Lead Behavioural Scientist

Job summary

This is an exciting nine‑month fixed‑term opportunity to play a leading role in shaping how behavioural science informs the future of energy regulation in Great Britain. As Ofgem’s Lead Behavioural Scientist, you will head a growing and highly respected behavioural function that helps embed cutting‑edge behavioural insights across the organisation. You will oversee the delivery of high‑quality, impactful behavioural research and experimentation ranging from online trials to innovative field experiments, to support effective policy design and deliver better outcomes for consumers. Working within the multi‑disciplinary Consumer Insights and Behavioural Science (CIBS) team, you will collaborate closely with qualitative, quantitative and behavioural experts to deliver robust, integrated evidence for key strategic decisions.

In this leadership role, you will set the behavioural science strategy, provide expert technical oversight, and champion the use of behavioural approaches across Ofgem and with senior stakeholders. You will also manage and develop a small team, fostering an inclusive, high‑performing culture aligned with Ofgem’s values. The role offers the opportunity to influence nationally significant challenges such as supporting the transition to Net Zero, enabling consumer flexibility, and helping design the energy market of the future at a time of rapid change and technological innovation.

Come along to our recruitment open event where you can meet the team, explore what a Behavioural Scientist at Ofgem does and get the top tips for your application. This is a free to attend event with a Q&A section for you to ask any questions you may have.

Book your spot today, meeting links will be shared on the morning of the event. https://buytickets.at/ofgem/2089805

Job description

Key Responsibilities and Outputs

• Strategy: Deliver 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 and building a positive team culture, 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)
• Significant experience of leading behavioural science/economics teams, including effective team and people leadership and delivering a vision and strategy to achieve organisational objectives. (LEAD)
• 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.
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse colleagues, planning, overseeing and supporting teams to deliver high quality analytical work.

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:

• You will also be asked to prepare a technical presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,446, OFGEM contributes £17,800 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• 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) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Lucy Dowding
• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

Role Profile_Lead Behavioural Scientist FTC Opens in new window (pdf, 111kB)Candidate Pack_Lead Behavioural Scientist Opens in new window (pdf, 733kB)Terms and Conditions Apr25 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)