Human Factors Specialist in London - Greys Specialist Recruitment

Human Factors Specialist – Rail Operations

Location: Flexible UK location, with regular national travel to operational and maintenance sites

Salary: £45,000–£60,000 depending on experience

Employment: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Safety

Greys Specialist Recruitment is supporting a national rail-services organisation in appointing a Human Factors Specialist.

This is an applied Human Factors role, not a general Health and Safety position. You will provide technical expertise to operational managers and HSEQ teams, supporting the Head of Safety with the tactical delivery of a national Human Factors Strategy.

Strategic ownership remains with the Head of Safety. You will translate that strategy into assessments, improvement programmes, coaching, assurance, performance data and measurable change. Academic knowledge alone is insufficient: you must demonstrate practical application of recognised Human Factors methods in a complex operational environment.

The role

Working across rail operations and maintenance, you will embed Human Factors into operational risk, investigations, organisational change, fatigue, ergonomics, workforce development and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop Human Factors standards within the Safety Management System.
• Support operational and maintenance assessments covering workstation design, shift patterns and work processes.
• Embed Human Factors into expansion initiatives and organisational-change assessments.
• Manage improvement projects, action plans and recommendations through to completion.
• Facilitate Learning Teams and support investigations using Human Factors techniques.
• Embed Human Factors reviews into high-potential investigations and report recurring learning themes.
• Support fatigue, workload and ergonomics programmes.
• Produce reports, dashboards, KPIs and trend analysis for HSEQ reviews and senior safety governance.
• Develop toolbox talks, awareness materials, standards, templates and guidance.
• Coach managers and build internal Human Factors capability.
• Represent the organisation in internal projects and industry working groups.
• Travel to UK operational and maintenance sites as required.

Essential requirements

You must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Factors, Ergonomics, Psychology or a closely related discipline.
• Experience supporting operational-improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of Human Factors principles in complex environments.
• Practical experience applying at least one recognised Human Factors method.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical findings to non-specialists.
• The ability to collaborate and influence across operational and technical functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant data-analysis software.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the UK.

Your CV must demonstrate practical use of one or more of:

• HEART.
• SHERPA.
• Task analysis.
• Workload analysis.
• Learning Teams.
• Human error analysis.
• Ergonomic assessments.

General Health and Safety experience without applied Human Factors knowledge will not be sufficient.

Desirable experience

• Rail, transport, engineering or another high-hazard industry.
• Transport-sector safety regulations and standards.
• RSSB Human Factors guidance and ORR RM3.
• Safety Management Systems.
• Operational or safety investigations.
• User-experience research and turning findings into practical recommendations.
• Microsoft Power BI, dashboards and trend analysis.
• Working with operational, engineering or maintenance teams.

Rail experience is advantageous but not essential. Relevant Human Factors experience from another complex engineering, transport or high-hazard environment will be considered.

First-year priorities

You will help:

• Complete a Human Factors maturity assessment, gain approval for an improvement plan and establish an annual programme.
• Review the ten highest operational risks, implement recommendations and present progress to senior safety governance.
• Embed Human Factors review into high-potential investigations and report learning themes quarterly.
• Build capability through manager coaching, toolbox talks and learning sessions.
• Deliver planned initiatives, report KPIs monthly, track benefits and close agreed actions.

Stakeholders and approach

You will work with senior safety and ESG leaders, depot and production leadership, fleet engineering, operations, HSEQ, HR, Occupational Health and Learning and Development. External relationships may include RSSB, ORR, Network Rail, train operators, industry groups, contractors and universities.

You must build collaborative relationships, challenge constructively, use evidence and influence without direct authority. Visible safety leadership, integrity and the ability to translate technical principles into practical improvements are essential.

Why apply?

This is an opportunity to apply Human Factors expertise across a complex national rail environment and improve safety, operational effectiveness and workforce wellbeing. The portfolio covers operational risk, investigations, fatigue, ergonomics, organisational change, safety culture, training and data, with clear first-year objectives and senior stakeholder exposure.

Please apply with a CV showing your relevant degree, operational environments, applied Human Factors methods, assessments or improvement programmes, stakeholder experience, location and ability to travel nationally.

All applications will be handled confidentially.

Please contact Max Painter.