Senior Human Factors Practitioner

NATS Ltd; Swanwick; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NATS Ltd is seeking a qualified Human Factors professional to lead multiple HF projects, ensuring timely delivery, budget adherence and customer satisfaction. The role involves collaborating with ATC, Tech Safety, and Validation peers, under the Head of HF Delivery, with hybrid working options.

Candidates should have MSc in Human Factors or related fields, demonstrate senior project leadership, and hold HF professional registration or equivalent experience.

Qualifications

• BSc in Human Factors or related discipline.
• MSc in Human Factors or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Significant work experience in Human Factors, especially in safety-critical industries.
• Registered member from a recognised HF institute (e.g. CIEHF) or demonstrate equivalence by experience.
• Proven ability to lead projects and deliver solutions to demanding timescales and satisfy customers.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen and experience delivering to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead up to 5 significant Human Factors projects and deliver to time, cost, quality, scope.
• Build and maintain relationships with customers and stakeholders as the focal point for delivery.
• Coordinate with technical peers and Lead HF Practitioner to ensure efficient delivery.
• Ensure SAP reflects customer requests for all work in their project(s).
• Provide ad-hoc Human Factors expertise to customers and project activities.
• Plan, design, implement and report on complex technical tasks with minimal guidance.

Skills

Human Factors

Project leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Autonomy

Education

BSc in Human Factors or related discipline

MSc in Human Factors or related discipline

CIEHF registration or equivalent

Job description

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Closing Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026

Purpose of the Role:

The purpose of the role is to manage up to 5 significant Human Factors projects in one or more key area of focus for the Human Factors team and / or the business such as Centres, Airspace or Airports. The post holder will be accountable for ensuring each project they lead is delivered to time, cost, quality, scope whilst balancing resource constraints and customer needs. The post holder will be required to work closely with external technical peers (e.g. ATC, Tech Safety, Validation) under the guidance of the Head of HF Delivery and supported by the relevant Lead HF Practitioner. The post holder provides specific scientific, technical or analytical expertise.

Accountabilities as Project lead:

• Under the direction of the Head of Human Factors Delivery and Lead Human Factors Practitioner(s), build and maintain relationships with programme customers and stakeholders and be the focal point for communication on the delivery of agreed work;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with technical peers (e.g. Tech Safety, Validation) and work with the Business Process Expert to look for new and efficient ways to ensure efficient and effective delivery whilst meeting customers’ needs and developing working relationships and processes with key peers;
• Ensure SAP accurately reflects customer requests for all the work in their project(s);
• Deliver technical work as required to meet the agreed work under their programme or another programme as required;
• Ensure adherence to all relevant NATS processes (BMS, SMS, etc.);
• Provide ad-hoc Human Factors expertise to customers and project activities as required;
• Scope, plan, design, implement and report on (through appropriate means) complex technical tasks with minimal guidance including coordination with team members and peers (e.g. Safety, Validation).
• Identify conflicts and escalations of concerns and issues as appropriate to the relevant task manager, team leader or programme manager.
• Complete assigned tasks within agreed timescales, to the required level of quality and to the satisfaction of the relevant task manager, team leader or programme lead. This includes carrying out or reviewing scientific, technical or data analysis, drawing technical conclusions and contributing to customer deliverables.
• Responds to queries, advises and updates customers, influencing when required, with minimal guidance.
• Championing the HF team both internally and externally and building extended network;
• Coach and mentor more junior team members on technical and not technical work as required.

Qualifications, professional knowledge and Skills:

• BSc in Human Factors or a related discipline (Psychology, Biomechanics, or similar);
• MSc in Human Factors or a related discipline (Psychology, Biomechanics, or similar), or equivalent work experience,
• Significant work experience in the Human Factors area, of particular relevance in safety Critical industries.
• Registered member from a recognised institute within the Human Factors disciplines such as the Chartered Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics (CIEHF), the British Psychology Society, or similar; or able to demonstrate equivalence through experience.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and influence change within mixed discipline teams (e.g. ATCOs, HF specialists, numerical analysts, and engineers)
• Proven ability to lead projects and deliver and implement solutions to demanding time scales and customer satisfaction
• Demonstrable commercial acumen and experience in delivering to both internal and external customers.
• Proven substantive track record of working in Human Factors in safety critical industries or equivalent academic background
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and uncertainty, have the ability to quickly assimilate unfamiliar information, and provide sound advice aligned with Human Factors regulations, standards, and processes, and with NATS’ Safety Management Manual.
• They should also be able to demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:
• A good understanding of process and their application
• A sound understanding of Human Factors techniques.
• An applied knowledge in data analysis and data interpretation.
• Excellent time management, planning, organisational and facilitation skills leading to demonstrable ability to produce clear, concise and accurate information.
• Good networking skills, establishing key contacts around the organisation quickly, valuing them and using them effectively.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral and the ability to communicate effectively with middle to senior management.
• Good interpersonal, influencing, persuading and communication skills with attention to detail/accuracy
• Confident to ensure that, when recognising errors, they are reported for timely resolution.
• The ability to easily assimilate and disseminate unfamiliar information, and act promptly to pass on relevant information to the appropriate person even if outside of the division.
• Ability to think creativity to quickly find adequate solutions for ad-hoc requests from across the business.
• Ability to formulate and develop documentation quickly and effectively and present them to Management in a clear and concise manner adapting their communication style as required.
• Self-motivator, self-reliant and proactive, with the ability to make swift decisions.
• Able to show a logical approach and attention to detail.
• A team player, who is prepared to address problems proactively and to contribute to the development of a high-performance delivery organisation.
• Proactive approach to identifying and addressing business needs.

Additional Accountabilities and Skills:

• Confidently apply tailored and proportionate Design Thinking methodologies in accordance with HF Processes.

Additional 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? - NATS '

All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance click here Security Clearance - 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. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements.

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.