Oversight Standards Manager

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Date: 18 Sept 2026

Location: Gatwick, GB

Company: Civil Aviation Authority

 

Salary: £65,000- £75,000 Dependent upon experience 

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Security Level: CTC

Location: Gatwick / Hybrid – 2 days a week in office

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently offer visa sponsorship

 

Closing Date: 05 October 26

Interview Date: WC 19 October 26 In person Gatwick

 

 

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

 

This is an exciting opportunity to establish, maintain and continuously improve the standards relating to the conduct of certification and oversight activities performed by the CAA’s Safety & Airspace Regulation Group (SARG).

 

As the Oversight Standards Manager, you will be responsible for creating the framework that allows the SARG Leadership Team to deliver their safety oversight obligations to more than 4,500 organisations, across all areas of the aerospace sector. You will be key to the successful roll-out of the Future Surveillance Operating Model (FSOM) and the Safety Service Enhancement (SSE) initiative.

 

 

Your core tasks will include:

 

  • Steering colleagues through change, as SARG transitions to an account management approach to certification and oversight of regulated organisations.
  • Leading experts from across SARG and other areas of the CAA to establish effective and efficient certification and oversight standards.
  • Ensuring that certification and oversight standards are aligned with the principles of ICAO Critical Elements 6 and 7.
  • Defining common standards for certification and oversight activities, including but not limited to, performance and risk-based oversight concepts, audit and inspection methodologies, safety management system oversight, information security management system oversight, and enforcement measures.
  • Ensuring the smooth integration of new sectors and regulated entities into the certification and oversight framework.
  • Ensuring that standards relating to certification and oversight are established and documented.
  • Where necessary, approving changes and local differences in policy, process, and procedure.
  • Monitoring the adequacy of established processes and systems by observing the conduct of certification and oversight activities in the live environment.
  • Maintaining a state of audit readiness by ensuring that certification and oversight processes promote compliance with ISO, ICAO and other regulatory requirements.
  • Establishing the common training and competency requirements for the conduct of certification and oversight.
  • Promoting a culture of process standardisation and procedural adherence.
  • Promoting cross-functional working and, where possible, cross-crediting of common activities between SARG teams.
  • Driving continuous improvement by identifying and embedding opportunities for process and procedure improvement, rationalisation, and standardisation.
  • Maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders and sharing/promoting best practice, both within the CAA and with other regulatory bodies.

 

About You

This role requires extensive strategic thinking and informed decision making.

 

You will  lead and influence others as SARG transitions to an account management approach to the certification and oversight of regulated organisations which will rely on standardised policies, procedures, working practices and systems.

 

To deliver efficiency and continuous improvements, you will need to communicate and facilitate changes to process, and deal with any conflicts or resistance to change.

 

 

Essential Criteria

 

  • Knowledge of the complex regulatory framework for aerospace.
  • Experience of performing certification and oversight activities withing the aerospace sector.
  • Experience of designing and implementing performance-based and risk-based certification and oversight methodologies.
  • Experience of leading and influencing technical specialists and operational teams.
  • An understanding of the importance of process governance.
  • The skills to draft accurate and influential documents in a variety of styles, adapted to the appropriate audience.
  • The ability to drive change and continuous improvement.
  • A flexible approach to ways of working, with a focus on outcomes and results for internal and external stakeholders.
  • A willingness to take ownership and accountability for solving problems and make evidence-based decisions.
  • The skills to build collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • The ability to seize opportunities that will improve efficiency and effectiveness.

 

 

 

Desirable Criteria

  • Experience of performing certification and oversight activities within a regulatory body.
  • Experience of designing and implementing performance-based and risk-based certification and oversight methodologies within a regulatory body.
  • Experience of working with regulatory bodies on future policy and rulemaking.

 

 

What Can We Offer You?

This is an exciting opportunity to rationalise and standardise SARG’s processes and procedures relating to certification and oversight, as we embark on the journey to introduce a new surveillance operating model (and supporting IT solution) that provides enhanced clarity and transparency to our internal and external stakeholders.

 

 

 

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 we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 3 years.

 

 

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

 

For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

 

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 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. Find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, 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

 

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 – For more information please Click Here

 

 

Closing Date: 05 October 26

Interview Date: WC 19 October 26 In person Gatwick

 


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.


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