For Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologists:  £52,788 for MI6 roles, £55,873 for MI5 roles and £54,450 for GCHQ Cheltenham and Manchester-based roles. For Assessment Specialists:  £40,861 for MI6 roles, £44,859 for MI5 roles and £42,987 for GCHQ Cheltenham and Manchester-based roles

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are the UK’s Intelligence Agencies. We protect the UK from threats to national security, such as terrorism, cyber crime and the spread of weapons. Through the ingenuity of our people, we gather secret intelligence. We work closely with our partners in the UK and overseas to detect threats and work out ways to stop them.  
 
 
The Roles 

It's an exciting time for Behavioural Science in our organisations. In 2022-23 we’ll see a crucial expansion in our Occupational Psychology teams, in support of our core purpose, continuous improvement and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity in all that we do. 

We have a number of Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist/Assessment Specialist roles available in various parts of our community. 

Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist/Assessment Specialist (Corporate Psychology team: Recruitment and Selection) – based in London, Manchester and Cheltenham

Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist (MI5 HR team) – based in London

Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist/Assessment Specialist (Corporate Psychology team: HR & Organisational Development)  - based in London, Manchester or Cheltenham

Although these are three distinct roles, we recognise that there is a common set of core skills and essential criteria. For this reason, applicants should submit a single application and, unless they wish to state otherwise, will be automatically considered for all three roles. Applicants will be invited to express any preferences at a later stage in the selection process. 

Successful applicants will become part of an enthusiastic and highly collaborative community of Occupational Psychologists, who are experienced in applying specialist expertise to our unique settings. There’s a strong ethos for continuing professional development (with financial support), peer collaboration and regular opportunities for learning from across the behavioural science community.

Each of the three roles is aligned to a core team from within the community, as detailed below. However, successful applicants will also be affiliated with a broader team of Practitioner Psychologists and Behavioural/Social Scientists from a diverse range of specialties, with the flexibility to work across other functions as the Occupational Psychology capability develops.  

1.    Job Description - Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist (G6/ST3) or Assessment Specialist (G7/ST4) (Corporate Psychology team: Recruitment & Selection)

As a Chartered Occupational Psychologist or Assessment Specialist with expertise in applied HR settings, you’ll provide highly valued knowledge and applied expertise through working in partnership with OCS Recruitment – our central service responsible for recruiting into MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. In collaboration with other members of the Occupational Psychology team, you’ll design and develop high quality and innovative recruitment processes and provide specialist expertise to advise, guide and train recruiters and hiring managers on key areas such as best practice in assessment, equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI), fairness and consistency. 

Key responsibilities:

•    Work closely with a broad range of partners and customers, using the consultancy cycle to understand their recruitment needs and challenges, and to identify appropriate, evidence-based solutions based on occupational psychology research, equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) advice and best practice assessment methods
•    Design and develop assessment systems and exercises in collaboration with Recruitment teams, using best practice methodologies (e.g. Situational Judgement Tests, online exercises, roleplay and written exercises, various styles of interview questions)
•    Undertake job analysis and other evidence-based methodologies to identify important selection criteria, using a range of methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, qualitative and quantitative analysis)
•    Provide the recruitment teams with expert knowledge in EDI considerations in the recruitment context, optimising fairness and upholding standards
•    Design/deliver learning and training in best practice assessment methods (e.g. assessment skills, interview design, job analysis workshops)
•    Conduct and evaluate individual candidate assessment, including a range of personality-based measures 
•    Evaluate recruitment processes and assessment stage benchmarking using evidence-based practice, qualitative and statistical analysis techniques 
•    Provide quality assurance to assessment and selection processes (e.g. monitor and support assessors,
•    Keep up to date with innovations and trends in recruitment, selection and EDI, in theory and practice (e.g. academic research, CIPD/BPS conferences) and seek to share and apply learning internally

Essential job related skills/knowledge/qualifications required:

•    Chartered Occupational Psychologist (HCPC Registered) (for Senior Chartered OP roles only)
•    MSc in Organisational or Occupational Psychology or equivalent
•    BPS accredited test user in Occupational Ability and Personality testing (Level A and Level B) (for Senior Chartered OP roles only)
•    Experience and expertise in 
o    Customer/stakeholder consultation at all stages of the consultancy cycle
o    Delivery of complex requirements in an assessment context
o    Design, delivery and quality assurance of selection processes for a variety of occupational groups and levels
o    Pro-EDI innovation/intervention in an assessment/recruitment context
o    Job analysis research and capability framework development 
o    Individual personality assessment delivery 
o    Best practice evaluation and validation in the assessment context
o    Assessor/recruiter training
•    For Assessment Specialist roles, applications will be considered from applicants with some rather than all of the above areas of experience and expertise. 
•    Strong data analysis skills are vital, ideally you should be highly proficient in MS Excel and be able to conduct statistical analysis using Excel, SPSS or similar statistical packages

Desirable:

•    In-house consultancy experience
•    OP Chartership supervisor and assessor experience
•    Excellence in EDI-related knowledge and practice in an occupational context 
•    Delivery of OP expertise in a security context
•    Expertise and experience in additional field(s) of OP (i.e. in a non-assessment and selection context)
•    For Assessment Specialist roles, OP Chartership and BPS accredited test user status in Occupational Ability and Personality Testing (Levels A and B) are desirable rather than essential.

 
2.    Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist (MI5 HR team)

MI5 HR seeks to create an inclusive, adaptive organisation with simple, effective corporate services that enable our current and future people to grow and thrive while keeping the country safe. 

As a Senior Occupational Psychologist with expertise in applied HR settings, you’ll collaborate with HR Professionals to provide essential advice and expertise to the MI5 HR community. 

Rather than being embedded within a specific delivery team, your work would be project-based, pivoting as required to focus on the highest priority deliverables. This would give the successful applicant exposure to a range of work within HR, as well as the opportunity to work with our partners as many of our solutions are now being designed and implemented. As a Senior Occupational Psychologist, you will bring to this role your knowledge and applied experience, your drive and enthusiasm for the role, and your ability to work well as part of a team. Although based in the MI5 HR team, you would also have the opportunity to engage with the wider Occupational Psychology community across agencies, providing excellent opportunities for peer engagement and CPD activities. 

Key responsibilities:

•    New Selection Model / Deployment Changes
o    Design of the new internal selection assessment materials, utilising the new  competency framework 
o    Design and delivery of training for hiring managers and independents
o    Quality assurance and evaluation of new process
•    Future Internal Selection Model
o    Work with stakeholders at a strategic level to shape our new approach to internal selection across the three organisations, leading on MI5’s requirements
o    Play a key role in defining an approach to defining and measuring Strengths, Skills and Aptitudes for use in the future selection process
o    Undertake research, including job analysis and other evidence-based methodologies to identify important thematic role criteria
•    Leadership & Talent
o    Lead on developing our new 360 process for Senior Leaders
o    Support in developing and refining our central leadership talent process
o    Design from scratch how MI5 can best identify and develop talent at junior grades
•    Performance Development
o    Support the design of how MI5 embeds the use of competencies across performance development, talent and wider HR processes
o    Monitor the use of the new competency framework, working to identify changes required following rollout

Essential job related skills/knowledge/qualifications required:

•    Chartered Occupational Psychologist (HCPC Registered)
•    MSc in Organisational or Occupational Psychology or equivalent
•    BPS accredited test user in Occupational Ability and Personality testing (Level A and Level B) 
•    Experience and expertise in 
o    Customer/stakeholder consultation at multiple stages of the consultancy cycle
o    Delivery of complex occupational psychology requirements in a broad range of HR contexts
o    Development of pro-EDI innovations/interventions
o    Job analysis research and capability framework development 
•    Qualitative and quantitative analysis, with high degree of proficiency in MS Excel and ability to conduct statistical analysis using Excel, SPSS or similar statistical packages

Desirable:

•    In-house consultancy experience
•    OP Chartership supervisor and assessor experience
•    Excellence in EDI-related knowledge and practice in an occupational context 
•    Experience and expertise in organisational development and change
•    Delivery of OP expertise in a security context

3.    Senior Chartered Occupational Psychologist (Corporate Psychology team: HR and OD)

The MI6 Corporate Psychology team is a centre of excellence in the application of Psychology and Behavioural Science to the central corporate functions of Vetting, Recruitment and Wellbeing.  This highly respected and collaborative team are now seeking a Chartered Occupational Psychologist to provide valued expertise across the full breadth of MI6 HR functions. 

As a Senior Occupational Psychologist with expertise in applied HR and organisational development (OD) settings, you’ll collaborate with HR Professionals and other Occupational Psychologists to provide essential advice and expertise to the MI6 HR community. 

You will bring to this role your knowledge and applied experience, your drive and enthusiasm and your ability to work well as part of a team.  You will have a natural ability and interest in developing the behavioural science knowledge of non-psychologists, with the aim of augmenting the quality and efficacy of other people’s knowledge and understanding. 

Key responsibilities: 

•    Work closely with a broad range of partners and customers, using the consultancy cycle to understand their HR needs and challenges, and to identify appropriate, evidence-based solutions based on occupational psychology research, equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) advice and best practice 
•    Provide occupational psychology and organisational development expertise to a broad range of HR project work that may include (but not be limited to) 
o    talent management and career development, both internal within MI6 and across the Joint Behavioural and Social Science (JBaSS) community
o    leadership development
o    behaviour change techniques across organisational change, communications and strategy 
o    internal assessment and selection
o    employee engagement
o    appraisal development
•    Further embed our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) across our people practices and working culture
•    Champion of behaviour change approaches across behavioural science teams and Other Government Departments 
•       Drive and utilise internal and external occupational psychology, HR and behaviour change research and innovation

Essential job related skills/knowledge/qualifications required:

•    Chartered Occupational Psychologist (HCPC Registered)
•    MSc in Organisational or Occupational Psychology or equivalent
•    BPS accredited test user in Occupational Ability and Personality testing (Level A and Level B) 
•    Experience and expertise in 
o    Customer/stakeholder consultation at multiple stages of the consultancy cycle
o    Delivery of complex occupational psychology requirements in a broad range of HR contexts
o    EDI-related knowledge and practice in an occupational context 
o    Organisational development and change 
•    Qualitative and quantitative analysis, with high degree of proficiency in MS Excel and ability to conduct statistical analysis using Excel, SPSS or similar statistical packages

Desirable:

•    In-house consultancy experience
•    OP Chartership supervisor and assessor experience
•    Experience and expertise in organisational behavioural change
•    Job analysis research
•    Delivery of OP expertise in a security context

Training and Development

No matter the stage of your career, you’ll have a positive impact and a key role. We strongly believe in investing in our people and defining clear and aspirational career pathways. As part of this, you’ll have access to internal communities, support networks and mentors. From day one, you’ll be assigned a dedicated buddy and have guidance from your line manager. 

Rewards and Benefits 

-    25 days’ annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
-    Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
-    Personal Learning Budget
-    Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs
-    Interest-free season ticket loan
-    Excellent pension scheme
-    Cycle to work scheme
-    Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars
-    Paid parental and adoption leave 

Culture and Working Environment 

As part of our team, you’ll discover an inclusive workplace that’s welcoming, supportive and encouraging. You’ll be part of an organisation where people want to support one another and make a difference. Aside from fostering an open culture, we’ve got a range of growing affinity groups. For example:  

•    Ethnic Minority and gender equality networks
•    Groups supporting wellbeing, mental health, neurodiversity and disability 
•    Faith/No Faith communities for staff to come together 
•    LGBTQ+ support networks

You’ll also find a variety of sports, activity, interest and social groups to help you settle in and connect with people with similar interests. 

Before You Apply

To work at our agencies, you need to be a British citizen. We do have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

Honesty and integrity are really important if you want to work here. Take some time to read about the vetting process and make sure you meet the criteria in the vetting pages of the ‘How to Apply’ section. The process can take some time, but this is just because it’s thorough. Giving misleading information and omitting or concealing information during the recruitment and vetting process is viewed very seriously.

The roles are based in London and Cheltenham, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance pf whichever location you apply for. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.

Equal Opportunities

Diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.

We’re Disability Confident

We are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme.  This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.  Being Disability Confident, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview where practicable; this is known as ‘Offer of an Interview’. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are: 

•    Passing the eligibility stage
•    Meeting essential criteria for the role at the application form stage

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. One of your parents must be a British Citizen or must have one of the nationalities or citizenships from one of the following: British Overseas Territory, British Subject, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person, citizenship of a country in the Commonwealth, citizenship of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), or citizenship of the United States of America (USA). If deceased, they should have had such citizenship or nationality before death. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. If successful, you will not normally be required to give up your non-British citizenship but, as a condition of your employment or secondment, MI5 may impose restrictions on your postings, work travel and/or general use of that nationality. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. Each case will be carefully considered on its own facts. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside of the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the Applying section. 

What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

•    Eligibility questions
•    Application form
•    A telephone interview may follow the application form
•    Assessment centre (including selection tasks and panel interview)
•    Drugs test and vetting

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process in order to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Our Vetting

To work in this role you will need the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community has to go through and it can take some time. As part of the DV process you will be asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire and attend an interview with a vetting officer. In your interview the vetting officer will have a thorough, compassionate and honest discussion with you about you as a person and your life experiences, to ensure holding a DV clearance is right for you. You don’t need to do any preparation for your vetting interview, just be honest and be yourself. All applicants for DV are treated impartially and consistently, irrespective of gender, race, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics. 

Right to Withdraw Statement: 

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.