Space Policy Lead

This permanent post sits in the Space Regulatory Policy Team within the Civil Aviation Authority's Space Team, which regulates the UK's commercial spaceflight sector. The work centres on leading a team that develops and maintains policy and guidance for licensing commercial space operators under the Space Industry Act and Outer Space Act. The role combines people leadership with engagement across government, industry and international forums, and is offered on a hybrid basis.

Vetting to SC needs five years' UK residency, and visa sponsorship is not available.

• Lead a team developing and maintaining policy and guidance for regulating commercial space operators
• Provide policy and regulatory advice across all licence types
• Collaborate with and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders on current and future policy
• Contribute regulatory expertise to national and international policy development
• Lead or contribute to programme work streams and working groups to improve policies and processes across the Space Team
• Take part in one-to-one and plenary stakeholder engagement events nationally and internationally
• Create an inclusive team culture, give clear direction and feedback, and develop colleagues
• Lead colleagues through change while maintaining engagement, wellbeing and performance

• Working within a licensing or regulatory function, ideally in major hazard industries
• Developing and implementing policy and guidance, ideally within a regulatory or outcomes-based framework
• Proven stakeholder engagement and relationship management across government, industry and academia, ideally
• Managing competing priorities and delivering results in a complex, fast-paced environment

• Strong analytical and technical skills, including interpreting statutory requirements and evaluating complex information
• Communicating technical information to non-technical audiences
• Collaborating across multidisciplinary teams and with government and external agencies
• Representing the CAA in multi-agency and international forums
• Excellent influencing, negotiation, written and verbal communication, meeting agreed deadlines
• People leadership, including developing colleagues and leading through change

• Security clearance (SC) through National Security Vetting
• Five years' UK residency to allow vetting checks
• Completed Declaration of Interests form if invited to interview

• Knowledge of the space industry in range control, spaceport, launch, in-orbit or ANO permissions, or the ability to develop in-depth knowledge of these areas