Are you looking for a new challenge and want to join a successful and rapidly growing organisation? Do you have a passion for exploring new ways to change people’s lives at a national scale through government policy? If so, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for two Associate Advisors to join our Economic Policy team. They will work across a range of areas covering topics such as, reducing online harms, improving personal financial capability, boosting productivity, and promoting diversity and inclusion. You can see examples of our work on our website, including:

• Analysing potentially harmful features of slot game adverts
• Helping people make better decisions about pension transfers 
• Putting children and young people at the heart of future internet policy
• Reducing age bias in recruitment 
• What works to change attitudes towards disabled people

What does an Associate Advisor do?

This role is at Associate Advisor level which means you will be involved in things like:

• Conducting qualitative and desk-based research (e.g., interviews, observations, literature reviews) to inform innovative new interventions to improve policy outcomes;
• Developing and suggesting practical policy solutions or intervention ideas to address social issues, informed by behavioural science;
• Managing relationships with partners and funders;
• Helping to plan and organise randomised controlled trials; and
• Preparing project deliverables (e.g., interview guides, logic models, evidence summaries, final reports).

What makes a great Associate Advisor at BIT?

We are looking for people who understand what we do, share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. We are looking for candidates with the skills listed below. We expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

• Behavioural science. You can explain the implications of theoretical concepts such as defaults, loss aversion and social norms.
• Public policy design. You can see both sides of an argument, e.g. on topical issues related to economic policy, digital markets and consumer protection or household finance,and you think about what makes some policies effective and others impractical.
• Qualitative research design. You understand that people may experience a problem differently depending on their context. You can identify the types of people to talk to to understand the range of experiences more deeply. You will understand the needs of different types of people, including the most vulnerable, and will adapt your approach accordingly. You know how to spot patterns, as well as highlight where there is a range of experiences.
• Quantitative research design. You know that just because sales of sunglasses and ice creams increase at the same time, one does not cause the other. You can also describe how to run a test to prove this.
• Communications and partner engagement. You can explain complex topics in simple and clear terms. You can lead a workshop or presentation and write clearly and concisely. You believe that every stakeholder in a project – from the client to a research participant – has something to offer, and are able to engage with them respectfully and effectively.
• Managing and developing yourself at work. You can manage your own time across a number of projects. You demonstrate high self-awareness and regularly self-reflect. You enjoy working in teams and are aware of the impact that your actions and words have on those around you. You are resilient and accept responsibility for decisions whether they achieve the desired outcome or not.

Who are we and what can we offer you?

The Behavioural Insights Team is the world leader in applying behavioural science to public policy challenges in order to strengthen communities and improve lives.

We are looking for a passionate and imaginative individual who understands behavioural science and shares our thirst for evidence-based solutions to join our dynamic and growing team.

BIT really is a great place to work:

• We encourage flexible working and have a culture which enables this; for example flexible start and finish times and an IT set up which allows for easy working from home options
• We have regular team lunches with inspirational guest speakers.
• We have a flexible benefits programme which currently includes things like gym memberships, cycle to work schemes and the ability to buy extra annual leave at the start of the year.
• We’re a social bunch and have a variety of interest groups including Film Club, BIT Kids for our parents & 5-a-side team to name a few.
• We have a great office, which has an amazing cafeteria with discounted breakfast and lunch, great coffee and snacks.

How to apply

We use a great platform called Applied to reduce bias in the recruitment process. You will need to answer a few work-based questions which will be anonymously marked by members of our team. This will consist of a timed multiple choice test, followed by written work-based questions. Please note that the multiple choice test will have a predefined pass rate. If you are under this threshold then your written questions will not be assessed. Our selection is based on performance in these questions, rather than looking at your CV.

Candidates with the top scoring answers will be invited to a structured interview where you get to meet some of the team. At the interview stage you will be asked questions that reflect the role and also to complete a work-based task, so you have the chance to demonstrate your skills. It’s at this stage we first see your CV.

Key dates:

• Role closes: 6th May 2024 at 12.00pm (Midday)
• 1st stage screening interviews and assessment tasks will take place: w/c 20th May 2024
• 2nd stage interviews and tasks will take place: w/c 27th May 2024 or w/c 3rd June 2024
• Start date – August/September or as soon as possible

All dates are subject to change (but we’ll do our best not to change them!)

Please note that only applicants successful at each stage will progress to the next stage. Further information about each stage of the process will be provided if you progress to that stage. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to provide personalised feedback but aim to do so for candidates who make it through to the final round(s). We will start reviewing applications on a rolling basis prior to the closing date.

If you would prefer to be based in our Manchester office (Brown St) please specify this on your application and it will be discussed during interview stage. Please note, the salary for Associate Advisors working from Manchester is £29,500 per annum

Please note:

You will need to have the right to work in the UK in order to be able to undertake this role. We will ask all applicants short-listed for an interview to provide evidence of their right to work during the recruitment process.  If you do not have the right to work for BIT but are the most suitable person for the role we will explore with you whether sponsorship may be an option. However, this may not be possible for all roles.

Some of the personal data you provide to Applied when you apply for a role with The Behavioural Insights Team will be passed on to The Behavioural Insights Team for the purposes of (a) reviewing your application; (b) inviting you for interview; and/or (c) offering you a job and getting you set up as an employee/contractor. For full details on how BIT collects and uses your personal data please visit our Global Recruitment Privacy Notice.

If your application is not successful, any personal data provided to us by Applied (including any personal data relating to equal opportunities monitoring as set out above) will be retained by The Behavioural Insights Team for no longer than 6 months after the application deadline has passed (other than in exceptional circumstances where we may need to retain your personal data for longer), at which point your personal data will be securely deleted. We only keep your information for that period in order to allow us to comply with relevant legal obligations.