Military Aviation Authority - Deputy Head Certification and Recognition

The Military Aviation Authority is seeking an experienced, credible and highly motivated senior regulatory leader to become Deputy Head Certification and Recognition. This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of Defence Safety regulation.

The MAA is responsible for the regulation, equipment certification, surveillance, inspection and assurance of the Defence Air operating and technical domains. It ensures the safe design and operation of military air systems. As the single regulatory authority responsible for regulating all aspects of Air Safety across Defence, the MAA has full oversight of all Defence aviation activity. Through independent and continuous surveillance of military aviation, the MAA aims to provide the SoS, through Director General DSA (DG DSA), the necessary assurance that appropriate standards of Air safety are maintained in delivering operational capability. The MAA is the military equivalent to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Who are the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) and what do they do?

The DSA is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection, operating under a Charter from the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS). The DSA provides independent assurance, directly to the SofS, that the law is complied with and the policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented whilst Defence activities are conducted. This regulation is achieved through proportionate and appropriate evidence-based assessment of the activity that supports Defence’s operational imperatives. The DSA hosts Defence safety regulators across all operating environments, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB) and a Headquarters function into a single independent organisation led by a 3* military officer. The MAA sits within the DSA.

The post holder will lead MAA certification activity for large, complex uncrewed air systems in the Certified category. They will also provide technical leadership across Open, Specific S1 and Specific S2 categories, primarily in support of Type Airworthiness Authorities managing the latter. They shall own the Defence Standards that underpin this technical/certification work, ensuring these remain credible and relevant in the face of rapid technological change and innovation.

In addition to these technical responsibilities, the post holder will lead MAA Recognition activity. This process of understanding and comparing how international Partner MAAs operate in relation to the UK MAA is a key enabler to ensuring proportionate application of UK resource and effort to fielding capability. It is intrinsically linked to Air System certification. A key task for the post holder shall be ensuring Certification and Recognition are coherent, mutually supporting and aligned to Defence’s need for proportionate assurance, evidence reuse, interoperability and safe exploitation of emerging capability

A new addition to the role shall be the pan-DSA leadership of Recognition activity, supporting other regulatory domains in implementation and sustainment of this critical enabling activity.

This position therefore represents a rare opportunity to operate at senior level within both the DSA and the MAA Executive, influencing strategic regulatory decisions across Defence while acting as the senior Civil Servant within the MAA. The role will suit an established aerospace, airworthiness or regulatory professional who can combine technical credibility, strategic judgement, stakeholder influence and inclusive leadership.

Responsibilities: Your key responsibilities for you AoR will include:

International Regulatory

• Lead MAA international Recognition activity with other regulatory authorities and external stakeholders (including NATO, FIVE EYES and European Defence Agency (EDA) airworthiness focal points).
• Lead DSA Recognition effort, supporting and mentoring DSA regulators across all domains as they establish their own Recognition networks and processes.
• Develop and maintain the MAA International Recognition Strategy, aligned to wider MAA engagement priorities (potentially elevating to a DSA International Recognition Strategy).
• Act as the MAA airworthiness Recognition specialist and represent the UK as Head of Delegation at relevant international airworthiness fora (NATO, FIVE EYES, EDA).
• Maintain and develop Recognition strategy, planning and delivery, including Military Aviation Recognition Questionnaire (MARQ) activity.
• Liaise with UK industry, Defence stakeholders and partner authorities to identify opportunities for external evidence reuse, benefits realisation and reduced duplication.

Certification leadership

• Lead MAA Certification activity for all Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) in the Certified category including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
• Provide technical leadership in support of other MAA Branches for Open, Specific S1 and Specific S2 category UAS.
• Own the content and amendment of associated Air System design standards, specifically Defence Standard 00-970/00-972, ensuring these remain fit for purpose.
• Provide senior regulatory leadership across designated Certification activity, ensuring effort is prioritised against Defence demand and strategic risk.
• Support proportionate Certification pathways for uncrewed systems, experimentation, autonomy and novel technologies, ensuring regulatory activity enables safe exploitation of emerging capability.
• Work closely with senior MAA colleagues to ensure SQEP is aligned to priority Certification and Recognition outputs.

Strategic leadership and governance

• Contribute to the delivery of DSA and MAA strategic outcomes by aligning Certification and Recognition activity to Transition to Conflict, interoperability, innovation and proportionate risk-based assurance.
• Act as MAA Senior Civil Servant, coordinating activity between the Authority and DSA/DOS where required.
• Provide authoritative advice to senior stakeholders across Defence and industry on Certification, Recognition and regulatory assurance matters.
• Deputise for senior leadership as required.

People, resources and delivery

• Lead, manage and develop staff within area of responsibility, supporting recruitment, reporting, development and succession planning where applicable.
• Prioritise activity across competing demands, ensuring MAA effort is focused where it delivers greatest regulatory value.
• Manage allocated resources to deliver agreed outcomes and achieve value for money.

Engineer (CEng/IEng or willingness to work towards), with a strong Airworthiness and Certification background.

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

In addition to a CV, please provide a Personal Statement (no more than 750 words) describing your experience in the following areas:

• Airworthiness and Certification
• Aerospace Engineering
• Regulatory Leadership and Assurance
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influence
• Leading People and Delivering Through Change

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be based on the lead civil service behaviour which is “Seeing the Big Picture”. Where the required standard for this behaviour is met, you will continue to be sifted on the remaining criteria.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Oral Presentation:

Candidates who proceed beyond sift shall be expected to attend a formal interview which shall include the requirement for a 5-minute oral presentation (subject tbc).

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Interviews shall take place in person at MoD Abbeywood (North) BS34 8QW

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.