Strategic People Partner

Salary: £70,094 to £93,459 dependent upon 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 our 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.

Please note that both a CV and a cover letter are required for any application detailing how you meet the requirements for the role set out in the “About You” section below.  

The Role

The Strategic People Partner (SPP) is accountable for partnering with senior leaders to ensure alignment of CAA strategy and business objectives with the CAA People Strategy and local people plans and objectives. 

Broad responsibilities for driving workforce planning, organisational and directorate performance and cultural maturity, providing and using data driven insights to improve local decision making in relation to people and culture issues and priorities. 

Core Accountabilities

Leadership and People Partnering

• Part of a team of four SPPs and a senior leader within People and Culture, the post holder will partner with senior leaders of one or more specific business areas, to develop and implement both corporate and local people strategies to deliver business objectives.
• Act as trusted advisor to local senior leadership teams to provide expert advice in relation to culture, employee engagement, workforce planning, leadership, talent management, organisation design and restructure and change management.
• Role model CAA values and leadership competencies, working proactively within People and Culture to develop a matrix team approach and removing siloed working.
• Build strong working relationships with business leaders to understand their challenges and ensure the creation and implementation of tailored strategic and operational people and culture solutions based on evidence and data insights.
• Manage complex employee relations, performance management, wellbeing and succession planning issues, drawing in the People Services Casework Manager and their team as required.
• Ensure the delivery and execution of both the CAA’s 3-year wellbeing and 3-year diversity and inclusion plan at local levels, seeking to ensure diverse colleague representation at all grades in the CAA.   Actively champion diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing. 

Culture and Change

• Equip senior clients to continue improving how the CAA communicates and implements change, against a backdrop of increasing performance ambition.
• Deliver organisational change initiatives, including operating model reviews, restructures and TUPE transfers.
• Act as a change agent and champion working to make the CAA culture the best it can be.
• Ensure each client group has its own local people plan to drive employee engagement and cultural improvement, responding to colleague feedback.   

Workforce Planning, Evidence Based Practice and Data Insights

• In partnership with Finance and Integrated Planning team colleagues, capture and monitor the resource forecast monthly.
• Partner with leaders, other parts of People and Culture and Corporate Enabling Services to create, amend and deliver the CAA’s operational and strategic workforce plans. 
• Ensure client groups receive, discuss and action evidence and data insights to enable them to improve their local cultures, people performance and employee engagement levels.

People Strategy

• Provide expertise and business insight as part of People and Culture matrix working teams to develop and implement specific people and culture products and services, ensuring the effective implementation of the CAA People Strategy. 

About You

To be considered for the role you must:

• Be an experienced HR Business Partner with experience in workforce planning, structural change programmes and improving cultural maturity in a complex organisation.
• Have proven strong ability to provide strong challenge to senior leaders, acting as a critical friend whilst fostering positive relationships. 
• Evidence sound professional knowledge including understanding organisation design at a strategic level, organisation development, employment law surrounding organisational change and the broader HR generalist capabilities.
• Possess excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Have significant experience in analysing data, as well as crafting data insights and recommendations for action and improvement. 
• Demonstrate excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills with an ability to adapt approach and style to stakeholder needs. 
• Operate flexibly with resilience and a high tolerance for change with an ability to actively work to remove ambiguity.

Desirable

• Membership of CIPD.

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.

To be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.

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

This role only requires BPPS level clearance.

For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance

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

Inclusive Recruitment

We are passionate about diversity and ensuring all are included at the CAA. We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

As a member of the Disability Confident scheme, applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role with us will be guaranteed an interview. We use fair and inclusive selection approaches to hire the best person for the job based on merit alone. If you require an adjustment for any reason, please let us know.

Working With Us

We are on a journey towards being increasingly adaptable, where our colleagues collaborate as part of cross-functional teams. This approach ensures we never stop learning together. It also means that you may become involved in activities that take you out of your day-to-day role, providing you with opportunities to develop and grow your career with us.

We have embraced hybrid working and offer flexible working patterns, being open to having a conversation about what works for you. We know where and when we work is important in achieving a work-life balance.

We offer a range of excellent benefits such as flexible working arrangements, free onsite gym at Gatwick, discounted gym membership for London, 28 days annual leave, additional 5 days leave purchase scheme, a generous pension scheme and much more!

Our Values

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

Closing Date: Sunday 19th October 2025
CV Sift: W/C Monday 20th October 2025
Interview Date: W/C Monday 10th or 17th November 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.