Head of Sustainability Research in London

Salary: £70,094 up to £90,000 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: BPSS

Location: London – Canary Wharf (min 2 days in the office per week).

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 aviation faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impacts, the CAA must ground its regulatory and policy advice in robust, forward‑looking evidence. The Head of Sustainability Research will develop and deliver a cross CAA’s environmental research strategy covering key areas including emissions, air quality, noise and adaptation. You will lead a team of technical and policy experts, ensuring research programmes support the CAA’s wider sustainability objectives and inform meaningful regulatory and policy outcomes. This role leads the CAA’s future‑facing environmental research capability, requiring an experienced leader with a strong research background and a deep understanding of environmental research, policy development, and public sector engagement. You will be responsible for helping build the evidence base that will shape aviation environmental policy and the CAA’s work over the next decade.

Core Accountabilities:

• Strategic Research Leadership: Working with relevant SMEs, set the long‑term strategic vision for the CAA’s sustainability research agenda, ensuring alignment with the CAA’s Sustainability Strategy, and UK Government policy. Identify gaps in the UK’s aviation environmental knowledge base and apply or develop interdisciplinary research programmes to fill them. Ensure the CAA remains at the forefront of emerging research, data, and policy developments in aviation sustainability.
• Research Quality and Delivery: Drive the use of innovative approaches and ensure high-quality research design and analysis that support policy and regulatory decision‑making.
• Evidence Translation and Policy Impact: Translate high‑quality research findings into clear, actionable, evidence‑based policy proposals, working across CAA teams to inform regulatory practice and strategic positioning.
• Forge and maintain partnerships: Across the wider research ecosystem, including academic institutions, research councils, and government departments (e.g. DfT, Defra etc). Proactively identify, shape and secure external funding opportunities (e.g. UK Research Councils, Horizon Europe and other international programmes) to support CAA’s sustainability strategy.
• Thought Leadership and Impact: Promote the CAA’s role as a leader in high‑quality, evidence‑based environmental aviation policy and regulatory science. Support the work of the international team, Chief Technical Noise Adviser and ERCD at international environmental meetings and regulatory science groups (e.g. ICAO, EASA, EU ACARE).
• Team and Programme Management: Build and lead a high‑performing, multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts and policy advisors. Embed a culture of collaboration, creativity transparency, and policy‑readiness within the team’s outputs working alongside the rest of the sustainability team.

About You:

Essential:

• Proven direct experience developing and delivering complex research programmes and strategies in an environmental or aviation‑related field, ideally within an academic or comparable research‑focused setting.
• Strong understanding of wide range of research methodologies, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Expertise in environmental impact areas relevant to aviation, such as noise, local air quality, greenhouse gas emissions or climate policy.
• Demonstrable leadership of multidisciplinary teams, with experience building new capabilities or functions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills—capable of engaging both technical and non‑technical stakeholders at senior levels.
• Strong understanding of how research informs regulation and public policy—and the ability to bridge technical analysis with policy application.

Desirable:

• Experience in using evidence to develop policy.
• Track record of working with government departments and agencies, including successful funding proposals and strategic alignment.
• Experience of managing large‑scale, complex research programmes from inception through delivery and impact assessment.

The post‑holder will embody the CAA’s core values of Do the Right Thing; Never Stop Learning; Build Collaborative Relationships; and Respect Everyone. They will also be committed to delivering the CAA strategy and our team goals.

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.

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 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.

Use of Artificial Intelligence by candidates in the CAA recruitment process:

We recognise that many of our candidates find Artificial Intelligence to be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected on that basis.

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.

Closing Date: 14th May 2026

Interview Dates: 27th, 28th and 29th May 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.