Personnel Research Psychologist

As a Personnel Research Psychologist, GS-0180-11/12, you will be part of The Office of Personnel Management's, Federal Talent Management Center. If selected, you will support the OPM HR Shared Service Center by developing, implementing, and evaluating hiring assessments; developing and administering surveys, conducting job analysis/competency modeling; and providing assessment-related consultation for Federal Agencies.

Typical work assignments may include (under supervision): Providing technical consultation and guidance on assessments to internal and external customers in the OPM HR Shared Service Center. Leading and/or participating on project teams to develop and/or contract for innovative assessment tools. Conducting Government-wide and/or agency job analyses. Developing and implementing competency models, workforce gap assessments, and leadership assessments. Helping agencies identify, evaluate, and solve organizational problems using customer action planning, satisfaction surveys, employee surveys, and focus groups. Establishing project objectives, activities, timelines, budgets, and staffing plans. Advising agencies and internal senior management on implementing assessment strategies. Evaluating training, candidate development, or other human resources programs. About the organization: These positions are in one of two Selection and Promotion Assessment groups in the Assessment & Evaluation (AE) organization. AE is in Federal Talent Management Center (FTMC), Human Resources Solutions (HRS), U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). HR Solutions provides transformative human capital solutions that enable the Federal Government to solve the nation's toughest challenges. We take pride in our agile teams bringing expertise and human capital technology to create evidence-based solutions. Our nationwide cadre of human resources (HR) specialists, psychologists, management analysts, and program managers partner to shape and advance excellence in the Federal Government through our reimbursable human resources products and services. In 2026, OPM established the OPM HR Shared Service Center, operated by HR Solutions, to centralize and streamline government-wide HR operations. This shared services model consolidates resources, eliminates redundancies, and ensures consistent application of federal HR policies helping agencies attract, hire, and manage top talent in alignment with Executive Orders on hiring reform and government efficiency. Assessment and Evaluation delivers rigorous assessment solutions that help select candidates with the right competencies, maximize the performance of the workforce and its leadership, and assess and evaluate organizational performance to foster the right culture and customer experience by conducting basic, applied, and innovative research encompassing the full gamut of human capital management, with a specific focus on individual, organizational, and outcome assessment. AE is comprised of three groups: Selection and Promotion Assessment 1 (SPA1), Selection and Promotion Assessment 2 (SPA2) and Organizational and Talent Development Assessment (OTDA) SPA1 & SPA2 - Focus on the development, validation, and administration of cognitive and non-cognitive competency-based skill assessments used for selection and promotion purposes. This includes job analysis, written and non-written tests, job knowledge tests, performance tests, and computer simulations. OTDA - Focuses on the development, validation, and administration of assessments designed to improve leadership effectiveness, close skill gaps, and foster organizational excellence. This includes developmental feedback assessments for employees and leaders, skill gap assessments, training needs analysis, organizational surveys, customer experience surveys, and program evaluation. Areas of research and specialization are not limited to the above. All groups are responsible for conducting research and applying innovative assessment procedures and technologies to develop practical solutions to human resource management problems, and for providing technical assistance to departments and agencies in their areas of expertise. Group managers also strive to build reimbursable interagency partnerships to maximize the use of governmental resources.

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. This position is eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit. if the duty station is finalized in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, employees in this position will be represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 32. (BU Code - 1131) if the duty station is finalized outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, this position will not be represented by a bargaining unit. (BU Code - 7777)