. We operate (and are committed to) a hybrid working model, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. The team currently requires attendance in the office around one and half days per week for full-time employees (pro rata for part time colleagues) on average and we will keep this under review based on team needs.\\nCore accountabilities\\nThe Head of Capital Efficiency and Delivery will be responsible for:\\n * Leading the delivery of key elements of policy development on the economic regulation of airports and air traffic services, including our approach to the implementation and oversight of regulated companies’ capital programmes, and scrutiny of companies’ proposed capital expenditure as part of price control reviews and capacity expansion;\\n * Where appropriate, supporting wider CAA work on areas of consumer policy, aviation markets, and new innovations and technologies.\\n * Ensuring key deliverables are clear, on time, produced to a high quality, robust to external challenge and scrutiny, and supported by appropriate quality assurance processes.

This includes reviewing and drafting consultation, decision and policy papers that cover difficult technical issues as well as issues with the potential to generate intense media and stakeholder interest. It also includes the drafting and quality assurance of CAA board papers.\\n * Developing the overall approach to senior engagement with key internal and external stakeholders on the range of policy issues and engaging at a senior level with key stakeholders on a wide range of issues.\\n * Overseeing the work of our economists and policy experts, technical advisors and consultants.\\n * Reviewing and challenging regulatory business plans and submissions from other stakeholders.\\n * Working closely with the Programme Directors to ensure work is fully coordinated across the wider ERCP work programmes.\\n * Providing advice to the Programme Directors, Economics Director, Chief Economist, the CAA Executive Committee and Board as required.\\n * Development and empowering of team members, through opportunities to develop skills and training, as a senior leader in the team.\\n * Championing CAA values and D&I policy.\\nAbout you\\nSkills, knowledge and experience that are essential for the job:\\n * A track record of experience working on large infrastructure projects, including overseeing complex technical analysis on the capital delivery. This could be in one or more of: review of the technical design and procurement of large projects, design of regulatory frameworks, cost/efficiency assessment and the design of appropriate incentive and risk-sharing mechanisms\\n * Experience working at a senior level planning and conducting analysis and policy development, for example within a government department, regulator or regulated company (or other relevant experience).\\n * Excellent analytical skills and the ability to design and oversee complex analysis.\\n * Ability to develop effective work programmes to address a wide range of issues relating to the economic regulation of airports and air traffic services.\\n * Skilled communicator with the ability to explain complex information to a wide range of audiences including non-economists and the abilities to influence and withstand challenge under scrutiny.\\n * Excellent drafting skills and able to deliver concise and clear written material for publication.\\n * Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and delivering work through team members.\\nDesirable skills, knowledge and experience:\\n * Experience of regulatory compliance and enforcement issues.\\n * Knowledge of aviation and transport.\\nAdditional information\\nFor 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.\\nTo be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.\\nIf you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.\\nFor more information on BPSS clearance please visit – BPSS clearance\\nThe CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to complete a declaration of interest.\\nRelocation & Property\\nThis role will be based at the CAA’s Canary Wharf office, however candidates are advised that the CAA’s head office will be relocating from Aviation House (Gatwick) to new premises, within a 15-mile radius, in a few years’ time. Our move is driven by strategic, operational and environmental considerations.\\nInclusive recruitment\\nWe 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.\\nAs 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.\\nWorking with us\\nWe 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.\\nWe 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.\\nWe 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!\\nOur values\\nDo The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here\\nClosing Date: 4th November 2025\\nInterview Date: 17th – 25th November 2025\\nWe 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.\\nNo recruitment agencies please