Job description for Human Factors Integration Specialist

We are looking for Human Factors Integration Specialists to join our growing Human Factors Integration team in our Bristol and Glasgow Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S) offices.

As part of our team, you will have a significant impact on our Armed Forces; optimising their performance by ensuring the equipment we procure considers human capabilities, limitations, and characteristics, and influencing the systems being developed for them.

This is also an opportunity to work as part of a large Human Factors Integration (HFI) team to scope, manage and deliver HFI tasks. As a HFI Specialist, you will be providing comprehensive HFI support to stakeholders, within DE&S, the user community and industry suppliers. You will scope the required level of HFI support, with guidance from Senior Human Factors Integration Specialists and lead a small team to deliver the work within the approved time and budget. You may be supporting several projects in parallel in this way. Our HFI Consultants enjoy the variation afforded in their roles, managing projects at differing stages of the acquisition lifecycle, across all three services (Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force), and working with a wide range of military and civilian stakeholders.

Below is a quote from one of our HFI Specialists – Laird:

“There are many reasons why I enjoy working at DE&S but two stand out. Firstly, the variety of work we do. The HFI team is called upon to support a hugely diverse portfolio of projects in the Land, Air, Maritime and Joint domains. Projects vary in size from individual items of equipment to systems of systems and complete platforms. There’s never a dull moment. Secondly, my colleagues. The HFI team includes a good mix of experience and expertise. We share information and learn from each other; most importantly, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and find time to have a laugh.”

Working closely with project teams and the user community, you will help them to identify and address HFI considerations. Your subject matter expertise (SME) and passion for Human Factors will enable the project teams to provide world-leading capabilities to all three services that are safer to operate by the people that protect us.

HFI Consultants can choose their permanent duty station (PDS) from either of the below locations:

• MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH.
• Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX.

Candidates will be required to periodically attend MOD Abbey Wood for meetings and to support delivery teams needs and objectives. We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 50% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

What you’ll be doing

• Requirements – Generate Human Factors user and system requirements, defining technical deliverables/artifacts and updating other documentation for systems, including the generation of costed proposals for tasks, through discussions with customers, and deliver high quality outputs to stringent levels of time and cost.
• Technical Data – Lead on the development and acceptance of Human Factors requirements, including acceptance plans, performance criteria and draft specifications.
• Risk – Ensure Human Factors related risks are understood and managed, including the management of acquisition safety aspects that are specifically related to Human Factors (e.g. human error).
• Stakeholder Management – Support Teams in all aspects of contracting for HFI including the preparation of bid documents and assessment criteria, bid evaluation, writing contracts, advising on key HFI differentiators between suppliers; and after Contract Award, providing HFI Assurance to ensure the Supplier’s HFI activities are appropriate and of an acceptable quality.
• Technical Discipline – Provide specialist advice and comprehensive recommendations in relation to Human Factors Engineering.
• Personal Development – Own your career progression and professionalisation. This includes engaging with your People Coach/line manager, maintaining membership and registration level, with a relevant Professional body, updating Career Development Plan, conducting relevant learning and development in timely fashion, and keeping current with modern engineering technologies.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold a Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 4; in a Human Science or other relevant discipline, AND demonstrate equivalent suitable experience by being professionally registered with a relevant Professional body/institution related to your discipline as either:

– Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors Technical Member (TechCIEHF) or

– Full Membership with the British Psychological Society (FMBPsS) or

– Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

• Experience applying Human Factors methods and processes to complex systems
• Have wide ranging depth and breadth of experience in providing technical advice and delivery of successful Human Factors Integration/Engineering outcomes.
• Demonstrate experience of leading the delivery of successful Human Factors Integration/Engineering outcomes.

Note: Alternatives to RQF listed above (which cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), is the Scottish SCQF or international equivalent qualification backed up by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Seeing the Big Picture – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: PMPC – Stakeholder Management – Supervised Practitioner

Offered Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £14,282 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission