Senior Economist

Salary: £60,000 up to £80,000 per annum dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: BPSS

Location: London – Canary Wharf – min 2 days in the office per week.

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship

Closing Date: 21st June 2026

Interview Date: w/c 6th July 2026

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 and overseeing the CAA’s competition responsibilities. The team’s remit has also recently expanded to include leading the delivery of economics support to shape the CAA’s wider policies and initiatives. This includes initiatives relating to new aviation technologies, delivering airspace modernization, competition and consumer issues, and economic growth and promoting sustainability across the aviation sector. Understanding regulatory impact is essential in enabling aviation and aerospace to innovate and grow, while protecting the interests of consumers and wider society.

The postholder will be an experienced economist expected to deliver economic analysis and advice to shape decisions across the CAA that don’t primarily relate to the economic regulation of airports and air navigation services. They are likely, in due course, to also have an opportunity to contribute to elements of the team’s economic regulation work but this is not expected to be a focus of the role initially.

The Senior Economist will be responsible for designing and delivering economic analysis to drive policy development, reviewing and challenging stakeholder submissions (including, for example, analysis submitted as part of Airspace Change Proposals), and managing the work of external consultants. They will also contribute to the drafting of high-profile policy documents and work effectively with our own external advisors and consultants. Our decisions have the potential to be contentious and need to be robust to legal and stakeholder challenge.

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 regulatory 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 CAA office or at stakeholders’ offices for two days per week for full-time employees (pro rata for part time colleagues) on average.

Core Accountabilities

As a Senior Economist you will be responsible for:

• Delivering economic analysis to influence CAA policies and initiatives, potentially including those relating to delivering airspace modernisation, new aviation technologies, consumer protection, economic growth and promoting sustainability across the aviation sector. In time you are likely to have opportunities to lead elements of our work on price controls and other aspects of the regulatory frameworks for airports and air traffic services. development.
• Ensuring deliverables are produced on time, to a high quality, are robust to external challenge and scrutiny and supported by appropriate quality assurance processes.
• Engaging with key internal and external stakeholders on a wide range of issues relevant to the team’s work. Overseeing the work of our technical advisors and consultants and providing a critical review of the analysis provided.
• Reviewing and, where necessary, challenging economic analysis produced by external stakeholders. This includes providing guidance and challenge to Airspace Change Proposal sponsors in relation to their economic analysis.
• Communicating technical economic and other issues so they are understandable for non-technical audiences.
• Championing CAA values and D&I policy.

About You

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

• A strong academic record in economics, including at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree in economics or a joint honours degree with a significant economics component and / or a postgraduate economics qualification or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of experience conducting economic analysis to inform decision making within a government department, regulator, industry/regulated company or consultancy (or other relevant experience). 
• Experience of applying economic appraisal techniques in the context of impact assessment or government business cases (or similar).
• A track record of managing your own workload and the workload of others, prioritising tasks appropriately and solving problems creatively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from a variety of different backgrounds, including outside of your own team,
• Ability to explain complex economic analysis to non-economists in a way that can be readily understood.
• Ability to synthesise evidence from a range of data and complex information sources.
• Ability to write clearly and produce persuasive written documents for publication.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of aviation (including airspace, air navigation and/or air transport).
• Experience working on economic regulation issues, for example within a government department, regulator, regulated company or consultancy.

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.

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: 21st June 2026

Interview Date: w/c 6th 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.