Principal Consultant - Human Factors and Non-Technical Skills Specialist

Overview

First Rail Consultancy delivers safety advisory and training services within the Railway Operations function.

The role champions the development and growth of safety advisory and training services, provides strategic market insights, and supports the Consultancy’s ambitions for market penetration and sustainable revenue growth.

The role oversees the design, delivery, and quality assurance of Training Needs Analyses (TNA) for clients across rail and transport sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, delivery, and quality assurance of Training Needs Analyses (TNA) for clients across rail and transport sectors.
• Identify capability gaps within client organisations, design tailored solutions, and ensure training interventions support operational excellence, safety performance, and organisational objectives.
• Design, develop, and oversee a broad portfolio of learning and development solutions, including workplace health, safety and environmental training programmes, vocational qualifications, and non-technical operational training.
• Ensure learning products align with industry best practice, regulatory requirements, and client expectations while maintaining high standards of quality and effectiveness.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, collaborate with stakeholders, and identify opportunities to expand the service offering.
• Support business development activities, generate new consultancy opportunities, and contribute to the growth of the Railway Operations business.
• Act as a subject matter expert within the wider Consultancy, mentoring and upskilling colleagues to strengthen organisational capability and enhance safety and operational training services.
• Foster knowledge sharing and innovation to ensure the Consultancy remains at the forefront of rail safety, training, and workforce development.
• Ensure compliance with relevant rail industry, health and safety, and training standards.
• Mentor colleagues and develop the Consultancy’s capability and market offering.
• Note: Role is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract, with progression onto a permanent contract subject to utilisation and revenue-generation criteria.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experienced and qualified organisational psychologist and development specialist with rail operating environment delivery experience and established profile within the rail industry.
• NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent Level 6 Certificate or higher in Applied Health and Safety.
• Good understanding of health and safety legislation with demonstrated implementation in safety-critical environments.
• Experience in organisational needs analysis, programme development and delivery, strategy development, culture development, and monitoring/trend analysis.
• Experience in post-incident intervention and delivery of safety training for safety-critical environments.
• Business development experience.
• What We Can Offer
• Salary of £75k per annum.
• Minimum 10% pension contribution (5% employer and 5% employee).
• 25 days holiday plus national bank holidays.
• Travel offers for Bus and Rail.
• Payroll Giving – donate directly from your pay to a charity of your choice.
• Shopping discounts, including discounts and cashback on electrical goods, groceries, holidays, cinema, insurance, and more.
• Employee Share Schemes (Buy as You Earn) and other share-ownership options.
• Employee Assistance Helpline – free, confidential support service through an independent provider.
• Diversity and Inclusion

First Group plc welcomes applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.

We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive organisation because we believe diversity benefits our customers, communities and people.

We value differences and leverage collective knowledge and experience to develop new services, open new markets, and broaden our customer base.

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