Senior Human Factors Practitioner

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

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.

• 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.

• 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…