Principal - Aviation and Travel Policy

Location: London, Canary Wharf (40% per month office attendance).

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: BPSS

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship

Closing Date: 7th August 2026

Interview Date: 25th August 2026

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.

About the team you’ll be part of:

The ATOL & Airline Licensing Department within the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Consumer and Markets Group is responsible for managing the ATOL Scheme, which protects customers in the event of a travel company failure. In addition, the Department oversees the airline operating licensing and the foreign carrier permit functions. The Policy, Governance & Insights Team is a key part of the ATOL & Airline Licensing Department, playing an important role in shaping and maintaining the regulatory framework for the UK aviation and travel sector. The team develops forward-looking policies and clear, practical guidelines that enable effective and proportionate regulation. Through its work, the team ensures that consumers are adequately protected while supporting a competitive and resilient travel industry. Alongside policy development, the team provides insight-driven analysis and promotes strong governance oversight internally.

Your key responsibilities:

• Leading the development and delivery of complex policy projects in areas affecting the aviation and travel sectors, ensuring high-quality and timely outcomes.
• Drafting high-quality policy papers, consultation documents and regulatory guidance.
• Ensuring policies are evidence-based and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Undertaking robust data analysis to form insights, identifying industry trends, risks, and emerging issues.
• Conducting impact assessments, including financial, operational, and regulatory implications.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships across CMG and wider CAA, industry stakeholders, and Government bodies to influence policy direction through effective communication.
• Leading stakeholder engagement activities, including consultations and workshops.
• Producing clear, concise, and accessible documents for a range of audiences.
• Providing briefings, presentations, and recommendations to senior decision-makers within the CAA and external stakeholders.
• Planning and managing policy projects, and monitoring progress to ensure delivery to agreed deadlines and quality standards.
• Acting as a role model, actively demonstrating the CAA’s values of: Do The Right Thing; Never Stop Learning; Build Collaborative Relationships; and Respect Everyone.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success:

• Interest in aviation and travel issues, with the desire to strengthen the effectiveness and resilience of the sectors and deliver positive outcomes for consumers.
• Experience of working in consumer and related policy areas.
• Ability to write concise, well-structured regulatory documents and to effectively present output to senior decision-makers within the CAA, government bodies and industry.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to bring together arguments and analysis clearly and robustly and convey these in a way that engages stakeholders and senior CAA colleagues.
• Ability to build, develop, and maintain strong, effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of the legislative process and how policy is developed, consulted on and implemented in this context.
• Strong attention to detail and critical-thinking capability, and the ability to exercise sound judgement and make effective decisions.
• An understanding of aviation and travel markets and their regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of using external market research organisations to undertake research on consumer priorities and preferences.
• Excellent data analysis skills.
• Experience of assessing organisational compliance with key regulatory requirements.
• Project management experience, including setting objectives, planning, tracking progress, and managing risks.

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. 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.

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.

Inclusive Recruitment:

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident employer, candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be guaranteed an interview.

Working With Us:

Explore What We Offer section on our careers website to find out about our benefits and how we support work-life balance.

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