Head of Economics Analysis

Salary: £90,000 up to £100,000 per annum dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time (Part-time or FTC available)

Security Level: BPSS
Base Location: Westferry, London – 2 days per week expected 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 economic regulation and competition policy (ERCP) team is a vital part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Consumers and Markets Group (CMG). It protects consumers by ensuring that airports and air traffic service (ATS) providers do not exploit their market position, oversees the CAA’s competition responsibilities and provides economics input and support to the CAA’s wider policies and initiatives.  This includes shaping new technology markets, airspace modernisation and other competition and consumer issues. The team is responsible for the economic regulation of Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) and the monopoly ATS provider for the UK, NATS (En Route) plc(NERL). Understanding the impact of policy options and our actions is essential in ensuring we protect the interests of consumers, while enabling wider aviation policy.

We are looking for a highly experienced economist to play a key role in leading significant elements of our work in the regulation of airports and ATS, and economic analysis input to programmes across the CAA. Reporting to a Programme Director, as the Head of Economic Analysis, you will manage the work of economists and policy experts in the team to assess key policy issues, as well as overseeing the commission and delivery of work by consultants. This includes work on key price control programmes, including airport capacity expansion.

You will lead the development and delivery of integrated work plans, selecting the most effective analytical approaches and engaging with senior stakeholders throughout. You will ensure the timely production of robust, evidence-based regulatory analysis and policy that supports key decisions and withstands legal and stakeholder scrutiny. This role requires applying first principles to resolve complex economic issues often with limited precedent. Strong drafting and editing skills are essential, as you will produce high-quality documents for publication.

The initial focus of this role is likely to be on our price control and regulatory reviews for HAL (H8) and NERL (NR28), as well as the expansion of Heathrow airport. This may include work on setting incentives for the price control, cost assessment and / or service quality. The postholder will also lead elements of the team’s work to deliver tailored economic advice to inform policies and initiatives across other areas of the CAA. We will need to be flexible to changes in specific responsibilities and work areas over time as the teams’ work programmes and priorities evolve. 

This role is permanent and offers the opportunity for professional development, through working within a highly experienced team, directly influencing and engaging with senior leaders, and working across a wide variety of high profile and interesting economic and policy issues.

We understand that work-life balance is key and would be happy to consider those seeking part time work and/or a job share as well as those seeking a full-time role. We operate (and are committed to) a hybrid working model, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. The team currently requires attendance in the office around two days per week for full-time employees (pro rata for part time colleagues) on average and we will keep this under review based on team needs.

Core Accountabilities

• Overseeing and driving forward key elements of economic analysis and assessment that supports our work on price controls, other aspects of the regulatory frameworks for airports and air traffic services and informs policies and initiatives across the rest of the CAA. This may include assessing the efficiency of costs and design of regulatory incentive mechanisms, as well as supporting wider CAA work including those relating to consumer protection, new aviation technologies and innovation, and promoting sustainability. 
• Ensuring key deliverables are clear on time, produced to a high quality, robust to external challenge and scrutiny, and supported by appropriate quality assurance processes. This includes reviewing and drafting consultation, decision and policy papers that cover difficult technical issues as well as issues with the potential to generate intense media and stakeholder interest. It also includes the drafting and quality assurance of CAA board papers. 
• Engaging at a senior level with key internal and external stakeholders on a wide range of issues relevant to the team's work.
• Overseeing the work of our economists and policy experts, technical advisors and consultants. 
• Reviewing and challenging regulatory business plans, economic analysis and other submissions from other stakeholders. 
• Working closely with the Programme Directors to ensure work is fully coordinated across the wider ERCP work programmes. 
• Providing advice to the Programme Directors, Economics Director, Chief Economist, the CAA Executive Committee and Board as required. 
• Development and empowering of team members, through opportunities to develop skills and training, as a senior leader in the team. 
• Championing CAA values and D&I policy.

You may also be expected to support the delivery of other aspects of our regulatory and competition economics work and may need to work with other regulators and represent the CAA at external groups, such as the UK Regulators Network (UKRN).

About You

Skills, knowledge and experience that are essential for the job:

• High level of expertise in regulatory economics.
• Experience working at a senior level on economic regulation issues, for example within a government department, regulator, regulated company or consultancy (or other relevant experience).
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to design and oversee complex analysis.
• Strong programme management and organisational skills, including the ability to develop effective work programmes to design and successfully deliver analytical work.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to explain complex information to a wide range of audiences including non-economists.
• Ability to write clearly and produce persuasive written documents for publication.
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and delivering work through team members.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of aviation.
• Understanding of issues in regulatory economics.
• Experience of regulatory finance and accounting issues.

We welcome applicants from both private and public sectors.

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: Friday 26th June 2026

Interview Date: W/C Monday 6th or 13th July 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.