About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join our Occupational Psychology Services (OPS) team - part of the Government Recruitment Service in Government People Group (GPG) in the Cabinet Office - as we seek to update and expand our services.

Our Vision

To embed best practice occupational psychology insights and solutions to support the future of the Civil Service.

Our Priorities

• To be at the leading edge of assessment and selection techniques and digital developments.
• To develop our services through evidence-based research and analysis.
• To ensure diversity and inclusion is embedded in all our activities.
• To provide a seamless and flexible customer experience.
• To meet business requirements with efficient, effective and value for money solutions.
• To provide a great and evolving candidate journey.

Our Service

Acting as an internal consultancy to all of the Civil Service, we collaborate with government departments, functions and professions to develop and deliver high quality, customer-focused assessment products and solutions grounded in occupational psychology and psychometrics. Our services aim to help identify and develop the best people from all backgrounds, including the Civil Service’s prestigious talent programmes. 

We place ourselves at the forefront of assessment innovation, and are actively creating a growing range of evidence-based psychological assessment tools.

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. 

If this sounds appealing to you, then we really want to hear from you!

Job description

We are looking for a Research and Development Support Officer to help us with our work, supporting at different stages of research, development and administration of tests. This will include an active role in the management of the test hosting platform. You will be liaising with customers and operational staff, ensuring that the service is working as required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversight of our test hosting platform and act as a liaison between the customers and operation team
• Tracking test usage and spend of customers using the service
• Work closely with customers, gathering feedback on their experience using the service
• Manage testing access for ad hoc and bespoke assessment needs
• Support on research and trialling of new test content within the team
• Use the test hosting platform to support the build of new content
• Extract data from various sources for further analysis by the team
• Organise and record notes for online test and assessment governance meetings

Person specification

In order to be successful in this role you will have the following essential skills and abilities:

• 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 and accurately

You’ll be reporting directly to the Senior Psychometric Analyst (SEO).  You will work with a variety of clients, departments and professions across government. You will need to be able to demonstrate flexibility, the ability to deliver at pace and be someone who your team can really rely on.

We are a forward-looking team and so you will need to be too. You’ll embrace change and be eager to learn from it to develop and strengthen your role.

Do you see yourself as a talented individual that can achieve all this, progressing yourself and our team to the next level?

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,750, Cabinet Office contributes £7,492 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

To apply for this post, your Civil Service Judgement Test must be submitted by 23:55 on 2nd January 2024.

Stage 1

Complete basic personal details

Stage 2

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. Please note, the Civil Service Judgement Test may be subject to pass mark rises. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23.55 on 2nd January 2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Stage 3

If you pass the test you will then be invited to submit a full application form which includes a personal statement (no longer than 750 words total) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as set out in the job and person specifications provided. You will also be asked to provide evidence against behaviour statements.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Managing a quality service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

Candidates demonstrating the best fit for the role will be invited to attend a panel interview which will assess Behaviours from the Civil Service Success Profiles at Level 2 (EO).

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – wc - 15th January 2024
Expected interview date/s – 29th January 2024
Interview location - Video

Reasonable adjustments

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

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.

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. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Suitable candidates will need to have BPSS clearance, and be willing to undergo National Security Vetting if the requirements of the role justify holding a higher clearance. 

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

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.