Job responsibilities
Professional Development
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events.
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- Continuous Professional Development (CPD): The post holder will be expected to take a pro-active role in managing their own CPD, ensuring that they do all that is required to maintain their Chartered Membership status with the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF).
Key Working Relationships
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
The post holder will be expected to engage with colleagues across all of the UKHSA Groups and especially those within Science Group.
The post holder will be expected to advise and influence Health and Safety Advisors across UKHSA, to raise the profile of Human Factors within UKHSA and to help ensure that Human Factors is appropriately addressed in risk assessments, audits, new build projects, procurement and incident and near miss investigations.
The role will involve liaison with Occupational Health/Well-Being colleagues to ensure consistent application of human factors across UKHSA.
External
The post holder will be expected to maintain links with Human Factors and other professionals in other organisations using their influencing skills to encourage the development and sharing of best practice.
Essential criteria:
- Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors or demonstrably eligible for Chartered Membership.
- MSc or BSc qualification in Human Factors/ Ergonomics accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
- Health and Safety auditing training.
- Broad experience of auditing or formal inspections of Health and Safety management systems, specifically to identify issues with risk control measures associated with Human Factors.
- Significant practical experience and knowledge, understanding of the implementation of human factors for risk control in major hazard environments.
- Knowledge and experience of the application of ergonomics and human factors in new build and refurbishment projects, particularly those associated with major hazards. Experience of supporting non-Human Factors specialists in the design process. Experience in the production of Human Factors Integration Plans for significant new build and refurbishment projects.
- Experience and knowledge of Human Factors in risk assessment and adverse incident investigation in a major hazards context Significant experience in leading, carrying out and supporting Safety Critical Task Analyses in a major hazards context.
- Significant experience of identifying human reliability issues with regards to maintenance, inspection and testing of Safety Critical Equipment and carrying out Human Factors risk assessments.
- Significant experience of contributing to, and leading, Human Factors training and awareness raising activities, including the development, production, design and delivery of Human Factors training courses and materials relevant to managing Human Factors risks in major hazards and/or biological agents contexts.
- Proven track record of initiating, designing, planning, and leading complex human factors work programmes and ability to influence risk control strategy planning at a corporate level.
- Proven track record of solving complex human factor issues and prioritising system objectives, including those arising from adverse incident investigation.
Desirable criteria:
- Practical experience, knowledge, understanding of the implementation of human factors for risk control in biological high containment facilities (e.g. CL3/CL4 and SAPO3/SAPO4).
- Practical experience or knowledge and understanding of the regulation of Human Factors health and safety risks in biological high containment facilities.
- Experience of carrying out Human Factors risk assessments (Safety Critical Task Analysis) and Human Factors investigations in a biological agents context, including in relation to the use, maintenance, inspection and testing of Safety Critical Equipment.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of the application of ergonomics and human factors in new build and refurbishment projects for biological containment facilities.
- The skill and capability to support individuals with personal and professional Human Factors development.
- Ability to participate in, or advise expert working groups and committees and ability to initiate and drive national and international collaborative research in human factors, particularly in areas related to biosafety.
Selection Process Detail
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success Profiles
At sift stage you will be assessed against the 11 essential criteria listed in the job advert.
You will be required to complete an:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- Supporting statement up to 1500 words
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).
Longlisting:In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
Those that meet all essential criteria and those that meet some essential criteria will progress to shortlisting.
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following criteria:
- Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors or demonstrably eligible for Chartered Membership.
- MSc or BSc qualification in Human Factors/ Ergonomics accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Success Profiles
You will be invited to a single interview, of which detail will be provided if you are successful at the Shortlisting stage.Behaviours and technical skills will be tested at interview.
The behaviours being testing during the interview stage are:
- Working Together (Lead behaviour)
- Communicating and influencing
- Delivering at pace
Presentation - Technical Skills
You will also be expected to prepare and present a 10 minute presentation during your interview.
UKHSA is in the process of developing and implementing a Human Factors strategy based on the topics and approach detailed in HSE's Operational Delivery Guide: Inspecting Human Factors at COMAH establishments. (Available at:Inspecting Human Factors at COMAH Establishments).
Note: Although the delivery guide is aimed at chemical and petrochemical industries, it has been successfully adapted and applied to other sectors like mining and biological agents.
Central to the successful implementation of a Human Factors strategy will be developing Human Factors competence and capability across the organisation in a way that is sustainable and resilient.
Please prepare a short presentation (10 minutes maximum) in which you outline an ambitious but realistic proposal for developing Human Factors competence and capability in UKHSA. Your proposal should seek to take account of:
- Methods of training delivery, taking into account changing patterns of work (e.g. Hybrid working), multiple sites etc.
- The Topics in the Human Factors Delivery Guide; and how you might prioritise them for organisational learning and development.
- The need to develop Human Factors competence to different levels (from basic awareness to expert).
- And any other considerations which you consider relevant and important.
You will also be asked technical questions during the interview. These will be scored.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility CriteriaOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as a homeworking role with candidates being able to work remotely.
The job will also involve regular travel to UKHSAs main scientific sites (e.g. at Colindale, Porton and Chilton).
Salary Bands:
National - £54,416 to £64,485Outer London - £56,503 to £66,415Inner London - £58,589 to £68,344
Security Clearance Level RequirementSuccessful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC) clearance.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
