Senior Occupational Psychologist

Job summary

Would you like to make a difference to UK Defence by applying your Occupational Psychology skills and experience? Would you like to work flexibly, have a generous holiday entitlement and contributory pension, and support for at least five days of professional and personal development each year? If so, this could be the role for you.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Occupational Psychology Team at Air & Space Command. The role of the Air & Space HQ Occupational Psychology Team is to apply professional skills and knowledge to deliver outputs relevant to stakeholders in order that they can make evidence-based policy decisions. Whilst the RAF purpose is to deliver Air and Space Power for the UK this cannot be achieved without a focus on people and harnessing their potential.

Our work focuses on designing and delivering RAF specific aptitude testing, understanding the attitudes of RAF People and how these might shape their behaviours and decision making, and providing consultancy-based services for bespoke people requirements. Our work encompasses the Whole Force (Regulars, Reserves and Civil Servants) as well as families of serving personnel.

You will join the MOD Occupational Psychology profession which is part of the wider Government Occupational Psychology Profession (a recognised government specialist profession). The profession comprises over 250 members across all the major government departments and many agencies and arms-length bodies – which makes us the largest Occupational Psychology community in the U.K. We are a vibrant community with a long history in government going as far back as, at least, World War II, as shown in the Fifty Years of Occupational Psychology in Britain.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Responsibilities

The post holder will support the Principal Occupational Psychologist in the design, delivery and validation of computer Based Aptitude Testing for RAF specific critical roles. Act as technical Lead for the Continuous Attitude Surveys within the RAF. Deliver bespoke research as commissioned by RAF stakeholders and wider Defence.

Key Duties

Support Computer Based Aptitude Testing

• Support the Principal Psychologist with needs analysis to inform Computer Based Aptitude tests and wider psychological assessment practice.

Conduct research, statistical analysis and development to support the design, development, implementation and evaluation of the aptitude tests for RAF led personnel selection.

Technical Lead for RAF Continuous Attitude Surveys

• Oversee the delivery and quality of the RAF Continuous Attitude Surveys acting as Technical Lead to ensure the robustness, utility and dissemination of results.

Research and development

• Conduct research as directed by the research agenda and act as Technical Lead for research conducted by trainee occupational psychologists.
• Apply the occupational psychology consultancy cycle to address people issues as prioritised.
• Design and deliver interventions applying an evidence-based approach and evaluating interventions to assess their utility.
• Collaborate with other psychologists and SMEs from other disciplines to develop solutions to People issues.

• Collaborate with other psychologists and SMEs from other disciplines to develop solutions to People issues.

Management

• Line manage two Higher Psychologists.
• Oversee/supervise the work of Higher and Executive Officer Psychologists (Trainee Occupational Psychologists) to ensure high-quality outputs.

Key Criteria

The following criteria will be assessed during the sifting process:

Experience

• Minimum of 4 years relevant post MSc experience.
• Experience of working in selection and assessment.
• Have applied a range of research methods and statistical analysis and have commitment to high quality research output.
• Responding to short notice requests for advice and information.
• Managing stakeholders at all levels.
• Drawing together different evidence sources to support evidence-based decision making and draw out the psychological implications of findings.
• Providing technical advice and review of relevant evidence and research.
• Collaborating with colleagues in other teams and being willing to learn from these experiences.
• Developing professional knowledge, learning about key contextual issues, and knowledge sharing.
• Using statistical data software such as SPSS; as well as Excel experience.
• Applicants must be highly motivated, have good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with staff at all levels.

Desirable:

• Psychometric test development
• Cognitive task analysis
• Cognitive psychology knowledge

Person specification

Desirable Qualifications:

Membership of the Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) or willing to join.

Member of the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS) (or immediately willing to join the register) to be able to supervise psychologists undertaking a BPS approved qualification to become a Chartered and Registered Occupational Psychologist

Licences

Essential Licence:

Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC. (Licence)

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

BSc Psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS. (Qualification)

MSc Occupational Psychology (or equivalent titled course) approved as Stage 1 by the BPS. (Qualification)

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Personality.

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Ability.

Memberships

Essential Memberships:

Chartered Member of the BPS (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership)

Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership).

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Ambassador
• Knowledge base (Leadership, Engagement & Motivation; Psychological Assessment at work)Consultancy.

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

• Ambassador

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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 w