Psychologist

Location - RAF Shawbury

Salary - £44,590. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

About the job

Job summary

If you’re looking to make a difference in Defence and to use your skills and experience for training improvement, the DCASO has an exciting new role for you. The successful applicant not only gets the opportunity to be an integral part of the team delivering world class education and training at Defence College of Air and Space Operations, but also a chance to provide professional support to the College, the trainers and trainees and have a real impact on how training is delivered.

Job description

As the post holder, you will be responsible for supporting Air Operations training through researching, developing and delivering advances to education and supporting individual learning. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Leading the research and development in pedagogical strategies, development of effective learning environments and trainee/trainer engagement in Air Operations training.
• Leading the research and development to enhance Human Performance training for Air Operations personnel, maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of relevant research and acting as an intelligent customer.
• Remaining up to date with military, civilian and academic developments in education and training and their potential application to Air Operations.
• Delivering lessons to the Air Operations trainers with reference to the psychological aspects of the training environment and factors affecting performance, such as learning strategies and techniques, managing workload, stress, modes of delivery and individual differences.
• Providing specialist educational advice along with performance and developmental coaching to support individual learning, enhance trainee and trainer performance and reduce training wastage.
• Representing the College at relevant meetings and delivering presentations at academic conferences as required.
• Liaising with other organisations and teams across Defence involved in Human Performance research and training and psychology.

Please note that this role is predominantly site-based as regular in-person attendance is required to deliver the primary task and to realise the benefits of face-to-face collaboration. The DCASO does however, embrace flexible ways of working as the role permits to support work-life balance.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Person specification

We are looking for you to demonstrate your evidence against the following essential criteria:

• Experience in the Research and Development of Human Performance.
• Experience conducting rigorous assessments and studies into training quality and methodologies.
• Experience delivering psychological support and coaching.
• Excellent report writing and presentational skills.
• Proven IT skills including Excel, Word and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

During the selection process, we will assess you against certain behavioural criteria, like your ability to lead, work together, change and improve, developing yourself and others, seeing the bigger picture, and make effective decisions.

Qualifications

• British Psychological Society Approved Hon Degree in Psychology.
• Hold British Psychological Society accredited MSc in relevant Psychology subject.
• Minimum 4 years post MSc experience.

Memberships

• Registered practitioner Psychologist – Health and Care Professions Council.
• Graduate/chartered member of the British Psychological Society.

Benefits

• Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (one day per year) to 30 days after five years’ service, an extra day’s holiday for the King’s birthday
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Option to join the Officers’ Mess and associated staff dining facilities
• On-site gymnasium with excellent facilities
• On-site creche facilities.
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Republic of Ireland
• 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) [hyperlinked]
• 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

Smoke-Free Working Policy

The MoD 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.

Recruitment Timeline

The closing date for submitting applications is 6th January 2025. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Interviews will take place at RAF Shawbury between 13^th and 15^th January 2025. Please note this may be subject to change, and you will have to arrange and pay for your own travel.

Successful candidates will need to undergo a criminal record check to ensure the security requirements are met before joining.

Click on the appropriate links to see the level of security check needed, the vetting charter, and the baseline personnel security standard checks. [hyperlinked texts]

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. [hyperlinked]

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.

Point of Contact

Job contact:

Name: Elizabeth Jones

Email: elizabeth.jones236@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk