Head of Environmental Research

Salary: £70,094 up to £90,000 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: BPSS

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

As aviation faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impacts, the CAA must ground its regulatory and policy advice in robust, forward-looking evidence. The Head of Environmental Research and Policy will develop and deliver a cross CAA's environmental research strategy covering key areas including noise, emissions, and air quality. You will lead a team of technical and policy experts, ensuring research programmes support the CAA's wider sustainability objectives and inform meaningful regulatory and policy outcomes.

This role leads the CAA's future-facing environmental research capability, requiring an experienced leader with a strong research background and a deep understanding of environmental research, policy development, and public sector engagement. You will be responsible for helping build the evidence base that will shape aviation environmental policy and the CAA's work over the next decade.

Core Accountabilities

• Strategic Research Leadership: Set the long-term strategic vision for the CAA's environmental research agenda, working closely with teams across the CAA (including FS&I, Airspace, Resilience etc) and aligning with the CAA's Sustainability Strategy, our environmental performance reporting needs and UK Government policy. Identify gaps in the UK's aviation environmental knowledge base and, where needed, applying or developing new interdisciplinary research methods and programmes to fill these gaps. Coordinate closely with internal policy leads to ensure research programmes are anticipatory and responsive to future sustainability challenges.
• Policy Development and Integration: Develop new frameworks and tools that enable evidence from complex, interdisciplinary research to inform policy development and strategic regulatory decision-making across the CAA and within Government. 
• Translate research findings into evidence-based policy proposals, working across CAA teams to inform regulatory practice and strategic positioning.
• External Collaboration and Funding: Forge and maintain new partnerships and funding opportunities through the wider research ecosystem, including academic institutions, research councils, and government departments (e.g. DfT, Defra etc).
• Thought Leadership and Impact: Promote the CAA's role as a leader in evidence-based environmental aviation policy. Working closely with the international team, Chief Technical Noise Adviser and ERCD, be ready to represent the CAA in international environmental research consortia and regulatory science groups (e.g. ICAO, EASA, EU ACARE), ensuring UK perspectives shape global standards and the UK benefits from international best practices.
• Team and Programme Management: Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts and policy advisors. Embed a culture of collaboration, creativity transparency, and policy-readiness within the team's outputs working alongside the rest of the sustainability team.

About You

Essential

• Proven direct experience developing and delivering complex research programmes and strategies in an environmental or aviation-related field. Deep understanding of different research methodologies.
• Expertise in environmental impact areas relevant to aviation, such as noise, local air quality, greenhouse gas emissions or climate policy.
• Experience in developing government policy
• Strong understanding of how research informs regulation and public policy—and the ability to bridge technical analysis with policy application.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills—capable of engaging both technical and non-technical stakeholders at senior levels.

Desirable

• Demonstrable leadership of multidisciplinary teams, with experience building new capabilities or functions.
• Track record of working with government departments and agencies, including successful funding proposals and strategic alignment.
• Experience of managing large-scale, complex research programmes from inception through delivery and impact assessment.

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.

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: 5th November 2025

Interview Date: w/c 10th November 2025

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.