Government Grants and Portfolio Oversight Principal

Salary: £56,000 up to £67,500 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: BPSS

Location: Hybrid – Canary Wharf (min. 2 days in the office)

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

The Department for Transport (DfT) provides the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with a significant programme of grant funding to support the delivery of statutory functions, regulatory activities and time limited government priority programmes. Effective development, governance and delivery of the portfolio of grants is essential to maintaining confidence in the CAA’s stewardship of public funds and to enabling successful delivery of government policy objectives.

To respond to the scale, complexity and scrutiny associated with this funding, working closely with the finance team, the CAA Strategy Team is strengthening its central capability for leadership, coordination and oversight of the full grant portfolio. This role will provide strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of DfT grant funding, from bid development and agreement through to delivery assurance, performance and financial reporting and relationship management.

Working in collaboration with CAA programme leads, finance, and the DfT sponsorship and policy teams, the role will ensure that grant funded activity is coherent, compliant, well governed, consistently reported and aligned with ministerial and departmental priorities, while supporting delivery teams to meet outcomes and milestones effectively.

The role will act as a central coordination point for cross CAA grant activity and associated governance forums, ensuring a clear, credible and consistent approach to engagement with DfT and other government stakeholders, and strengthening the CAA’s overall approach to managing and reporting against government funded programmes.

Core Accountabilities

• Lead and continuously improve the CAA’s approach to the development, governance, oversight and assurance of DfT grant funding provided under Sections 12 and 16 of the Civil Aviation Act, ensuring alignment with statutory powers, framework document requirements and government best practice.
• Provide strategic leadership of the CAA’s grant portfolio, overseeing delivery performance, risk management, strategic financial control and reporting across multiple programmes.
• Work closely with CAA programme and project leads, ExCo sponsors and Finance colleagues to support high quality grant bid development, funding agreements, business cases, delivery plans including resource planning and change control, ensuring clarity of outcomes, milestones and accountabilities.
• Act as a primary point of contact with DfT on matters relating to grant funding, including sponsorship teams and senior officials, coordinating CAA responses to funding related requests, reviews, assurance activity and ministerial priorities.
• Oversee the production of robust, accurate and timely performance, financial and benefits reporting to DfT, ensuring consistency and credibility while reducing duplication and burden across delivery teams.
• Lead the coordination of cross-CAA governance arrangements relating to government grants, including forums, assurance processes and escalation mechanisms, ensuring early identification and effective management of delivery risks and issues. Provide updates at regular programme boards and grant meetings.
• Provide advice, challenge and support to senior leaders on grant funded activity, helping to align delivery with wider CAA strategy, statutory duties and government objectives.
• Support the Government Engagement lead on wider coordination of relevant CAA / DfT engagement and priorities.

About You

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience of leading or overseeing complex, multi‑stakeholder programmes or portfolios funded by government grants or public funding, with strong personal leadership, organisational and delivery assurance skills.
• Experience of working closely with UK central government, an Arm’s Length Body, regulator or similar organisation, with a strong understanding of government funding mechanisms, sponsorship, accountability and reporting requirements.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex delivery, financial and performance information and translate it into clear advice, assurance and reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to actively build and maintain effective relationships to achieve progress on shared objectives.
• Ability to work autonomously.

Desirable:

• Understanding of public funding models for regulators and Arm’s Length Bodies, including the role of statutory powers, framework documents, sponsorship arrangements and government funding and accountability mechanisms.
• Experience of working closely with finance teams on public sector budgeting, forecasting, grant compliance, value for money and financial governance.
• Excellent written communication skills, including experience of drafting clear, concise submissions, briefings, funding proposals and performance reports for senior government audiences.

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 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: 13th April 2026

Interview Date: 7th, 11th and 12th 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.