General Aviation Policy Associate

Salary: Up to £35,000 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

Security Level: BPSS

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship

Base: Gatwick – 2 days office attendance expected

Please note that both a CV and a cover letter are required for any application detailing how you meet the person specification for the role.

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

The General Aviation Policy Associate role is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to help shape aviation regulation for the better. The role sits within the General Aviation (GA) Policy team, part of Safety Operations Policy, and forms an important part of the CAA’s continuous safety improvement work. As a junior member of the team, you will support important work to ensure UK light aircraft and sports aviation industries continue to be safe and prosperous in the future.

The Policy Associate will report to the CAA’s GA Policy Lead and be part of the wider policy profession within the organisation, working within a community of specialists who maintain the regulatory framework for aviation in the UK. The role will provide support on policy matters within the remit of the GA Policy team, and support in the development of policy documentation as part of the CAA’s policy development process.

As your experience grows, the policy associate role will give you the opportunity to take on and ‘own’ specific policy tasks, under the supervision of the GA Policy Lead.

The ideal candidate will have some knowledge of aviation, although may not yet be an expert in their field. We are looking for someone early in their career who shows a passion for the subject area and interest in developing their skills in the policy space.

Core Accountabilities

• Assist Policy Specialists with policy development work on key aviation rulemaking tasks, supporting decision making where required;
• Development of policy documents, in line with policy and regulatory development work carried out by the policy team;
• Assisting the policy team with management of stakeholders, including answering queries on policy issues;
• Assisting and facilitating internal and external working groups for the purposes of policy development;
• Producing high quality written and verbal communications within timescales;
• Act in accordance with CAA values: Do the right thing, Respect everyone, Never stop learning, Build collaborative relationships; and
• Adherence to CAA Regulatory and Management systems.
  
  

About You

Essential

• Experience or proven interest in the aviation industry, preferably from within the GA community
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with internal colleagues and a range of external stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills including written communications, with the ability to take technical material and turn it into plain and clear language
• Effective time management skills
• Excellent listening skills
• Proven experience in managing meeting agendas and taking faithful minutes during complex meetings and discussions
• Practical experience of working collaboratively with others across multi-disciplinary and multi-agency groups
• Show appetite to develop domain knowledge to contribute to the development of the General Aviation Policy Function
• Logical and methodical approach to work with strong attention to detail
• Skilled in the use of standard Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Power Point) and working knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint

Desirable

• Prior experience within a policy or regulatory function e.g. Civil Service
• Experience in managing projects and administrative tasks, tracking progress against milestones.

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.

BPSS - 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 are now working with colleagues and visitors to understand what we need in our new office, before we start our property search. 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 – For more information please Click Here

Closing Date: Sunday 17th May 2026

Interview Date: W/C Tuesday 26th May or Monday 1st June 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.