Lead Human Factors Practitioner

NATS; Whiteley; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading air navigation service provider seeks a Human Factors Manager to oversee a key programme, focusing on strategic improvements within Operations and Technology. The role involves collaborating with project leads, stakeholders, and driving safety and efficiency in the industry. Candidates should possess a degree in Human Factors or related fields along with essential experience in safety-critical environments.

Benefits

Agile working arrangements

Total reward package

Qualifications

• Significant HF experience in safety-critical industries.
• Membership of a recognised HF institute or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work independently and influence change.

Responsibilities

• Manage Human Factors programme in diverse areas ensuring delivery.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and drive strategic HF improvements.
• Lead complex technical tasks within projects.

Skills

Project leadership

Data analysis

Effective communication

Process knowledge

Education

Degree in Human Factors or related field

Job description

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, managing over 2.4 million flights annually. We deliver air traffic control from two centres and at UK airports, and offer international commercial solutions. Our people are central to our mission to advance aviation and keep skies safe.

Job Overview
Manage a Human Factors (HF) programme in a key area (e.g. Operations, Technology - including UX Design, Airspace), ensuring delivery to time, cost, scope, and quality. Support project leads, collaborate with internal/external stakeholders, and drive strategic HF/Design improvements. May also lead individual projects.

Other Duties Include

• Ensure Project Leads work closely with key customers and allied professions (e.g. Project Safety, Validation) to deliver joint work activities effectively, ensure that the collaborative approach is consistent between HF Programmes; Work with customers to understand and express their needs and propose work programmes to meet those needs;
• Ensure demand profile reflects stakeholder requests for all the work in their programme; Where required provide technical and non-technical support and guidance for HF practitioners working on their programme to ensure delivery is in accordance with stakeholder expectations.
• Act as peer reviewer for work in their programmes, providing feedback and support where required; Work with HF project leads under own programme to identify and regularly monitor for each project: scope, timescales, resources, and deliverables to ensure that these are accurately defined and will meet the customer requirement; Work with project leads and Head of HF Design & Assurance to tactically deploy own programme resources to solve resource and workload issues within own programme; Provide regular updates to the HF Delivery Manager of progress and risks against agreed work programme;
• Work collaboratively with other Programme Leads; key customer representatives, external programme peers (e.g. technical safety, Validation) and HF Delivery Manager to identify and resolve short term resourcing issues across the HF team;
• Ensure HF programme work aligns with business goals.
• Drive continuous improvement and efficiency.
• Promote HF internally and externally.
• Lead complex technical tasks and coordinate with peers.
• Deliver tasks to agreed standards and timelines.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Degree in HF or related field (e.g. Psychology, Biomechanics) or equivalent experience.
• Significant HF experience in safety-critical industries.
• Membership of a recognised HF institute or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work independently and influence change.
• Strong project leadership and delivery skills.
• Commercial acumen and customer delivery experience.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and aligned with HF standards and NATS' Safety Management Manual.

Additional Skills

• Strong process and HF technique knowledge.
• Data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Excellent planning, time management, and facilitation.
• Effective communicator with senior stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and logical.
• Self-motivated, decisive, and team-oriented.

Additional Vacancy Information
We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS?

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. Find out more here.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe - we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.
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