HQ Armed Forces Recruiting – Higher Occupational Psychologist

Job summary

Would you like to be involved in the start of an exciting new way to deliver recruitment of Armed Forces personnel, for the Royal Navy, Army, and the Royal Air Force?

Headquarters Armed Forces Recruiting (HQ AFR) will deliver integrated tri-service recruitment for the Armed Forces to build and maintain force levels able to meet Defence outputs. The Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) contract has recently been awarded to Team Serco and collaborative transition activity has now commenced.

A role in HQ AFR is a superb opportunity. You will be at the forefront of a significant change, shaping the future recruitment for all three Services into a tri-Service delivery from 2027 and into steady state. Senior staff across Defence are keeping a keen interest in AFRS, meaning it is high profile, collaborative and engaging environment. You will be working within a diverse team, including military personnel, civilians, and external providers, which provides opportunities for learning and networking. The role offers a real chance to develop skills and demonstrate capabilities, which will provide clear tangible evidence to support you to potentially fulfil your career progression ambitions in the future.

You'd be contributing to the Armed Forces' ability to attract and retain the best talent, ultimately supporting national security.

If you're looking for a challenging, rewarding, and transformative role, this could be a great fit for you.

This position is advertised at37 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the role, part time and job share arrangements may be considered, subject to the requirement that full-time hours are fully covered (or business needs are met).

Job description

The role requires an individual to support Occupational Psychology research, evaluation, and consultancy projects within Armed Forces Recruiting Services. Projects will focus on Officer, Soldier, Sailor, and Aviator selection activities conducted both online and at various locations across the country. This will include supporting the ongoing governance and maintenance of the psychometric testing and training needs analysis data collection to ensure calibration of psychometric test criteria.

The Ministry of Defence recruits over 25,000 Military Personnel per annum, with applications from more than ten times that number. We employ into more than seventy roles, each with varying criteria in their selection requirement. Given the distinct functions and professions delivering key outputs for the MOD, using data to aid understanding of the impact and continued predictive power of our selection processes is critical to the performance of our Armed Services.

The role is provided a training budget that allows completion of the stage 2 Qualification in Occupational Psychology with the BPS, conferring eligibility to become a Chartered Psychologist with BPS and registration with the HCPC. Technical mentoring will given, as will access to relevant experience meeting qualification requirements. There is an expectation that the role holder will complete the training within 3 - 5 years.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide administrative, analytical, and logistical support to Senior and Principal Occupational Psychologists across assessment, research, and evaluation activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of regular reports on specific assessments, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Assist with psychometric analyses that support the governance and ongoing assurance of the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA).
• Support the development, trialling, and quality assurance of new and updated DAA test items.
• Assist Senior Occupational Psychologists in engagements with Supplier assessment design teams, helping to collate evidence and suggest improvements or modifications to assessment approaches.
• Support the delivery of trials and evaluation activities related to changes in selection assessments throughout the life of the contract.
• Contribute to the development of a portfolio of behavioural research projects addressing recruitment and training challenges.
• Participate in the wider research community of behavioural scientists within Defence and partnered organisations, sharing insights and learning.
• Conduct Training Cognitive Needs Analyses to inform calibration of cognitive score thresholds and behavioural criteria.
• Provide support to working groups and regular meetings chaired by Senior or Principal Occupational Psychologists, including preparation of materials and action tracking.
• Assist in projects that identify emerging military role assessment requirements as they arise.
• Conduct systematic literature reviews to support evidence‑based assessment and research activities.
• Manage small‑scale projects that contribute to the development or refinement of military assessment requirements.
• Progress through and complete the British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Psychologist Training pathway as part of the role’s development framework.

Person specification

The post holder will sit within the Recruitment Operations and, as part of the Occupational Psychology team will provide administrative support, data analysis, and data collection support the Occupational Psychology team to deliver expert advice on assessment, and delivery of assessment research, and evaluation projects. The role is an Occupational Psychology development role, and the post holder is expected to develop the skills and knowledge to deliver projects independently or under technical guidance from the AFR Senior (SEO Lead) or Principal (G7 Assistant Head) Occupational Psychologists. If you can deliver high-class service in a fast-paced environment, you are the type of person we are looking for!

We seek a proficient individual who can showcase their expertise and abilities in line with the following essential criteria:

• Experience of conducting quantitative research, including the design, analysis and interpretation of data.
• Training and practical experience in the use of statistical software packages (e.g., SPSS, R, or equivalent).
• Can demonstrate a strong understanding of relevant statistical methodologies and their appropriate application.
• Use essential skills of asking questions, listening, and probing to identify client needs.
• Understands the importance and value of the consultancy cycle in delivering occupational psychology services.
• Highly professionally curious, with a strong commitment to your continued professional development.
• Conducting quantitative analysis in either a research or selection context.
• Ambassador for the profession: The practitioner’s behaviour contributes to occupational psychology being seen by clients, stakeholders, and customers as a trusted and valued partner part of a cohesive wider Civil Service profession. (please refer to Government Occupational Psychology Skills & Standards)

Due to the nature of our role and to enrol candidates into Stage 2 approved qualifications. We require the following Essential Requirements.

Essential Qualifications:

• Stage 1 approved BPS accredited MSc in Occupational Psychology (or equivalent titled course).
• BSc Psychology (or equivalent) that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS.
• Psychometric Training – Test user, Ability (BPS), or level A BPS Test Administration.

Essential Memberships:

• Graduate Membership of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership

In addition to the above, although not crucial, it is desirable to have experience in the following:

• Experience of working in a Civil Service environment.
• Experience of working in a combined Military and Civilian team environment.
• Specific experience in the development and delivery of assessment or selection interventions.

At least two years’ experience in a relevant role following completion of an MSc in Occupational Psychology Research & Evaluation.

Qualifications

•Stage 1 approved BPS accredited MSc in Occupational Psychology (or equivalent titled course).
•BSc Psychology (or equivalent) that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS.
•Psychometric Training – Test user, Ability (BPS), or level A BPS Test Administration.

Memberships

•Graduate Membership of the Society with the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Psychological Assessment at Work
• Learning Training and development

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Professional and personal development of skills, enabling you to build a long-term career in your chosen area.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service. In addition to 8 public holidays per year.
• Eligibility to be a member of the Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA) via Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC).
• On-site gymnasium (for a small monthly fee for membership of the CSSC).
• Eligibility for use of Defence Discount Service.
• On-site nursery (MOD Abbey Wood, South).

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Please note:

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at several Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign and includes technical skills (occupational-psychology-profession-skills-and-standards-july-2024.pdf)). Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework link for information on format and style to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. You have 250 words to answer each Behaviour (competency style).

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words which should demonstrate how your experience meets the essential criteria of the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills:

• Psychological Assessment at Work
• Learning Training and Development

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be conducted on your Personal Statement only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills:

• Psychological Assessment at Work
• Learning Training and Development

Further information:

• When choosing your examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
• The deadline to submit applications is as per advert details.
• A minimum of 3 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Mark Watton, HQ AFR Principle Occupational Psychologist.
• Email : Mark.Watton120@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07852148536

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)