Aviation Assurance Panel (AAP) - Operational & Technical Expert

Job summary

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.

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).

Job description

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.

Operational Independent Member role x1 :

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.

Technical Independent Panel member x1:

As aTechnical 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.

Person specification

Operation Independent Member x 1:

• 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.

Technical Independent Panel member x1:

• 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.

Benefits

n/a

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To find out more about the role and submit an application please click 'apply' to visit our careers site.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Senior and Public Appointment team
• Email : seniorrecruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : seniorrecruitment@ukri.org