About the job
Job summary
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.
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 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 Senior Occupational Psychologist 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.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
In the main, the post holder will be required to attend the workplace daily but there may be occasional opportunities to work remotely.
Job description
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.
Responsible for psychometric management including the governance of psychometric test (ability and personality) training delivered to assessors and candidates. You will provide subject matter expertise and conduct customer supplier liaison with the commercial provider for psychometric and personality profiling including Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to evaluate the performance of those selected at AOSB, to draw lessons, and to use this information to refine processes at AOSB.
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be fundamental in providing evidence and additional insight to the Boarding process through evaluation of the efficacy and validity of assessment tests from an occupational psychologist perspective, providing statistical analysis to support findings. You will also play a key role in the training and development of our assessors through the delivery of personalised developmental interviews based upon the results of a standardised personality profiling tool. 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, trials, 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 and delivered by RMAS.
Applicants are advised that the position applied for is included in the scope of the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme (AFRP) and has been determined as Affected. If you are appointed, you will continue as a MOD employee. The AFRP is working with the Single Services on what the future impact of the Affected roles are and the precise timings.
Person specification
* Principle advisor to President AOSB on psychometrics and validation data.
* AOSB Psychometrics Management governance of psychometric test training and test use, subject matter expert mentor support to other psychometric test users, psychometric supplier liaison and assessment of the quality and validity.
* Benchmarking 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 AOSB and RMAS.
* Support Supervising Officer in the design, development, trialling 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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes 11,632 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
*
o 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service.
o Highly competitive pension scheme.
o Personal and professional development of skills.
o Alternative working patterns for many roles.
o Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
o Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
o 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities.
o Learning and Development.
o Discover My Benefits - Civilian (mod.gov.uk)
o Free access to AOSBs well equipped gym.
o Free access to lunchtime fitness classes.
o Officers Mess membership, with a range of functions held throughout the year.
o Free on-site parking.
o Good public transport links.
o Access to a trout fishing lake (should you choose to join the fly-fishing club).
o Access to AOSBs 56 acres of parkland.
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.
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.
Please Note: 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 a number of 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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Applications will be sifted on all Behaviours, but in the event of a significant number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead 1 or 2 Behaviours: (Leadership and Making Effective Decisions) In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.
At application you will be assessed against the following:
* Behaviours: Leadership, Changing & Improving, Making Effective Decisions
* Experience: CV and Personal statement (no more than 500 words)
At interview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:
* Behaviours: Leadership, Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions Communicating & Influencing
Application sifting is scheduled to take place within one week of the closing date.
Interviews will take place at AOSB Westbury within three weeks of the sift results. A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavor to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.
Please Note: 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 a number of 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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk.
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.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.
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 : Lt Col Peter Firth
* Email : peter.firth210@mod.gov.uk
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.