Senior Occupational Psychologist

This role is part of the Selection and Assessment Solutions (SaAS) team, which sits in the Government Recruitment Service (GRS). GRS’s mission is to attract, assess and onboard diverse talent essential for delivering government priorities and effectively serving the public. We partner with departments, professions and functions to ensure the UK Civil Service has the right people in the right jobs, equipped with the essential skills and capabilities to excel.

About the GRS SaAS team

We leverage our occupational psychology expertise to provide tailored selection and assessment services across UK government departments, professions and functions. By applying the consultancy cycle to understand individual customer needs and apply robust, evidence‑based approaches aligned with Civil Service values, we deliver effective, inclusive and fair solutions, matching individuals with the ideal skills for the right roles. We are a growing team, expanding our reach and building GRS’s internal selection and assessment capabilities. This is a significant step in our commitment to meeting our customers’ expert recruitment needs. Read more about GRS and SaAS in our brochure.

About the Government People Group

GRS is a vital part of the Government People Group (GPG) which is at the forefront of building a modern, effective Civil Service. GPG supports the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

Your Professional Home: The Government Occupational Psychology Profession (GOPP)

This post is part of the wider GOPP, the largest Occupational Psychology community in the UK. With over 250 members across major government departments, agencies and arms‑length bodies, the GOPP offers an unparalleled environment for professional growth. We welcome people from a range of different backgrounds as this helps to increase the diversity of thought and perspectives when developing solutions. Your career in the GOPP will develop both your technical and consultancy capabilities, providing ample opportunities to connect with fellow professionals. We encourage you to sign up to the profession upon joining the Civil Service. Read more about the offer on our profession’s careers page.

As a Senior Occupational Psychologist for GRS, you will play an active role in our Selection and Assessment Solutions (SaAS) team. You will be passionate about applying occupational psychology expertise to achieve tangible outcomes for our customers, with an eagerness to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

You will work with a range of customers, departments, professions and functions across government. You will take the lead for consulting with customers on their assessment needs, developing proposals and delivering solutions that achieve their recruitment aims.

You will be adaptable, flexible and dependable, with an ability to effectively prioritise and manage your time. You will report directly to the Principal Occupational Psychologist (Grade 7) who leads the SaAS team and you will work collaboratively with our customer account management teams.

Role Responsibilities

• Acting as a subject matter expert, providing up‑to‑date, impartial, best practice selection and assessment advice to customers and internal stakeholders;
• Managing multiple assessment projects concurrently across all stages of the consultancy cycle;
• Preparing marketing material and writing project proposals for clients, contributing to securing income‑generating work and developing new business for the SaAS service;
• Scoping and designing bespoke assessment solutions (such as sifting tools, role or work‑sample exercises, skills assessments, assessment centres or interviews);
• Applying professional judgement and expertise in selecting robust, cost‑effective, fair and relevant psychological tools and techniques to meet customer needs;
• Designing and delivering training and skills development packages for assessors, interviewers, role players, assessment facilitators and internal GRS staff to ensure the application of up‑to‑date, evidence‑based selection and assessment practices;
• Researching and evaluating the effectiveness of recruitment processes through quantitative and qualitative methods, including statistical analysis and data interrogation to evaluate reliability, validity and fairness of assessment solutions (e.g. adverse impact analysis);
• Presenting and communicating evidence‑based findings and proposals to customers, stakeholders and others, verbally and in writing;
• Providing reasonable adjustment expert advice for recruitment in line with the Equality Act 2010 and disability recruitment principles;
• Delivering assessments and providing feedback for candidates and panel members;
• Undertaking appropriate activities to maintain HCPC registration and remain CPD compliant;
• Line managing SaAS team members, if relevant;
• Supervising candidates on the Qualification in Occupational Psychology (BPS QOP Stage 2), if relevant.

Should you have any queries about the role, please contact alice.clark1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk