Military Aviation Authority - Deputy Head Certification and Recognition

Job summary 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.

Job description 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 a