In-orbit Regulation Manager

Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

The Space Industry Act 2018 (SIA) establishes the legal basis for spaceflight regulation, enabling commercial launch from the UK for the first time and reshaping the primary legislative basis for existing regulation of satellite operations for the first time in thirty years, drawing on experience gained in regulating orbital operations under the Outer Space Act 1986.

The National Space Strategy sets an ambition for the UK to lead the world in modern space regulation, and government announced a Plan for Space Sustainability in June 2022. As part of this work, a priority is to deliver regulatory frameworks to enable new/novel and growth activities in orbit, supporting cutting edge technologies while also ensuring that commercial activities in orbit are safe, secure and sustainable.

The In-Orbit Regulation Manager will work with detailed technical and legal information to develop regulatory requirements and form part of a friendly and vibrant regulatory team. 

This role will support delivery of UK Space Agency projects and programmes and develop detailed regulatory requirements to enable safe and sustainable spaceflight. Responsibilities will include: 

• Working with technical and subject matter experts in the UK Space Agency and Civil Aviation Authority, the sector, government lawyers and other stakeholders to develop regulatory approaches and guidance on commercial activities in orbit.  
• You will work with other subject matter experts and engineers in developing guidance to enable the safe and sustainable conduct of novel/emerging and growth activities in Earth orbit. Your priorities could include space sustainability, active debris removal and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing.
• You will engage with technical experts and industry to ensure that regulatory requirements for orbital operator licences under the Outer Space Act 1986 (OSA) and Space Industry Act 2018 (SIA) remain current, relevant and effective, keeping pace with the rapid technological and operational developments in the sector as well as the changing orbital environment.
• You will advise colleagues in the wider UK Space Agency, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Civil Aviation Authority on matters affecting orbital licensing under the OSA and SIA.
• The role may include engagement with other states and in expert-level international fora as required on regulatory matters. 
• You will form part of a friendly, vibrant and multidisciplinary regulatory team. 

UK Space Agency Generic Responsibilities (This is a requirement of all posts)

• Ensure compliance with statutory and legal provisions as set out in the UK Space Agency’s policies and procedures. In particular in relation to: Financial Regulations, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Health and Safety, Civil Service Code, Data Protection & the Official Secrets Act.
• Comply with the behaviours and standard requisites as relevant to your post as detailed in your job description, person specification and take responsibility for continuing self-development, participating in training and development activities as required or requested by your line manager.
• Attend meetings as required some of which may be outside normal working hours

The above mentioned tasks and responsibilities are neither inclusive nor exhaustive. The post holder may be called upon to carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required by the Chief Executive and/or senior officer(s) within the grading level of the post and the competence of the post holder.

Essential

• Experience dealing with technical experts or complex legal or technical information;

Desirable

• Experience in a regulator or on regulatory policy;

And/or:

• Experience in the space sector.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

UKSA offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
  

• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
  

• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
  

• Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.

• A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.

• This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this).  If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

• The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Job contact :

• Name : Matt Bull
• Email : Matt.Bull@ukspaceagency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk