Research and Development Support Officer

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join our Occupational Psychology and Psychometric Services (OPPS) team - part of the Recruitment Directorate in OneGov in Cabinet Office - as we seek to update and expand our services.

You will be joining a high performing multi-disciplinary team of occupational psychologists, psychometricians and digital experts who use evidence-based practice to put the client and user at the heart of what they do. We are a team that embraces innovation to deliver better results, improved efficiency and added value, with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. The ideal candidate for this role would be someone with a background in social sciences (for example psychology) or numerate degrees (such as maths or statistics) who has experience of taking part in research projects and understands quantitative data collection. Although these are not part of key deliverables for the role, depending on the right candidate, there will be opportunities to develop capability in statistics and data analysis. The role will provide a great opportunity to build experience in real world application of psychometrics and occupational psychology and to be supported by a range of experienced, senior members of the team with relevant backgrounds.

If you are passionate about applying psychology and psychometrics in the workplace to really add value across a wide and varied agenda, then we really want to hear from you!

Job description

The role

The Research and Development Support Officer will contribute to the smooth running of our service and will play a key role in assisting the development of new psychometric tools as well as the research required for the maintenance of our existing psychometric suite. The job holder will be responsible for managing and maintaining our shared mailbox where we receive a wide range of enquiries from different stakeholders. The job holder will also develop expertise in managing the testing platform and be responsible for assigning tests to test takers as part of trials run by Lead Psychometricians.

The R&D Support Officer will work very closely with a multi-disciplinary team operating an agile project management approach, so will work in an agile way to assist the Psychometricians, Occupational Psychologists, and digital colleagues.

We have regular meetings located in our offices nationally and travel at regular intervals within the UK will be a requirement of the role.

Responsibilities

• Managing the testing platform for the purposes of new assessment implementation
• Setting up and managing testing access and tailoring products and services for ad hoc and bespoke assessment needs
• Customer relations for gathering systematic feedback on their experience using the service
• Providing research support working with the team’s occupational psychologists and psychometricians by preparing and building research materials, communicating with participants
• Tracking test usage and spend of customers using the service, providing data exports to the team to assist with R&D activities, technical evaluations, data analysis and data insights
• Managing the service’s support mailbox, including handling all enquiries incoming from stakeholders
• Providing secretariat duties for online test and assessment meetings

Person specification

Key skills and experience

• Experience working in a testing environment, particularly in recruitment (or the L&D space) or
• Experience working in (academic) research projects relevant to scale development and/or validation, or
• Experience working in Research and Development and the implementation of new psychometric tools supporting the technical team;

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently on various stages in a research project, examples could include survey/scale development and deployment, participants recruitment and communication, data collection and analysis;
• Demonstrate experience using a survey platform;
• Demonstrate experience in communications with various stakeholders;
• Demonstrate experience in report writing and disseminating findings;
• The ability to organise and manage own workload;
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written; with both customers and team members;
• The ability to work quickly. accurately, and with strong attention to detail;
• Demonstrate capacity to quickly acquire and apply new skills

Additional Information

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Qualifications

Minimum degree educated with a strong research component as part of their program where the candidate has engaged with primary research including study design and data collection

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently on various stages in a research project, examples could include survey/scale development and deployment, participants recruitment and communication, data collection and analysis
• Demonstrate experience using a survey platform

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,768, Cabinet Office contributes £8,913 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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.

Application process

Stage 1 - Online Test

Once you have submitted the initial stage of your application, you will be invited to sit the Civil Service Verbal Test and the Civil Service Numerical Test. Please complete these as soon as possible (ideally within 24–48 hours). The deadline to complete both tests is 13th November 2026 at 23:55.

Candidates who reach the required standard on both the Verbal and Numerical Tests will subsequently receive invitations to take the Civil Service Work Strengths Test and the Civil Service Styles Assessment. Please note that you will be assessed on all 9 Civil Service Behaviours as part of the Civil Service Styles Assessment. Invitations for these assessments are expected to be sent on or around 17th November 2026. The deadline to complete both tests is 25th November 2026 at 23:55.

To advance through each stage, you must meet the required pass mark. Please note that we reserve the right to increase the pass mark at any stage during the process.

We strongly encourage candidates to review our detailed test guidance before completing online tests. You will find candidate guidance for each test here

If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will again be made available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Stage 2 - Application form

Those who have met the benchmark for all online tests will be invited to complete their full application form on 27th November 2026.

As part of the application process, you must confirm your eligibility regarding required qualifications and provide a CV. The CV is used strictly for qualification verification and will not be scored.

Applicants are required to provide evidence supporting one of the lead criteria listed below. You are only required to meet one of the following three criteria:

• Practical experience within a testing environment, specifically in recruitment or the L&D domain
• Experience participating in academic or research projects related to scale development and validation
• Experience in R&D and the implementation of innovative psychometric tools in support of the technical team

If a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift may be performed using this lead criteria

Additionally, you will be evaluated on Technical Skills through 250-word written statements. Specific requirements and guidance are provided in the application form.

The deadline for the full application to be completed is 3rd December 2026.

Stage 3 - Interview Stage

Candidates who are successful at sift will then be invited to an interview.

The interview may include a short presentation based on a specific topic. Candidates invited to an interview will be provided further details nearer the time.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift dates – WC 7th December 2026
Expected interview date/s – WC 14th December 2026
Interview location - Your interview will be conducted by video. You will be given further details if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

Security

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Government Recruitment Service
• Email : menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)