Lead Behavioural Insights and Policy Lab Associate

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Behavioural Scientist with strong experimental methods experience to join as a Lead Associate in our Behavioural Economics & Data Unit (BDU), the specialist unit responsible for the FCA's innovative behavioural science work. We would be open to you joining the team on a fixed term contract, or as a secondment providing maternity cover for 9 months.
BDU produces behaviourally informed empirical work to support the FCA's policy, competition, supervisory and enforcement functions, looking to understand consumer behaviour using experimental methods. We achieve impact by developing practical insights for FCA policy and operational use. This unit's recent work includes investigating gamification in trading apps (initial results
here
), looking at sustainable finance disclosures, going beyond disclosure for high-risk investments (featured in the FT) and getting what's owed to pawnbroking customers. We draw on the latest ideas and techniques from behavioural science, experimental methods and increasingly data science, and work extensively with academic contacts. In addition to policy insights for specific consultations, we also provide wider thought leadership on behavioural science with the context of the Consumer Duty.
What you will be doing (the role)
You will be responsible for overseeing the behavioural insights and policy lab work of the unit. BDU was one of the first behavioural science units set up in UK public policy and has a ground-breaking history of using randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in evidence-based regulatory decision-making. BDU makes use of both field trials and online experiments, housing the FCA's pioneering in-house online experiment capability. The unit combines this with the latest thinking in behavioural science, behavioural design, and other qualitative and quantitative methods to inform evidence-based policy, supervision and enforcement decisions.
In this role, you will:

• Play a key managerial role within BDU, ensuring delivery of a portfolio of work providing behavioural insights, behavioural policy design and randomised controlled trials (RCTs), working alongside a technical specialist in this field. This includes overseeing a team of four running our in-house online experiment capability. You will work closely with other FCA stakeholders to scope projects for impact and feasibility, and oversee the delivery of high impact and robust evidence to support FCA decision making


• Help foster BDU's relationships with key stakeholders, particularly to identify, scope and influence on policy areas that could benefit from behavioural insights and experimental evidence


• Support more junior colleagues including through line management and work management - helping to motivate, set direction and pushing forward high-quality performance and professional development


• Share knowledge proactively across the team and act as an escalation point for the wider team on more complex delivery issues


• Play an key role in the resourcing projects and prioritisation, working alongside the team manager, and technical specialist


What you will get from the role

• You will have a rare opportunity to make a difference to the workings of the financial sector through behavioural data science


• You will enjoy a unique aerial view of the financial services industry, with the opportunity to do meaningful work that makes a real difference


• You will have the opportunity to influence senior decision makers


• You will be part of a thriving professional community and enjoy a stimulating environment with a range of opportunities for professional and personal development


Core benefits that you will receive as standard are:

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays


• Private healthcare with Bupa


• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age - up to 12% a month once you reach age 35)


• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary


• Income protection, We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want but we won't judge you for asking.
  
  We are a signatory to the Government's Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role.


• Demonstrated experience of experimental methods in public policy settings. This includes designing, implementing and identifying findings from randomised controlled trials, including field trials and online experiments, for policy making purposes


• Demonstrated experience of applying behavioural science in a public policy context, including at a regulator, government department, or consultancy for public sector clients


Essential

• Ability to code in R, or proficiency in another programming language (such as Python or Stata) and willingness to learn R


• Experience in overseeing small teams and line management experience, including in coaching and development


• Be comfortable with ambiguity, identifying the most important issues, framing and structuring problems conceptually, prioritising analysis, and distilling results to generate insight


• Engage, influence and collaborate effectively with stakeholders. Experience in explaining complex issues well to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, orally and in writing


• Experience in leading delivery of complex analytical projects, maintaining both pace and quality. Management capability to help plan, prioritise and allocate work within the team


• Role model commitment to self-awareness and learning. Build own network and support others to identify effective coping techniques
  
  For secondments, we typically cover existing salary terms and conditions but depends on circumstances.

Would you like to lead the pioneering behavioural insights and policy lab at the Financial Conduct Authority?
The team/ department, About the FCA
The FCA regulates the conduct of 50,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. We do this to make sure markets work well for individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole. For more information on what we do, our three-year strategy can be found
here.
The FCA's Values & Diversity
Our ambition is to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation - one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.
We particularly welcome applications from women, disabled, and minority ethnic candidates, as under-represented groups.
Flexible working

Salary for Fixed term contract: National - ranging from £57,600 to £75,000 per annum and London - ranging from £63,300 to £85,000 per annum.