In a process for producing a hydroprocessing catalyst, a particulate metal oxide composition comprising an oxide of at least one first metal selected from Group 6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements can be mixed with particles of a sulfide of at least one second metal selected from Groups 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements to produce a particulate catalyst precursor. The particulate catalyst precursor can then be sulfided under conditions sufficient to at least partially convert the particulate catalyst precursor into a layered metal sulfide having defect sites associated with the second metal sulfide.