Army Senior Occupational Psychologist.

Westbury, South West England, BA13 3PX

We, the Army Officer Selection Board, Westbury (AOSB), assess 4,500 candidates per year through a variety of practical, conceptual and physical activities to identify intellect, practical application of intellect, physical ability and personality. The combination of potential in these areas will advise the selection of candidates for commissioning courses. Our role will support the President AOSB to ensure a fair and challenging process that provides a relevant and positive experience for both candidates and staff.  Responsible for psychometric management including the governance of psychometric test training delivered to assessors and utilisation of test results in boarding for selection of candidates. They will provide subject matter expertise and mentor support to other assessors and also conduct customer supplier liaison with the commercial provider for psychometric and personality profiling.  As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role will be fundamental in providing evidence and additional insight to the Boarding process from an occupational psychologist SME perspective. There will be significant variety in the role and the chance to create meaningful impact. Projects are expected to include support to the design of activities, trails, evaluation of results and ensuring fairness in the process. This will need to be balanced against the shifting needs of Officer training as articulated through the Training Requirements Authority. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.   In the main, the post holder will be required to attend the workplace but there may be occasional opportunities to work remotely.

The role is expected to work independently but will be supported by the occupational psychology team based within Army Recruitment and Initial Training Command and the wider MOD occupational psychology community.

• Principle advisor to President AOSB on psychometrics and validation data.
• AOSB Psychometrics Management – governance of psychometric test training and test use, SME mentor support to other psychometric test users, psychometric supplier liaison and assessment of psychometric test quality and validity.
• Bench-marking assessment activities against British Psychological Society (BPS) standards.
• Analyse aggregate exercise performance and boarding data to inform Presidents Policy Group and to support validation of activities.
• Adverse impact assessment, determining and mitigating bias risk at AOSB.
• Predictive validity analysis for both Briefing and Main Board processes; this will require data collection at Westbury and Sandhurst.
• Support Supervising Officer in the design, development, trailing and validation of new assessment practices.

Train as a Boarding member, including but not limited to:

• Assessing intellectual potential
• Assessing CVs, written tests and conducting interviews
• Conducting assessment of exercise and psychometric performance.

You will be required to have and provide evidence of:

British Psychological Society (BPS) approved Honours Degree in Psychology and have been awarded Graduate Basis for Chartership.

BPS accredited MSc in Occupational Psychology.

Completion of stage 2 of the Chartership training and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist.

A minimum of 4 years relevant Postgraduate Psychology experience.

CV – You will be required to have and provide evidence of:

British Psychological Society (BPS) approved Honours Degree in Psychology and have been awarded Graduate Basis for Chartership.

BPS accredited MSc in Occupational Psychology.

Completion of stage 2 of the Chartership training and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Chartered Occupational Psychologist.

A minimum of 4 years relevant Postgraduate Psychology experience.

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

When you work for MOD, you’re entitled to more than you think!

Yes, we offer all the usual benefits you’d expect such as:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Highly competitive Civil Service pension – Pension Scheme
• 25 Days Annual Leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service [we have block leave at AOSB Westbury]
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• Free Car Parking
• Subsidised Gym membership [there are free gymnasium facilities at AOSB]
• Alternative working practices such as working from home [only when not Boarding]
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing

But there’s also some you won’t find anywhere else. From financial discounts that improve your bank balance, to lifestyle schemes that improve your work/life balance. Visit https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/ for further details of the benefits of working as a civil servant in Defence.

We enable our people to work at the right place, with the right people, at the right time.

We believe that if we look after our people, they will be passionate about delivering phenomenal things for our customers.

We understand the importance of life outside of work and our industry leading flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

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.

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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

 

Please note, expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

 

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 by 31st December 2022. 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 a number of Defence Establishments.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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Job contact :

• Name : Lt Col Iain Moodie
• Email : iain.moodie720@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 01373 828149

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk