Senior Human Factors Practitioner

NATS; Swanwick CP; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, delivering critical human factors expertise across Centres, Airspace and Airports. The Project Lead in Human Factors will manage up to five significant HF projects, coordinate with external peers, and ensure delivery within time, cost, and quality constraints.

You will work under the Head of HF Delivery, applying scientific and analytical HF techniques and mentoring junior staff, with a role based primarily in Swanwick and flexible

Qualifications

• BSc in Human Factors or a related discipline (Psychology, Biomechanics, or similar)
• MSc in Human Factors or a related discipline, or equivalent work experience
• Significant work experience in Human Factors, especially in safety-critical industries
• Registered with a recognised Human Factors institute (e.g. CIEHF or BPS) or demonstrable equivalence
• Proven autonomous working ability and influence across mixed-discipline teams
• Proven track record of leading projects and delivering to demanding time scales
• Commercial acumen with experience delivering to internal and external customers
• Experience in Human Factors within safety-critical industries or equivalent academic background
• Ability to handle ambiguity and align advice with HF regulations, standards, and processes

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with programme customers and stakeholders as the focal point for delivery
• Collaborate with technical peers and process experts to ensure efficient delivery
• Ensure SAP reflects customer requests for all work in projects
• Deliver technical work to meet project requirements
• Adhere to NATS processes (BMS, SMS, etc.)
• Provide ad-hoc Human Factors expertise to customers and projects
• Plan, design, implement and report on complex tasks with coordination across teams
• Identify conflicts and escalate concerns to the appropriate manager
• Complete tasks on time with quality and deliverables
• Communicate with customers, advising and updating with minimal guidance
• Champion the HF team internally and externally
• Coach and mentor junior team members

Skills

Human Factors

Project Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Data Analysis

Time Management

Communication Skills

Ambiguity Handling

Team Mentoring

Education

BSc in Human Factors

MSc in Human Factors

CIEHF / BPS equivalent experience

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.

Salary: £55,107.59 - £73,476.78

Closing Date: Friday 11th September 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:

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

• This role will be mainly based in Swanwick, attendance at sit is essential for this role
• Confidently apply tailored and proportionate Design Thinking methodologies in accordance with HF Processes.
• Proven experience in supporting Airspace changes and familiarity with CAP1616
• Proactively engage with all key Safety stakeholders, influence and agree cohesive assurance strategies for highly complex airspace project delivery

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

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.