Systems and Database Administrator

Salary: £40,000 to £44,000 - Full Time Equivalent – (FTE)

Contract Type: Permanent – Part Time (3 days p/w / 21 hours / 0.6 FTE)

Location: Edinburgh – Hybrid

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

We are the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator and recognised as a world leader in its field. Our activities are diverse, enabling the aviation industry to meet the highest safety standards, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the constantly evolving aviation environment.

The Role

Assist in the running of the Civil Aviation Authority Pension Scheme (CAAPS), which covers both CAA and NATS, by maintaining the pensions administration database and acting as a focal point for all systems. Maintain the department’s internal controls to ensure integrity of data and compliance with the Pensions Regulator’s requirements.

Core Accountabilities

• Data Management: Extract, validate, upload and reconcile pension data using specialist software, Excel and Access
• System Administration: Maintain CAAPS website, manage version control and lead reporting development
• Quality Assurance: Create test packs, perform regression testing and ensure system compliance
• Stakeholder Liaison: Work closely with actuaries, HR, Trustees and system providers on bulk calculations and data transmission
• Risk Management: Identify risks, implement controls and maintain procedural documentation
• Reporting: Produce monthly, quarterly and annual reports plus ad hoc analysis for management and Trustees
• Compliance: Support internal/external audits and ensure governance requirements are met
• Operations: Manage annual pension increases (including GMP equalisation), reconcile buy-in schemes and upload data for Pensions Dashboard

About You

Minimum essential requirements for the role:

• Comprehensive experience in the use of IT systems and their application to pension processes.
• Complete knowledge and understanding of databases to ensure integrity of data and provision to 3rd parties. Inclusive of Excel and Access and our pensions administration system.
• Knowledge of Website maintenance and statistical reporting, including Google Analytics, HTML and software report writing tools.
• Firm understanding of the IT interfaces from the pay departments and awareness of time critical jobs. Full knowledge of calculation bases is essential to enable these rigorous checks to be undertaken.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people – technical and non-technical.
• Proven ability to understand and interpret technical material to an appropriate level and identify key issues.
• Able to multitask, organise and prioritise work and adjust varying workloads while meeting overlapping deadlines.
• Ability to use initiative to produce material to specified standards and time scales supported by excellent planning skills.

Desirable skills for the role:

• Working knowledge of Altair pension systems is desirable.

Additional Information

For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. For these roles the post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance.

SC - To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 5 years.

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to complete a declaration of interest.

Relocation & Property

The CAA will be relocating from Aviation House (Our Gatwick Office) to new premises in a few years’ time. Our move is driven by strategic, operational and environmental considerations.

We will be moving to a new local home, up to a 15-mile radius of Aviation House, to minimise disruption for our valued colleagues and customers.

We are now working with colleagues and visitors to understand what we need in our new office, before we start our property search. We will sell Aviation House and land, vacate the site and move to new premises, but we do not expect to move before 2028

Inclusivity

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate our diversity ensuring all are backgrounds included here at the CAA. As a member of the Disability Confident scheme, applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role with us will be guaranteed an interview.

Our Benefits

We offer a range of excellent benefits such as (benefits will be pro rata to FTE):

• Flexible & hybrid working arrangements available
• 28 days annual leave + public holidays (additional 5 days leave purchase scheme)
• Generous pension scheme (Up to 12% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing Room at Gatwick
• Mental Health and Suicide First Aiders
• Employee Assistance Programme, talking therapies and neurodiversity support via Occupational Health & access to Headspace for colleagues and 5 dependents
• Free onsite gym at Gatwick or discounted gym membership for London
• EV charging points
• Employee Development courses internally and via Skillsoft

Our Values

Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here

Closing Date: Friday 8th August 2025

Interview Date: w/c Monday 18th August

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

No recruitment agencies please.