Senior Advisor, Emerging Technologies Programme

Are you passionate about innovation in aviation and ready to help shape the future of emerging technologies at CAA?

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 (CAA), 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 organisation. These changes are part of a broader effort to better position our teams for the future by enabling us to be 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.

We’re looking for a Senior Advisor to join the Emerging Technologies Programme Team — a key role supporting the safe and effective integration of new aviation technologies into New Zealand’s regulatory system. This is a unique opportunity to apply your strategic thinking, facilitation skills, and systems expertise to influence policy and regulatory approaches for a rapidly evolving sector.

About the Role

As a Senior Advisor, you’ll work closely with the Principal Advisor and Head of Programme to support engagement with innovators, operators, and internal teams. You’ll play a key role in bridging emerging technologies with CAA’s strategic, policy, and regulatory workstreams—ensuring safety, relevance, and readiness for future aviation needs.

This role will suit someone with a strong understanding of complex systems, project coordination, and strategic influence across multiple teams. It’s a facilitative position, focused on delivering insight, continuity, and guidance rather than certification decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the decision making process and serve as a first point of contact for innovators entering the aviation system
• Provide strategic advice and analysis to internal stakeholders and support the integration of emerging technologies into CAA’s regulatory approach
• Collaborate across System, Strategy and Policy, Aviation Safety Oversight, and Aviation Security groups
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sector stakeholders, including industry participants and other government agencies
• Support and contribute to the development of rules, policy, and strategy influenced by emerging technology trends
• Contribute to technical guidance and documentation relevant to flight operations, standards, and international best practices
• Actively participate in planning and delivering industry engagement activities, including events and sector outreach

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience supporting complex, strategic programmes in dynamic environments
• Strong project coordination skills and the ability to manage input across multiple business units
• Solid understanding of regulatory systems (aviation experience highly desirable)
• Confidence in providing trusted advice and influencing at senior levels
• Strong analytical capability and sound judgement in ambiguous or evolving scenarios
• Skilled in building collaboration across diverse technical and policy groups
• Understanding of, or willingness to quickly develop knowledge of, aviation technologies and international trends

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity to step into a role that spans delivery and strategy within CAA. You’ll work at the forefront of aviation innovation, build broad networks internally and externally, and help develop regulatory responses to some of the most exciting challenges facing the sector.

We’re looking for someone with curiosity, commitment, and a collaborative mindset—someone ready to help lead the way as the aviation landscape evolves.

The salary range for this role is between $115 536 to $141 751. Starting salary will depend on the skills and experience of the successful candidate, taking into account internal relativities. 

Please apply online with your CV and cover letter outlining your skills and motivation for the role.

For more information, please refer to the position description. If you have any questions, please contact Recruitment on recruitment@caa.govt.nz.

Applications close on Thursday 03/07/2025.