System Wide Information Management (SWIM)) Delivery Lead

System Wide Information Management (SWIM)) Delivery Lead (3964)

Contract Type: Permanent Full Time 

Security Level Required: CTC

Salary:  £65,879 - £87,838

We are the UK's aviation 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 UK has some of the most complex airspace in the world and a common situational awareness for all airspace users is critical for safety and operational efficiency. Achieving a common situational awareness relies on making sure that the right information is made available to the right people at the right time.

The Role:

This transformative role will spearhead the UK's System Wide Information Management (SWIM), a flagship initiative designed to revolutionise our skies through improved data exchange. The SWIM program supports incremental improvements and designs airspace management for the digital age, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of global aviation innovation.

Your mission will be to navigate the complexities of modernising one of the world's most complex airspaces, laying the groundwork for a future where air travel is safer, more efficient, and seamlessly integrated.

You will influence, inspire, and make impactful decisions that will shape the trajectory of UK aviation, along with orchestrating the development and implementation of cutting-edge solutions, leveraging the power of data sharing and digital technologies to create an interconnected ecosystem that connects pilots, air traffic controllers, and other airspace users like never before.

You will manage and deliver the UK System Wide Information Management (SWIM)  programme and Chair the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) SWIM Working Group, a  sub-group of the Airspace Modernisation Assurance Group. Additionally, you will establish, and Chair a CAA led SWIM industry forum to support the development and implementation of the UK SWIM framework and governance arrangements. This will include internal and external key multi-discipline stakeholders, such as National Air Traffic Services (NATS) , The Met Office, industry associations, business experts, operational experts, solution experts and data , information, service, technical infrastructure architects,  to set out the direction for the programme and develop work packages to help progress the understanding of these emerging areas.

You will lead teams to work closely with colleagues to develop and implement policy response to challenge themes and develop and implement new regulations through researching and reviewing international development of regulations and industry standards for innovation.

You will be required to develop roadmaps for how these technologies could develop in the aviation ecosystem and explore the key regulatory challenges arising delivering the Airspace Modernisation programme projects in terms of risk areas and regulatory gaps that will provide insight and shape future policy recommendations.

Core Accountabilities:

• Assemble and lead a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of policy and subject matter experts to tackle some of the most complex challenges of emerging technologies in aviation and aerospace.

• Develop, evidence, and communicate areas of focus in strategic areas of SWIM and work collaboratively to develop regulatory frameworks fit for the future.
• Devise and deliver a programme to drive changes to policy and regulatory frameworks to support the development of SWIM under International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) obligations and entry of  new technologies into UK markets.

• Build a programme team with the skills and competencies to provide the CAA with a centre of excellence.
• Lead a team of regulatory specialists and subject matter experts.
• Manage and deliver UK SWIM programme.
• Chair the CAA SWIM Working Group, a sub-group of the Airspace Modernisation Assurance Group.
• Build strong internal networks with stakeholders across the CAA’s business and external networks with government departmental, regulators and industry standard bodies to provide insight and collaboration on the programmes you are working on and those across the Innovation Hub.
• Drive change and actively drive the implementation of SWIM beyond ICAO obligations, embracing the challenge of integrating new technologies into UK markets.
• Work closely with the Strategy and policy leads to maintain strong links to the key CAA strategic initiatives and areas that are associated with the new technology themes.

About You:

This role will require an experienced leader and manager of people, working in an ambiguous environment within a challenging regulatory environment, with demanding and challenging priorities. Your leadership will ensure that critical information flows flawlessly across our skies, enabling smarter decision-making.

Beyond your technical knowledge, this position needs a strategic thinker, someone who can see beyond the horizon and anticipate the evolving needs of the UK aviation. You will be at the helm, guiding multidisciplinary teams through the challenges of integrating emerging technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, advanced predictive analytics, and AI-driven decision support tools into everyday operations. You will not only redefine the principles of airspace management but also ensure the UK's aviation infrastructure is resilient, adaptable, and ready to embrace the future.

It is vital that you can demonstrate the ability to take complex subjects and distil them into clear direction, objectives, and work programmes, as well as engaging with a broad remit of Key Stakeholders at all levels.

Essential Criteria: 

• You will be confident, articulate and emotionally intelligent.
• Able to communicate with a broad spectrum of Key Stakeholders and ensure reputational risk is minimised.
• Sound judgement and have a balance approached.
• Experienced in delivering complex projects and programmes.
• Skilled coach and mentor, able to seek out information to inform the project and support the generation of new ideas.
• Critical mindset with the ability to role-model challenging industry and colleagues.

Essential knowledge & Experience :  

• Dynamic Leadership & Strategic Communication: As a natural leader, you inspire your teams and stakeholders alike, articulating complex ideas with clarity and vision. Your exceptional communication skills have fostered a strong culture of collaboration, making you a pivotal figure in any team.
• Policy and Data: You bring an understanding of international aviation organisations such as ICAO and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as well as key policies driving the SWIM programme. This includes both the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) and is complemented by your expertise in digital data management and, other SWIM concepts. Your knowledge spans from aviation’s legacy systems to the forefront of regulatory innovation.
• Technology & Environment Aware: You are deeply engaged with the potential of emerging technologies - such as artificial intelligence, digitisation, and automation, Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), UTM, UAM, electrification and battery technologies - to drive the sector towards a greener, more innovative future.

• Understanding of the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS)
• Specific understanding of digital data and SWIM concepts within the context of the GANP and AMS, including the associated aims, objectives, and potential issues.
• Good knowledge of legacy aviation industry information services and networks, along with other related national legislation with a sound understanding of implications for industry and airspace users.
• Experience in at least one information domain, such as aeronautical, meteorological, or flight information, ideally in a regulatory environment.
• Working knowledge of ICAO, EASA and other international institutions that might
• Awareness of the environmental impacts of aviation and of how the implementation of a UK SWIM infrastructure will help to mitigate these.
• Breadth of experience in the innovation and technology trends that will shape the future of aviation, such as artificial intelligence, digitisation, and automation, RPAS, UTM, UAM, electrification and battery technologies.
• Understand a regulatory environment, within an aviation specialism or safety critical industry.
• Able to deliver improvements to support safety and operational efficiency.
• Degree level education or equivalent industry experience.

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 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. We use fair and inclusive selection approaches to hire the best person for the job based on merit alone.

Our Values:

Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please visit the CAA Values channel in Teams.

Additional Information:

The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to declare any interests that may be become relevant owing to the role change.

Closing Date: 15 May 2024
Interview Date: TBC