Aviation Assurance Panel - Operational & Technical Expert

Reports to: Elizabeth Hims – NERC Operational Safety Assurance Manager (Aviation & Maritime)

Base Location: AAP locations rotate between stakeholder sites in Cambridge, Swindon and London.

Salary: £4,800 - £6,000 per year based on experience

Duration /Contract type: An initial period of up to three years

Hours: Six days (48 hours) annually made up of three meetings (two days allocated per meeting, one for pre-reading, one attendance). Additional ad-hoc support as and when required with prior agreement

Travel Requirements: AAPs are rotated across Stakeholder locations including Cambridge, Swindon and London.

About UKRI 

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation. We invest more than £8 billion annually to advance our understanding of society the world around us and deliver benefits for society, the economy, and the environment.

Our organisation comprises of nine councils – the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, the seven disciplinary research councils and Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England. As a UK-wide organisation we work across the four UK nations and with the devolved funding bodies and governments to understand and support different priorities that span research and innovation in different parts of the UK.

Through our councils and the critical national capabilities provided by our centres, units and institutes, we deliver, support and champion the creativity and vibrancy of research and innovation in the UK, for the benefit of society.

UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Find out more in our 5-year strategy, Transforming Tomorrow Together.

About (NERC) 

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) delivers ambitious, world-class environmental science. Our mission is to tackle global environmental challenges, strengthen societal resilience and enable sustainable economic growth. We invest in researchers, innovators, facilities and data to maintain the UK’s position as an international leader in environmental science and evidence-based policy.

Purpose of the roles 

Aviation Assurance Panel

NERC’s Aviation Assurance Panel (AAP) is UKRI’s highest- level assurance body for aviation assets within our National Capability provision. These assets include:

• Four British Antarctic Survey (BAS) De Havilland Canada Twin Otters (DHC-6)
• The BAS De Havilland Canada Dash-7 (DHC-7).

The AAP is chaired by NERC’s Chief Operating Officer and brings together expertise from across UKRI’s aviation domain, including BAS, the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and NERC Head Office. Its purpose is to provide independent, expert oversight to ensure the safe, effective and complaint operation of UKRI’s aviation capability.

We are seeking an Aviation Operational & Technical Independent Subject Matter Experts to join the Aviation Assurance Panel. As a Panel Member, you will provide impartial, high-level advice and constructive challenges to strengthen governance risk management and assurance across UKRI’s aviation operations. Your expertise will help ensure that our aviation assets remain safe, compliant, and capable of supporting world-leading environmental research.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute your expertise to the assurance of some of the UK’s most distinctive scientific aviation assets. Your insight will directly support environmental research that informs national policy, advances scientific understanding and benefits society.

As an Operational Independent Panel Member, you will:

• Provide independent oversight, expert advice and constructive challenge to support the AAP Chair’s decision-making.
• Act as a critical friend, offering impartial perspectives on aviation assurance, safety and governance matters.
• Scrutinise assurance information, risk assessments and operational reports to ensure frameworks are robust, fit for purpose and able to withstand external scrutiny.
• Promote transparency, accountability and continuous improvement across UKRI’s aviation activities.

Skills 

• In-depth operational expertise within an aviation domain such as operational control, irregular operations, airport and ground operations, safety management systems (SMS), operational risk.
• Proven ability to provide high-level advice and challenge on aviation assurance, policy, or operational matters.
• Strong understanding of assurance, risk and governance frameworks within aviation or related sectors.
• Ability to interpret complex technical data and assurance documentation to inform strategic decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience influencing senior stakeholders

Essential Criteria 

• Knowledge of aviation regulations and compliance (e.g. CAA, ASSI, ICAO).
• Familiarity with emerging aviation technologies (e.g., RPAS/UAVs, sustainable aviation fuels, digital airspace management).
• Experience serving on advisory boards, technical panels, or governance committees.
• Ability to operate impartially, providing objective advice with appropriate ethical oversight.

Your appointment is conditional upon obtaining and maintaining Security Check (SC) clearance for the duration of your employment. Candidates must be eligible to undergo and successfully obtain SC clearance prior to appointment.

Desirable Criteria

• Chartered or professionally accredited status (e.g., CEng, FRAeS, PMP).
• Experience working with government departments, regulators or industry partners.
• As a Technical Independent Panel Member, you will:
• Provide independent oversight, expert advice and constructive challenge to support the AAP Chair’s decision-making.
• Act as a critical friend, offering impartial perspectives on aviation assurance, safety and governance matters.
• Scrutinise assurance information, risk assessments and operational reports to ensure frameworks are robust, fit for purpose and able to withstand external scrutiny
• Promote transparency, accountability and continuous improvement across UKRI’s aviation activities.

Skills

• In-depth Technical expertise within an aviation domain such as airworthiness, regulatory compliance, safety management systems (SMS), air maintenance.
• Proven ability to provide high-level advice and challenge on aviation assurance, policy, or operational matters.
• Strong understanding of assurance, risk and governance frameworks within aviation or related sectors.
• Ability to interpret complex technical data and assurance documentation to inform strategic decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience influencing senior stakeholders

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge of aviation regulations and compliance (e.g. CAA, ASSI, ICAO).
• Familiarity with emerging aviation technologies (e.g., RPAS/UAVs, sustainable aviation fuels, digital airspace management).
• Experience serving on advisory boards, technical panels, or governance committees.
• Ability to operate impartially providing objective advice with appropriate ethical oversight.

Your appointment is conditional upon obtaining and maintaining Security Check (SC) clearance for the duration of your employment. Candidates must be eligible to undergo and successfully obtain SC clearance prior to appointment.

Desirable Criteria

• Chartered status or professionally accredited status (e.g., CEng, FRAeS, PMP).
• Experience working with government departments, regulators or industry partners.

Go Live: 29th June 2026

Close Date: 26th July 2026 @ 23:55pm

Shortlisting: 10th August 2026

Interviews: 18th & 20th August 2026

Application Guidance 

We have the right to close vacancies earlier if we receive high volumes of candidates

As part of your application, you will need to submit:

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A Supporting Statement – covering the essential criteria
• Please clarify which role you are applying for
• Your CV and supporting statement should each be no more than two to three pages in length.

Supporting Statement Guidance 

Your supporting statement is a key part of your application. It should clearly explain why you are suitable for this role, providing specific evidence of how you meet the requirements outlined in the person specification.

To help structure your statement, we encourage you to address each criterion in the person specification using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This will help you present your experience in a clear and consistent way. Further guidance on the STAR method is available from the National Careers Service.

Please note, failure to provide a supporting statement/CV or failure to address the above points may result in your application not being considered further.

You will only be assessed on the content of your CV and supporting statement, and not the ‘experience’ section of the application on the Careers Portal.

If you experience any issues applying online, please contact seniorrecruitment@ukri.org