Organisation - Civil Aviation Authority
Role: Environmental Sustainability Panel Member
Remuneration: £450 per day plus reasonable expenses
Time Commitment: Approximately 20 days per year
Location: Mainly London with some online meetings
Contract: Reed Recruitment
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 of the CAA
The CAA’s mission as the UK's independent, specialist civil aviation regulator is ‘protecting people, enabling aerospace’. One strategic focus area within this mission is to support aviation to improve environmental sustainability.
The CAA’s strategy, vision and mission can be found here: https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/About-us/Our-Strategy/.
The Environmental Sustainability Panel
To support delivery of its environmental sustainability objective, the CAA has established an Environmental Sustainability Panel (the Panel). The Panel acts as a non-statutory ‘critical friend’ to the CAA, providing expert technical advice at both Board and working levels to help ensure that the CAA is equipped, supported and constructively challenged to embed environmental sustainability into its work. Details of current Panel members and their areas of expertise can be found on the CAA’s website.
The Panel holds six full-day meetings per year, normally in person in our London Office (Canary Wharf) and six one-hour online interim meetings. Panel members are also asked to contribute to the Panel’s own work programme and may be asked to join ad-hoc sub-groups to offer technical input on particular projects.
The CAA is currently looking to recruit up to two new Panel members to complement the existing membership.
Role and responsibilities
The main responsibilities and focus of the Panel include:
- Being reactive in responding to requests for technical and strategic input from the CAA. This may include around both specific projects or tasks being undertaken by the CAA which have or may have an environmental sustainability element, and the delivery and evolution of the CAA’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
- Being proactive in embedding sustainability knowledge into the CAA, to support the CAA to both understand and embed sustainability as a cross-organisational theme but to also have an evidence-based approach to taking account of environmental sustainability interests and impacts in its regulatory policy and framework (although not in relation to individual regulatory decisions). The Panel are also expected to provide wider strategic knowledge of relevance to the CAA gained through the Panel’s specialist expertise and networks, both in aviation and more widely.
Competencies and skills
Essential criteria include:
- Ability to articulate both complex and technical matters in layperson terms to aid wider understanding of the issues and opportunities regarding environmental matters in aviation.
- The skills to develop collective agreement on outcomes across complex, challenging, and technical issues.
- Excellent technical understanding of externalities associated with aviation, such as carbon, noise, air quality and biodiversity.
- Ability to listen and challenge in a constructive manner, providing an objective and independent point of view, and influence outcomes based on sound technical advice and insight.
- Work collaboratively with the ability to take account of different perspectives as part of a collegiate decision-making process and to take ownership for decisions made, and take a neutral approach to complex, nuanced issues; and
- Be able to analyse and evaluate complex information, including qualitative and quantitative research and market data, in order to form opinions and make fair, balanced and proportionate decisions based on evidence and reasoned argument.
Preferred additional experience in one or more competencies below:
Highly desirable
- Expertise (academic and/or from industry) in aviation economics, environmental economics or other similar behavioural or social science fields
- Expertise and an understanding of mitigation of the environmental impacts of aviation, including an understanding of the relevance of political/policy systems to aviation and the environment (ideally from an industry perspective).
Desirable
- Expertise in technology and innovation and understanding of how this may impact aviation.
- Expertise in best practice community engagement
- Expertise in research including a broad understanding of both primary and secondary research methodologies, familiarity with analytical tools and processes, experience in engaging with and obtaining the views of those who may be more difficult to reach, and an ability to communicate observations.
- Experience advising on sustainability issues within the aviation sector or other modes of transport.
We welcome applications from all areas of society and want our Panel to be representative of the UK society as a whole. However, to ensure the Panel’s independence, we are not able to accept applications from people currently working for companies that we regulate nor people from advocacy groups.
How to apply
If you feel you have the requisite knowledge and expertise and have a passionate interest in environmental sustainability issues impacting the aviation industry and wish to apply for this role, please provide the following documents:
- An up-to-date CV.
- A supporting covering letter (maximum two pages) that outlines:
- your interest and motivations for applying to be a member of the CAA’s Environmental Sustainability Panel.
- how you meet the skills, experience, and expertise that we are looking for, as set out above; and
- any potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
If candidates use AI tools to assist with their application, we ask that this is made clear in their application.
Applications which do not include both a CV and covering letter will not be considered.
To ensure a fair and inclusive approach, if candidates require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know.
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.
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. We use fair and inclusive selection approaches to hire the best person for the job based on merit alone.
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.
Our Values
Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here
Closing Date: 12th November 2024
Interview Date: November / December 2024
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.
