Airspace Project Lead

Airspace Project Lead

Join to apply for the Airspace Project Lead role at Civil Aviation Authority

Salary: £60,000 up to £69,524 dependent on 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 Airspace Regulation (AR) team sits within the Airspace, Air Traffic Management and Aerodromes (AAA) capability team and is responsible for the management and processing of Airspace Change Proposals (ACP) within expected time frames.

As the Airspace Project Lead, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-profile projects that support the Airspace Regulation team and the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy. This currently includes supporting large scale national infrastructure projects, like airport expansion projects at Heathrow, Gatwick and across the UK. You will also be supporting projects enabling emerging technologies, which includes drones and space operations.

You will be the product owner of the public facing airspace change portal website, coordinating and implementing changes to support users of the site. You will support the development and improvement of serval systems that Airspace Regulation use on a regular basis. These will be far ranging from product tools within the department to company wide systems.

You will be responsible for leading projects from initiation through to completion, this includes effective planning, governance, managing budgets, risk and issue management, and alignment with the CAA’s regulatory frameworks and delivery processes.

This is a hands‑on role requiring excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. You will work closely with internal teams, government departments, industry partners, and the public to transparency, collaboration, and alignment with strategic objectives.

There is the potential for this role to include line management of a team.

The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in managing complex business projects through their full lifecycle, from initiation to successful delivery. You’ll have a strong track record of delivering outcomes, with a focus on quality and stakeholder value. Experience working in a regulatory or policy development environment, where strategic thinking, compliance, and public accountability are key would be highly advantageous.

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi‑stakeholder projects.
• Strong planning, scheduling, and resource management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to interpret and apply policy frameworks in a project delivery context.
• Skilled in identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks and issues, particularly in high‑profile or politically sensitive environments.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex technical and operational data to inform decision‑making.
• Experience leading organisational or operational change, including stakeholder transition and adoption of new technologies or procedures.
• Have a proven ability to communicate effectively at working level internally with CAA colleagues, and externally with industry stakeholders.
• Possess good organisational discipline and the ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplined team.
• Have sound understanding and experience of MS Office and familiarity with digital tools for project management (e.g. MS Project, SharePoint, Planner, Loop, Power Bi).
• You hold formal Project Management qualifications such as APM, Prince 2, MSP, or Agile.
• Good knowledge of the wider UK aviation industry.
• An understanding of UK General Aviation needs and operations.
• An understanding of the UK’s Airspace Change Process, Airspace Modernisation Strategy and related aims and objectives.
• An understanding of the CAA structure and its working…