Principal Advisor, Standards

• Are you a commercial pilot keen to give your career a new facet?
• Help develop a culture of flight standards excellence.

• Wellington based but will consider Auckland Airport or Christchurch Airport.

By joining us, you will be part of a team where meaningful work, collaboration and innovation come together to help keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure.

At the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, we are constantly evolving to meet the demands of a changing environment and the aviation industry.

Recent legislative changes, along with an organisational realignment, have opened exciting new opportunities across the Authority. These changes are part of a broader effort to better position our teams for the future by enabling us to be more collaborative, efficient and effective in everything we do.

As we step confidently into our role as a modern regulator, we are embracing intelligence-led, risk-based approaches that help us make a real difference for our people and the communities we serve – with a strong value-for-money ethos. We’re also committed to enabling aviation participants to support economic growth in New Zealand's aviation sector.

About the role

The Principal Advisor Standards is a pivotal role providing key technical and regulatory advice to inform regulatory decision making within the Aviation Safety Oversight Group. Supporting the Head of Licensing and Standards, your experience and expertise will ensure training aviation standards are sufficient and relevant and participants are licensed to operate safely within the aviation system.

You’ll be responsible for monitoring national and international standards in line with best practice; this includes training and operational standards. It provides oversight for the creation and writing of aviation standards, the provision of advice and support for the development of rules, advisory circulars and policy, and the delivery of sound aviation safety advice.

The salary band for the Principal Advisor Standards starts at $136,939 to a maximum of $191,448.  Starting salaries are to be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

What You’ll Bring 

You’ll be a strategic thinker with deep expertise in regulatory policy, quality, assurance, and oversight, ideally within a dynamic or safety-critical environment. Your ability to provide thought leadership and trusted advice at a senior level will be matched by your skill in coaching and mentoring others.

To be successful in this role you will.

• Have a proven track record of performance and experience in regulatory oversight and/or an in-depth understanding of the aviation regulatory framework and systems with particular reference to operational and training aviation standards.
• Hold a NZCAA Part 61 Pilot individual aviation document with relevant examiner qualifications attached to your licence and have experience working within the NZ regulatory environment.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders and participants in the aviation system.

• Have strong Integrity, sound judgement, and a keen eye for risk which will underpin everything you do.

• Be a trusted advisor with the ability to influence and build credibility at senior levels 

• Demonstrate the ability to interpret complex information and support informed decision-making.

About Us

Our Values – Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration – represent the standards of behaviour we uphold and guide how we work at the Authority. We embrace diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment where our people feel respected, safe, and valued for their unique contributions. We recognise that our people drive our success.

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and Cover Letter. Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Therefore, please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

For more information on the role please view the position description or contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz

Please apply via our Careers site. We are unable to consider email applications.

Applications close Tuesday 21 October 2025