Head of Space Applications

Salary: £90,000 up to £109,000 per annum dependent on experience

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

Location: Gatwick – Hybrid - (with an expectation to attend external events/meetings across the UK)

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

We are the UK's Space Regulator, alongside being the aviation and aerospace regulator and recognised as a world leader in its field. Our activities on Space Regulation are diverse, enabling the Space industry to meet the highest safety standards, supporting growth in Space sector, and working closely with international partners to assist development and regulation of new, innovative space applications and missions.

The Role

This is a new role reporting to the Head of the UK Space Regulator. You will be responsible for licensing of new spaceflight applications, overseeing pre-application engagement, assessment by multidisciplinary teams, approval, for spaceflight activities covering launch, spaceports, range, orbital and large rockets. You will work closely with the Head of Operations who leads on the Monitoring of mission’s post licencing – checking ongoing activities meet conditions and reporting requirements set out in licences.

The role will include significant interaction with external stakeholders including government departments and agencies, and with customers across the space sector. There will be some international engagement and travel domestically and internationally associated with the role.

Core Accountabilities

• Member of the Senior Leadership Team of the Space Regulator – supporting SLT across leadership, governance, delivery and all other aspects of the Space delivery function.
• Deputise for SLT colleagues and Head of Regulator as and when appropriate
• Lead the Applications Team: Managing casework for UK space applications, overseeing pre-application engagement and assessment of licence and permission requests under the OSA, SIA and ANO by multidisciplinary teams (including potentially engineering, safety, and environment). Provides focal point for operators and industry, make recommendations on granting licences or permissions, and ensures ongoing monitoring requirements are defined.
• Continue to work with the whole department on delivery of an Organisational Design Target Model over first 24 months in post
• Develop options for a Lifecycle Management Team: Ensures regulatory processes across applications and operations are efficient, consistent, and fit for purpose. Performs handover function from application and licensing, across to ongoing operational oversight.
• Lead the strategic development & continuous improvement of Space licensing practice and process, under the Space Industry act (SIA), Outer Space Act (OSA) and Air Navigation Order (ANO) permissions
• Represent the Space Regulator within the CAA, and externally both domestically and internationally as appropriate. This could involve conferences, events and engagement with partners and stakeholders

About You

Minimum essential requirements for the role:

Leadership & Management:

• Demonstrable leadership of a business unit or function (including matrix management models), with ability to set vision and influence at senior/cross-organisational levels
• Success in using management systems, business planning, performance management, risk assessment and mitigation, and change management
• Proven experience building and leading a licensing and/or regulatory function

Communication, Influencing & Stakeholder Management:

• Advanced communication and influencing skills, with ability to engage licensees tactfully and diplomatically, including during enforcement activity
• Working across internal and external stakeholders, including for example partner regulators and experts, to support the application and decision process
• Confident presentation skills; able to convey technical messages clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven stakeholder engagement experience, preferably across government and industry/academia

Technical & Analytical Skills:

• Ability to interpret and comply with statutory requirements
• Ability to gather and interpret complex information from multiple sources
• Problem-solving ability with strong appreciation of practical implications of decisions

Personal Attributes:

• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to work collaboratively and respond calmly under pressure
• Strong organisational skills with ability to exercise initiative and plan effectively
• Ability to prioritise work and handle unusual requests or situations

Desirable skills for the role:

• Experience or knowledge of UK/International space industry and/or activities
• Direct experience in the aviation or aerospace regulatory environment
• Familiarity with the Space Industry Act, Outer Space Act, or Air Navigation Order
• Understanding of safety management systems in high-risk technical environments
• An enquiring, improvement-focused mindset with proactive approach to identifying process failings and recommending practical solutions

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.

SC - To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 5 years.

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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

Inclusivity

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate our diversity ensuring all are backgrounds included here at the CAA. As a member of the Disability Confident scheme, applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role with us will be guaranteed an interview.

Our Benefits

We offer a range of excellent benefits such as:

• Flexible & hybrid working arrangements available
• 28 days annual leave + public holidays (additional 5 days leave purchase scheme)
• Generous pension scheme (Up to 12% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing Room at Gatwick
• Mental Health and Suicide First Aiders
• Employee Assistance Programme, talking therapies and neurodiversity support via Occupational Health & access to Headspace for colleagues and 5 dependents
• Free onsite gym at Gatwick or discounted gym membership for London
• EV charging points
• Employee Development courses internally and via Skillsoft

Our Values

Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here

Closing Date: Friday 21st November 2025

Interview Date: W/C Monday 1st or 8th December 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.