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Civil Aviation Authority, Chair

Body
Civil Aviation Authority
Appointing Department
Department for Transport
Sectors
International, Regulation, Transport
Location
London
Skills required
Change Management, Regulation
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
£130,000 per annum
Time Requirements
2 days per week

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    23/07/2019

  2. Closed for Applications

    04/10/2019

  3. Panel Sift

    14/10/2019

  4. Final Interview Date

    January 2020

  5. Announcement

    07/05/2020

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

Date: 07/05/2020

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Gareth Davies
Added
23/07/2019
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
Director General, International and Security, DfT Departmental Official
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
David Gray
Added
23/07/2019
Positions
Non-Executive Member, Civil Aviation Authority Representative of Organisation
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Olivia Grant OBE DL
Added
23/07/2019
Positions
Senior Independent Panel Member
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Political Activity-
Notes-

Vacancy Description

The Chair’s role has a diverse remit falling into five key areas:

Strategic development and policy oversight 

  • Work proactively with the board and with Government to keep the strategic objectives under continual review so that the CAA has clear direction and leadership.
  • Build strategic consensus across the board and guide strategy development and delivery.
  • Provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive, ensuring policy delivery follows strategic direction.
  • Whilst the CAA operates in a complex, safety and security critical environment, you will ensure that it continues to put consumers’ needs first.

The board members 

  • Manage the non-executive board members to ensure strong performance and engagement.
  • Maintain a well-informed, authoritative and cognitively diverse board
  • Make optimum use of board member’s skills and experience through appropriate allocation to sub-committee of other work. You will develop their skills and appraise their performance, as well as lead on succession planning, recruitment and induction
  • Work closely with the Remuneration Committee to review and secure the performance and continuing development of executive board members

Board business 

  • Chair board meetings to deliver collegiate decision-making and consistent application of policy:
  • Ensure robust board scrutiny of executive recommendations. Drive shared understanding of complex issues and deliver decisions informed by appropriate papers, well-founded through balanced engagement between board and executive. This will permit the Board to appropriately meet their statutory duties
  • Plan and lead the board’s business according to strategic priorities and support the Board to be accountable
  • Understand and balance the CAA’s various duties set out in legislation
  • Ensure good governance is in place, maintained and reviewed
  • Lead the CAA Board, developing this high-performing team and lead by example, including demonstration of the CAA’s established Values and Behaviours; Clarity, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Learning and Energy.

Stakeholders

  • Ensure that the CAA’s responsibilities to Parliament are delivered, including protecting its independence:
  • Maintain and develop relationships with the Department for Transport and relevant parliamentary bodies to further the interests of the CAA, consumers and other key stakeholders
  • Deal effectively with parliamentary, media and public scrutiny and where necessary adopt a public profile as CAA spokesperson
  • Maintain a network of agreed stakeholder relationships both across the UK and internationally to support CAA’s strategic and business objectives. To include maintaining strong and effective relationships with government ministers, senior officials, Parliamentary members and committees and international institutions.

Senior Leadership through change  

  • Ensure appropriate succession planning is in place for key executive and board roles:
  • Make sure board members (particularly non-executives) understand and deliver on their roles and responsibilities, especially during periods of change or uncertainty
  • Take the lead on the recruitment of any Chief Executive.

Person Specification

  • Be able to chair the board of a complex national body with a wide range of responsibilities
  • Have experience of complex organisations including change management, ideally working at a senior level within one or more of; central government, an international body, the aviation industry, a major regulator or a major regulated organisation
  • Be able to understand and represent the customer perspective, putting it at the heart of board discussions
  • Be able to influence and represent the work of the CAA by building effective relationships with senior stakeholders across the aviation sector including politicians, senior officials, consumer, industry and employee representatives and other regulators
  • Demonstrate both commitment and ability to make evidence-based and transparently arrived at decisions- across complex, cross-sector issues.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the longer-term and interactional impact of decisions across the public and private sectors and on customers
  • Possess a well-developed strategic understanding and strong tactical sensibility

How to Apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by Odgers Berndtson on behalf of the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority. If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following:

A comprehensive CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements.

A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability and setting out how you meet the person specification. Please note that the covering letter is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.

Supporting Documentation Form – All candidates are also requested to complete a Supporting Documentation Form. This Form will be stored separately from your application and will play no part in the selection process.

Candidate Application Form – This can be found by visiting www.odgers.com/68514. Please download the form and return to anne.neill@odgersberndtson.com