Lead Behavioural Scientist

At Ofgem, we stand at the forefront of tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time: combating the global energy crisis, accelerating the transition to Net Zero, and safeguarding energy consumers. We’re looking for a Lead Behavioural Scientist to lead transformative behavioural science initiatives that will shape the energy landscape for generations to come.

Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. We’re at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers - especially vulnerable people.

We’re offering a permanent role where you can make a direct impact on critical issues such as reducing carbon emissions, encouraging sustainable energy use, and protecting vulnerable consumers. This is a high-profile role where you will oversee complex behavioural research, collaborate with leading academics, and influence policymaking at the highest levels. You’ll drive our behavioural science strategy, ensuring it underpins key decisions and fosters innovative solutions across our organisation.

We’re looking for a collaborative, strategic thinker with extensive experience in behavioural science, behavioural economics, or a related field. You’ll be an experienced leader with the ability to inspire and guide multidisciplinary teams. Your expertise will be instrumental in developing cutting-edge interventions, influencing policy, and driving impactful research that addresses consumer challenges while advancing our Net Zero goals.

This role offers the opportunity to work on multiple impactful projects, delivering high-quality research with the potential to influence industry and government practices. As the behavioural science lead, you’ll engage with senior internal and external stakeholders, providing strategic oversight and technical expertise to enhance our evidence-based decision-making.

At Ofgem, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive, inclusive, and flexible working environment. You’ll take the lead in a team that values innovation, diversity, and professional development, with opportunities to collaborate with top-tier academics and industry experts. With access to flexible working arrangements and central locations in London, Glasgow, or Cardiff, this is a chance to grow your career while making a real difference.

We have a critical purpose to advance the understanding of human behaviour to deliver innovative energy solutions and empower consumers on the journey to Net Zero. This is your opportunity to lead research that will shape the future of the energy sector and improve the lives of millions across Great Britain

Job description

• Strategy: Set Ofgem’s behavioural science strategy as our internal Behavioural Science expert, providing technical oversight and advanced analysis on behavioural science related matters including experimental/evaluation methods, behavioural economics and behaviour change to teams across Ofgem, Ofgem Boards, and other key stakeholders.
• Delivery: Lead and oversee delivery of complex high-quality behavioural research/projects to provide evidence that helps Ofgem to deliver on its strategic priorities, ensuring effective project management and quality assurance.
• Leadership: Support the development of a high-performing team based on effective resource management, ongoing support and professional development. Manage a small team of multidisciplinary experts, providing inclusive leadership, using your expertise to provide comprehensive knowledge sharing, support and development that demonstrate commitment to Ofgem values and promote diversity and inclusion.
• Innovation: Be the focal point for technical advice relating to behavioural science. Keep abreast of advances in the field, provide guidance on methodological challenges and encourage and support staff to consider new and innovative methods.
• Stakeholder engagement/influencing: Build strong, effective relationships, collaborating with senior leaders across Ofgem to use behavioural science and/or economics to answer complex questions. Build Behavioural Science capability in Ofgem, driving awareness, fostering buy-in at all levels and equipping teams with the necessary tools to integrate and embed behavioural approaches in their work. Build relationships with external stakeholders to maximise partnership and collaboration opportunities e.g. ensure Ofgem benefits from behavioural science research conducted by academia.
• Communication/impact: Increase Ofgem’s impact as a regulatory leader in Behavioural Science by representing Ofgem at external events, conferences etc to showcase the work of behavioural science and wider analytical work in Ofgem. Draft clear and concise documents, including briefing, reports, and management papers.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Breadth and depth of relevant applied experience in behavioural analysis, behavioural economics and research methods (e.g. experimental, quasi-experimental, user experience, design, quant, qual, data science) within a complex organisation. (Lead criteria)
• Significant experience of leading behavioural science/economics teams, including effective team and people leadership and setting and delivering a vision and strategy to achieve organisational objectives. (Lead criteria)
• Ability to distil complex subject matter into relevant messages for different audiences – both orally and in writing, combined with excellent drafting skills.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the key issues, trends, frameworks, approaches and latest techniques in Behavioural Science and ability to apply a behavioural science lens to help solve complex policy problems and communicate the value of a behavioural approach effectively to senior stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria

• Advanced statistical analysis skills (e.g. using Python, R, Stata etc), proficiency in programming experiments and an ability to develop/coach others to develop skills.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please refer to the Candidate Pack and Role Profile attached for full details.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 13th January 2025