Senior Domestic Aviation Safety Policy Advisor and Head of Rulemaking

475425 Senior Domestic Aviation Safety Policy Advisor and Head of Rule making

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 23rd August 2026

Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

This is an exciting opportunity to be responsible for overseeing UK aviation safety rule making. Following EU Exit, the DfT is delegating some rule making power to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to speed up technical rule making. This role will oversee CAA and DfT rule making, ensuring coherence, strategic alignment and effective and proportionate oversight. Our aim is to deliver a legislative system that is flexible, proportionate and efficient to support wider government objectives.

You will need to understand complex technical information and be able to communicate this simply and clearly.

You will need to consider long‑term strategic priorities, considering the UK’s future regulatory needs given the pace of innovation and change in the sector. You will be an expert in building collaborative relationships to ensure effective and proportionate oversight of the CAA’s delegated rule making power. There will also be the opportunity to develop and lead a domestic policy portfolio, which will include developing and implementing policy changes to the aviation safety system.

Domestic policy work

• Leading on several key domestic policy areas, such as dangerous goods policy, which includes safe carriage of lithium batteries, a significant project with the CAA.
• Supporting Grade 7 to manage the policy interfaces between the Aviation Directorate and external stakeholders; building a network of contacts in government and industry to support delivery of the team’s workplan.
• Leading submissions regarding our domestic policy and strategy development and providing proactive advice on current policy challenges including for Ministers and senior officials.
• Oversee the rule making programme for aviation safety, working with the CAA to ensure they are delivering a rule making programme in line with our international responsibilities that also delivers against other government priorities.
• Coordinate and run DfT’s secondary legislation programme, including delivering legislation that remains the purview of DfT.
• Develop close and collaborative relationships with the CAA that enable effective and proportionate DfT oversight of the CAA’s delegated rule making power.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

• Experience developing policy and an understanding of open policy-making approaches, techniques and requirements.
• Skilled in developing excellent working relationships and communicating with a diverse group of stakeholders. The successful candidate will need to collaborate effectively to build positive relationships with colleagues across the Department and with industry partners.
• Strong organisational skills and an ability to work across multiple competing priorities.
• Be able to present technical information in a straightforward and easily understandable way, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A good understanding of the legislative process, and secondary legislation in general.

This Final date to receive applications at 23:55 on Sunday 23rd August 2026