Operations and Safety Consultant - Human Centred Design in Newcastle Emlyn

WSP is looking for Human Factors consultants to join its growing Human Centered Design expertise area within the Intelligent Infrastructure Operations and Safety team.

Areas of Expertise

• Safety – safety risk assessments and safe systems approaches, understanding user error as a consequence rather than a cause.
• Operations – transport operations across stations and stops, signalling, driving behaviours, digital design, and influence on engineering or enforcement measures.
• Research – qualitative and quantitative, including simulation studies, feasibility studies, surveys, focus groups and workshops.
• Transport futures – user focus on emerging mobility trends and future‑ready transport.
• Environment – sustainability, decarbonisation, mode shift and active travel.
• Training – development of training material and manual (SOP) on data analytics and data‑driven decision making.

Project Scope

• Support UK local and regional bodies in deploying user‑focused transport technology and better data usage.
• Deliver solutions to maximise road safety on motorways and major roads, including user‑focused appraisal and assurance of measures.
• Cross‑business collaboration to set and appraise policies and measures in support of net‑zero and air quality goals.
• Shape operational systems and services for control centres to reduce congestion and improve road user satisfaction.
• Electric vehicle deployment and charging.
• Assess safety and user impacts of automated vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply and integrate key principles of human factors, ergonomics and behaviour change to transportation or infrastructure projects and policies.
• Design, execute and report on quantitative and qualitative research.
• Identify and profile users, including behavioural insights.
• Conduct Human Factors assessments such as task analysis and in‑depth risk analysis to inform infrastructure scheme and operational designs.
• Support the Expertise Lead with the preparation of client proposals and management of a pipeline of future opportunities.
• Utilise experience in qualitative, participatory research, persona development, customer journey mapping and visualisation of user‑experience flows.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., postgraduate degree in ergonomics, human factors).
• Experience in human‑centered design thinking, co‑creation and innovation, with action‑oriented research in development issues.
• Demonstrable ability to work in multidisciplinary teams to tight deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to undertake qualitative and quantitative research and analysis and to create technical outputs (reports, presentations) within time, cost and high quality constraints.
• Appreciation of the role of Human Factors and human reliability as part of safety cases.
• Understanding of the role of Human Factors in complex and safety‑critical systems.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria; please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.