National Science Foundation - Program Director

Program Director in the Science of Learning Activity
Agency: National Science Foundation
SALARY RANGE:    $106,263.00 to $165,596.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:    Tuesday, September 16, 2014 to Tuesday, October 28, 2014
SERIES & GRADE:    AD-0101-04
POSITION INFORMATION:    Full-time. - This position will be filled as a one- or two-year VSEE, 
DUTY LOCATIONS:  Arlington, 

JOB SUMMARY:
About the Agency

The Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) supports research to develop and advance scientific knowledge about humans spanning areas of inquiry including brain and behavior, language and culture, origins and evolution, and geography and the environment. In addition to the core program areas, BCS sponsors several additional crosscutting and NSF-wide funding opportunities. BCS programs consider proposals that fall squarely within disciplines, but they also encourage and support interdisciplinary projects. These are evaluated either through joint review among programs in BCS, joint review with programs in other Divisions, or by NSF-wide multi-disciplinary panels. All programs in BCS consider proposals for research projects, conferences, and workshops. BCS participates in special initiatives and competitions on a number of topics including human-natural system interactions, children's research, cognitive neuroscience, human origins, and information technology. There is also infrastructure support to improve data resources, data archives, collaboratories, and centers. For more information on the division, please visit the BCS Home Page.

BCS is seeking a Program Director in the Science of Learning Activity. NSF’s investments in the Science of Learning include the establishment of the Science of Learning Centers Program in 2003 to advance fundamental knowledge about learning - in humans, other animals and machines. Over the years, the Program has successfully fostered an interdisciplinary, international community focused on studying learning across many scales of analysis, drawing on perspectives from many fields including cognitive and behavioral sciences, social science, engineering, biology, neuroscience, mathematics and physical sciences, computer science, machines learning and artificial intelligence. Attention is now turned to planning the next phase of Science of Learning investments to continue the advancement of fundamental knowledge about learning through integrative, interdisciplinary research, and to connect the research to societal, scientific, technological, educational, and workforce challenges. This will involve the creation of new funding opportunities.

KEY REQUIREMENTS
DUTIES:
The responsibilities of the NSF Program Director are constantly evolving. The Program Director is guided by the goals of NSF's Strategic Plan: (1) enable the United States to uphold a position of world leadership in all aspects of science, mathematics, an engineering, (2) promote the discovery, integration, dissemination, and employment of new knowledge in service to society, and (3) achieve excellence in U. S. science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education at all levels. The core strategies NSF staff employ include developing intellectual capital, strengthening the physical infrastructure, integrating research and education, and promoting partnerships. Responsibilities of the Program Director include, for example, long-range planning and budget development for the areas of science represented by the program or program cluster, the administration of the merit review process and proposal recommendations, the preparation of press releases, feature articles and material describing advances in the research supported, and coordination and liaison with other programs in NSF, other Federal agencies and organizations.

The Program Director will have specific responsibilities that include the following:

• Participate in planning for the future of the Science of Learning
• Allocate resources to maintain a balance of support to meet the field's needs;
• Take action on all proposals in a timely manner;
• Maintain an effective merit review system;
• Engage in effective post-award management including annual site visit reviews, monthly teleconferences, and review of annual and final progress reports;
• Participate in one of more cross-cutting activities within the Foundation;
• Work cooperatively across the Division, Directorate, and Foundation, and with other agencies to accomplish the mission of NSF;
• Participate in interagency meetings, coordinating groups, special task groups, staff meetings, and site visits;
• Assess trends and opportunities in the field with assistance of advisory panels;
• Pursue affirmative action and EEO goals in selection of reviewers, panelists, and grantees;
• Represent the activity to the scientific community and the public;
• Establish contacts and maintain active involvement in the program field through participation in meetings and conferences and by undertaking other relevant activities;
• Pursue a personal scholarly research agenda, with results presented at professional meetings and published in academic journals, as workload permits.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must possess a Ph.D. in a psychological, cognitive or learning science plus, after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. Experience and expertise in cognitive neuroscience would be especially beneficial.

Facebook - Audience Insights Analyst

Facebook was built to help people connect and share, and over the last decade our tools have played a critical part in changing how people around the world communicate with one another. With over a billion people using the service and more than fifty offices around the globe, a career at Facebook offers countless ways to make an impact in a fast growing organization.

Facebook is an incredible place to understand how consumers think, feel, and behave. The Audience Insights team is seeking an experienced market research analyst to explore how our audience uses Facebook. The ideal candidate will have a passion for data deep dives and identifying consumer behavioral trends. Applicants should have a strong quantitative background, as well as experience designing research and hands-on analysis of large datasets. This position is full time and located in our London office. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth analysis of the Facebook user base that identify actionable trends and insights
• Develop expertise regarding audience behavior specific to the EMEA region
• Conduct user polls/surveys that provide accurate tracking of timely trends and memes
• Build and maintain an efficient system to quickly answer ad-hoc audience questions
• Monitor syndicated audience data trends (comScore, Nielsen, etc.) to discover trends as they emerge, and synthesize with our overall insights strategy
• Surface relevant third-party audience insights to key teams within Facebook

Requirements 

• 5 years of relevant working experience
• Experience of exploratory analysis of large data sets
• Advanced degree in psychology, statistics, economics, behavioral or social science or a related quantitative field
• Outstanding statistical and data analysis skills (e.g. significance testing, regression modelling, factor analysis, etc.)
• Solid track record of inspiring corporate action based on data-driven insights
• Experience using SPSS, SAS, R, Matlab, or other statistical packages
• Experience using SQL & Excel 2007
• Solid understanding of the advertising industry (especially online) and measurement methods/technologies most commonly used
• Track record of operating independently, demonstrating creativity, being detail-oriented, and delivering results in a highly organized manner
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Innovations for Poverty Action - Director, Household Finance

Director, US Household Finance Initiative
Reports to:  Deputy Executive Director of Research and Policy
Location: New Haven, CT 
Deadline to apply:  Applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis
Desired start date: As soon as possible
Length of Commitment: 9 months
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), is an international non-profit research organization. Based in New Haven, CT, with offices in New York, NY, Washington, D.C. and worldwide, IPA works with development partners and academic researchers to create and evaluate approaches to solving development problems, to communicate “what works” in development and to scale up successful projects in a variety of fields, including health, education, microfinance, governance and agriculture.

Program/Project/Initiative Summary: The U.S. Household Finance Initiative (USHFI) at IPA works to build secure financial futures for American households.  Using insights from behavioral economics, USHFI partners with financial service providers and social service organizations to develop, test, and scale new approaches to financial products, pricing, marketing, communication, and education.  USHFI was founded by longtime IPA researchers Dean Karlan (Yale) and Jonathan Zinman (Dartmouth).  Under their leadership, USHFI has upwards of 15 completed or ongoing projects with financial service providers in markets ranging from small-dollar credit and savings, to personal financial management, to debt collection.

Position Summary:   The Director will lead the development and growth of the Initiative, by working with partners, representing the initiative and IPA in public forums, growing the research network, fundraising, and disseminating results and informing policy. The Director will also initiate and supervise ongoing impact evaluations, and work with Principal Investigators to generate a body of evidence on the comparative impact and cost effectiveness of a variety of programs and financial products to help people increase savings, manage debt, and improve overall financial decision making.

Responsibilities:

Leading the ongoing development of a strategic plan for the Initiative;
Financial oversight and fundraising;
Expanding the network of partner organizations;
Represent USHFI and IPA to important stakeholders;
Expand network of Initiative researchers;
Refining the initiative research agenda in collaborate on with Principal Investigators and other stakeholders;
Initiating the development of new research including engaging with researchers on the technical design and funding support for projects;
Lead growing and high-performing staff to produce cutting edge research, disseminate results and mobilize implementing organizations to scale up proven interventions
Qualifications:

This is a leadership position with IPA that requires both strong technical and management skills.
Masters or PhD in economics, public administration, public policy, or related field;
Five years minimum experience in economics or social science research, with a background in randomized control trials; related work experience may also be applicable. Combination of work and research experience is preferred;
Fluency in English, with strong oral and written and communication skills. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required;
Excellent communication skills with the ability to represent IPA in public forums and to present results and pitch research ideas to partners, donors, and policymakers;
Excellent management and organizational skills; exceptional attention to detail; flexibility; self-motivation; and an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently;
Experience in asset-building or economic development programs in the United States targeting low-income American households
Application Instructions:

To apply, please click here

Innovations for Poverty Action is an EO Employer-MF/Veteran/Disability.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected class.  

IPA will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact us at jobs@poverty-action.org or via phone at 1-203-772-2216.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the Director.  The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs-info@poverty-action.org.

** Please note that only qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring manager.

BE-Works - Senior Associate (Management Consultant)

POSITION: Management Consultant / Senior Associate
BEworks Inc.

BEworks is seeking a Senior Associate who is highly knowledgeable of behavioral science, has experience leading experiments, and is passionate about applying academic insights to business and policy challenges in the real-world.
 
About BEworks
Founded in 2010, BEworks is a global management consulting firm that specializes in applying behavioral economics to business and policy challenges. Our knowledge is a powerful hybrid of academic expertise and business acumen.  We provide our clients with scientific research and in-field experimentation.
 
Culture is Really Important to Us
This position offers candidates the chance to work with a passionate and accomplished team. On a regular basis, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with some of the worlds' leading academics and business people (not to brag, but this includes a best-selling author as well as renowned TED Talk presenters). We have an unconventional culture and we welcome a candidate that has a passion for consulting, experimentation, learning, but also already has expertise in the fields of psychology and/or behavioral economics, and a keen sense of humor. We’re a small but mighty team that works hard and plays hard. You’ll find that we’re always enthusiastic about coming into work on Monday mornings, even after a week of late nights and lunches that entail intense discussion on topics like the merits and limits of the System 1&2 taxonomy, the good versus bad of intuition in decision-making, updated views on the importance of emotion as reason, the limits and insights of evolutionary psychology, and thoughts on neural networks.
 
Job Description:
The Senior Associate is accountable for leading projects. At BEworks, the Senior Associate is actively involved in project management, new business development, experiment design, and practice management (and whatever else needs to get done!). This includes identifying and responding to prospects, proposal development, overseeing research and experiments, coordinating project timelines and discussions with the team and the client, and ensuring our thought leadership and deliverables are nothing short of exemplary. The team is a highly collaborative where all the BEworks associates and academic advisors work together.
 
Estimated Break-down of Responsibilities:

New Clients – 5%
Prepare proposals, research prospective clients; estimate work effort; participate in pitch meetings
 
Existing Clients – 50%
Project Delivery; follow BEworks Methodology
Behavioral Diagnostics
Choice Architecture
Experimentation
Implementation
 
Practice Management (how we do it)  - 20%
Maintain billable hours guidelines; ensure and follow best practices in client delivery; ensure company philosophy for integrity to process and client expectations; grow skills in client delivery
 
Building the Intellectual Property (what we do) – 20%
Maintain and enhance leading-edge application of BE and supporting skills  (experimentation, statistics, etc), Conduct primary research; grow knowledge of BE and related fields
 
Vision (where we’re going) – 5%
Track competitors; emerging best practices; represent company at conferences
 
Day-to-day responsibilities:

Client management - ensuring that accounts and clients receive the appropriate level of service and coordinating the work of all teams across the BEworks methodological framework
Timeline management – developing and managing project timeline and communicating project status and next steps
Communication – co-developing client reports, participating in/delivering presentations, and explaining academic research and statistical results to clients in a manner that is relevant to them
Research –gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information and existing research relating to clients, markets, products, services, and academic research
Thought leadership – participating and adding value to brainstorm sessions on client issues and solutions by applying research from the fields of behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience
Experimentation – supporting the design and building of both large and small scale randomized control experiments to test hypotheses and optimize client solutions
Business development – identifying business opportunities and supporting proposal writing for potential clients
Grunt work – willing to ‘roll up sleeves’ and work at all levels of the organization
 
Role Requirements (“Knowledge”):
 
Familiar with literature on behavioral economics, social psychology, cogntive psychology, marketing, judgment and decision-making, neuroscience, and economics
Ability to read and summarize academic journal articles and to source and utilize academic findings in a business setting
Familiar with different scientific methods to conduct research, including descriptive research to describe sentiment and current behavioral state, correlational research to identify relationships, and experimental research to uncover causal relationships
Experience with analyzing and describing results, making statistical inferences, and generalizing results to a wider audience
Comfortable using different experiment methodologies (e.g., incentive compatible design, surveys)
Strong desktop publishing skills, including traditional business software programs such as Excel and PowerPoint
 
Role Requirement (“Assets”)
 
Masters level or higher education in judgment and decision making preferred or psychology (preferably cognitive or social psychology)
Experience with designing, building, and running randomized control trial experiments  (e.g., research assistantship)
Analysis: Experience using statistical analysis to identify trends, patterns, and relationships in the data and make them relevant to the decision makers (eg ANOVA, regression, mixed effects modeling, and factor analyses)
Coding: Familiarity with standard Web languages eg HTML 5 and Javascript, in order to build complex experiments in Qualtrics
Tools: Knowledge of statistical analyses/spreadsheet modeling (including statistical analysis software suite such as SPSS, JMP, R, Stata, or SAS)
Detail-orientated, strong organizational capabilities, and outstanding communication, speaking and writing skills
 
Beyond specific skills, the ideal candidate is a high energy, self-starter who possesses a strong commitment to excellence, an ability and desire to work in a highly collaborative (and frankly, sometimes noisy) team, a voracious appetite for learning, and a willingness to always go the extra mile. Or leap.

We would welcome and encourage you to apply even if you do not think you might meet all of the specified qualifications above.
 
Interested candidates should forward a cover letter and resume to careers@beworks.com and also please fill out our screening survey linked below.
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
Employer: BEworks Inc.
Contact:      Kelly Peters, CEO & Managing Partner
                        In care of: Sonya Karanicolas, Office Coordinator
Email:          careers@beworks.com
Address:     317 Adelaide Street West, Suite 400
                        Toronto, ON  M5V 1P9

Apply here: https://new.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_06to3XNbL7yV9OZ

Ideas42 - Senior Associate

Senior Associate
Location: New York City, NYType: Full TimeMin. Experience: Mid Level
The Role

All team members play an active role on multiple projects across several domains (e.g. consumer finance, health, international development) at once. All positions provide a pathway to more senior roles within ideas42 and are excellent preparation for a wide range of roles in both the private and public sectors. Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Planning, managing and executing projects, including serving as the day-to-day contact for funders and partners,

• Diagnosing behavioral problems and designing behaviorally informed interventions and products

• Leading project research, such as surveys and interviews,

• Drafting, editing, and finalizing high-quality deliverables, including grant proposals and policy papers

Who Are We Looking For?

Much of our work hinges on our ability to ask the right questions. As a result, we seek inquisitive, resourceful, analytical individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. A passion for understanding human behavior, pursuing innovation, and promoting the social good is critical, but prior expertise or training in behavioral economics or psychology is not required. Specific qualifications include:

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Mission-aligned, self-starter, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Strong analytical skills and working knowledge of statistics. Experience with Stata is a plus

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to high-quality output

• Record of academic excellence. Smart, logical and structured thinkers, who are also creative

• Master’s degree plus 3-6 years work experience, or Bachelor’s degree plus 4-7 years work experience 

Ideas42 - Analyst

The Role

All team members play an active role on multiple projects across several domains (e.g. consumer finance, health, international development) at once. All positions provide a pathway to more senior roles within ideas42 and are excellent preparation for a wide range of roles in both the private and public sectors. Specific responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Diagnosing behavioral problems and designing behaviorally informed interventions and products

• Leading project research, such as literature reviews, surveys, and interviews

• Drafting grant proposals, policy papers, and other external communication materials

• Assisting with management of field projects, including drafting and revising high-quality deliverables and ongoing communication with funders and partners

• Analyzing quantitative data from completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs)

Who Are We Looking For?

Much of our work hinges on our ability to ask the right questions. As a result, we seek inquisitive, resourceful, analytical individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. A passion for understanding human behavior, pursuing innovation, and promoting the social good is critical, but prior expertise or training in behavioral economics or psychology is not required. Specific qualifications include:

• Mission-aligned, self-starter, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Strong analytical skills and working knowledge of statistics. Experience with Stata is a plus

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to high-quality output

• Record of academic excellence. Smart, logical and structured thinkers, who are also creative

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and 0-3 years work experience

UK Gov - Behavioural Science Manager

Department Department for Work and Pensions
Business Area Other
Business Area - detailed Strategic Communications Directorate
Number of Jobs Available 1
Location: Region London
Location: City/Town Westminster
Location: Building/Site Caxton House
 
Grade SEO
 
Equivalent Departmental Grade SEO
 
Type of Role Communications/Marketing
 
Job Description This advert is open at Stage 4 - External Recruitment. 

You should have an advanced knowledge of behavioural science concepts, with an awareness of how these can be applied to influence citizen behaviour. You should also have experience of conducting robust testing in a lab or field setting. 

Essential to this role is the ability to persuasively communicate to a non-technical audience. 
You will also be assessed against the essential criteria listed further down. 
You must demonstrate the skills, knowledge and behaviours indicated for the grade in the Civil Service Competency Framework. The essential competencies are covered below. Please provide your most recent CV (maximum two pages) and a covering letter (maximum two pages). 

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is determined to improve the services offered to the public and to deliver social justice through welfare and pensions reform. The department is managing the biggest changes to the welfare system in 60 years through the introduction of Universal Credit, and our Claimant Communications Unit plays a critical role in explaining these changes to citizens. 

Have you been inspired by Thaler, Ariely, Loewenstein and others? If so, we have a role for you, which applies the latest research in behavioural science to major government initiatives. 

The Department of Work and Pension’s Claimant Communications Unit is looking for an expert in behavioural science to help develop innovative solutions to communication and policy challenges. 

Our work aims to understand behaviour in relation to major projects at the heart of Government policy - including helping people into work and implementing once-in-a-generation welfare reforms. 

You’ll be at the centre of a small but ambitious team committed to transforming the quality of service delivered by government to millions of citizens every day. 

We try to ensure everything we do is based on the latest and best available evidence. Where evidence is not available, we use Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) to develop an evidence base. 

Our innovative approach also harnesses the power of information design and customer relationship management (CRM) to create tailored, targeted and motivating communications. 

Our work is demanding, but interesting and rewarding. You’ll have the opportunity to work with experts and academics from leading global universities, and to use ground-breaking research techniques. 

You’ll deliver work which enjoys a high profile across and beyond Government, and which has significant Ministerial interest. You’ll work in Government’s biggest department in one of Whitehall’s best performing communications teams, and will have access to great learning and career development opportunities. 

Key responsibilities: 
•    Grasping complex policy objectives and identifying how behavioural science can be used to maximise outcomes. 
•    Promoting the work of the team to internal and external stakeholders 
•    Conducting robust RCTs, analysing data and developing compelling evaluation and research papers. 
•    Building strong relationships with internal clients based on trust, expertise and high levels of service 
•    Building and maintaining relationships with academics and industry experts 

We’re looking for an exceptional person with the following: 
Essential Criteria: 
•    Advanced behavioural science knowledge (this will be assessed through the selection process) 
•    Ability to persuasively communicate complex concepts to a non-technical audience 
•    Ability to design and evaluate randomised control trials (both lab/field) 
•    Excellent data analysis skills 
•    Ability to manage a varied workload and to deliver projects to a high standard, on time 
•    An enthusiastic, adaptable and creative approach to work 
•    Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to deliver under pressure 
•    Good people and project management skills 
•    An understanding of and interest in public policy and services 

Desirable: 
•    Academic knowledge of a relevant subject, such as Psychology, Economics, Statistics, Neuroscience ideally at Masters or PhD level 
•    Able to write clear and compelling copy 
•    Design skills (such as InDesign or Illustrator) 

To apply, you’ll need to register at Civil Service jobs: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

Key responsibilities/accountabilities: 
1.    Grasping complex policy objectives and identifying how behavioural science can be used to maximise outcomes. 
2.    Promoting the work of the team to internal and external stakeholders 
3.    Conducting robust RCTs, analysing data and developing compelling evaluation and research papers. 
4.    Building strong relationships with internal clients based on trust, expertise and high levels of service 
5.    Building and maintaining relationships with academics and industry experts 

For an informal discussion on the role, please contact Andy Freiman on telephone number:  0207 449 5068.
 
Reserved / Non Reserved post(s) This is a Non Reserved post and is therefore open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and certain non EEA members
 
What security level is required for this post? Basic check
 
If you are a successful candidate you will be expected to undertake the following level of security check: 
- Basic Check
Working Pattern This/these jobs are available for full-time, part-time or flexible working arrangements (including job share arrangements)
 
Employment Terms: Post Type Permanent
 
Employment Terms: Hours 36
 
Competence 1 Leading and Communicating
 
Competence 2 Managing a Quality Service
 
Competence 3 Seeing the Big Picture
 
Competence 4 Changing and Improving
 
Sift & interview/selection dates and location The sift will take place w/c 29th September and inteviews will be held in London w/c 13th October 2014. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
 
Contact point for applicants: Please contact Andy Freiman: 

Telephone Number - 0207 449 5068

Ideas 42 - Project Manager (Financial Heuristics)

Behavioral economics has changed how we think about how we think. Now, ideas42 is moving it out of the lecture hall and using behavioral economics to design new products, services, and policies.

Applying research insights from behavioral economics to real problems is very much an emerging science. Focused on exactly this practice, ideas42 is a unique design and research lab bringing together highly creative practitioners and industry and policy experts with world-renowned economists and psychologists from top-tier universities. Our mission is to apply our expertise in behavioral economics to invent fresh solutions to the world's toughest social problems with the goal of improving tens of millions of lives. We are a social enterprise funded by many of the largest philanthropic foundations.

We believe we will be successful in achieving real change only if we pair real-world, high-energy, entrepreneurial and execution skills with the insights and rigor that academia brings.

If you want to use your experience and creativity to generate massive social impact, ideas42 is the ideal vehicle for you.

What We Do

We work globally in consumer finance, criminal justice, poverty alleviation, health, education, and the environment. Our day-to-day work begins with re-conceptualizing problems, designing new solutions and testing them in the field, then finally scaling them up to reach millions of people. We partner with large companies to create products that will do social good. We collaborate with innovative non-profits to incubate game-changing ideas. We work with governments around the world. We also teach practitioners how to use behavioral economics for innovation. Examples of projects include:Designing and testing a behaviorally–informed foreclosure mitigation process

Working with the Western Cape Government in South Africa to design and test behavioral solutions for increased update of government social services programs
Performing “financial health checks” that help people manage their finances
Training entrepreneurs in developing countries in heuristic-based accounting systems so their businesses can grow
Conducting executive education classes to teach senior-level executives how to apply research insights from behavioral economics to products and services

Employment Opportunities: Financial Heuristics

The Project Manager will play an active role in managing all aspects of a multi-year project to scale-up a behaviorally-informed financial management training for micro-entrepreneurs based on financial heuristics or simple rules of thumb in India and the Philippines. The position involves working closely with a lead Finance academic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and partner microfinance institutions and technology firms in India and the Philippines. The position spans over the two and a half years of the project, with potential opportunity to transition into a full-time position at ideas42 upon project completion. It is also excellent preparation for a wide range of other roles in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

Research relevant behavioral science and Financial Inclusion literature to identify applications for the Financial Heuristics scale-up project
Design and implement pilot studies in field settings, including experiment design, ensuring fidelity to human subjects protocols, qualitative interviews, and data collection and analysis
Manage field projects in India and the Philippines, including implementation, data collection and analysis, and serving as the day-to-day contact for partners (the position requires 10-15% travel)
Assist with dissemination activities, such as creating PowerPoints and writing policy papers
Who Are We Looking For?

We seek inquisitive, resourceful, analytical individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. A passion for understanding human behavior and innovation, and experience in the financial inclusion field is critical, but prior expertise or training in behavioral economics is not required. Specific qualifications include:

Mission aligned, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
1-4 years of relevant work experience. We are especially interested in candidates with a background in financial inclusion, microfinance, small and medium enterprises and/or international development. Client-facing or interviewing experience is a plus.
Bachelor's or Master's degree with a record of academic excellence. Academic experience with finance, economics, or statistics is a plus.
Strong analytical skills and working knowledge of statistics. Prior experience with Stata is a plus.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a commitment to high-quality output
Location: New York, NY

Starting Date: September 2014

Compensation: Competitive within the non-profit industry

Work Authorization: Candidates must already be authorized to work in the U.S.

Behavioural Insights Team - Research Advisor

RESEARCH ADVISOR: BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS TEAM RESEARCH TEAM

2 year-fixed term appointment

The Behavioural Insights Team is recruiting a Research Advisor, who will support the Head of Research to design, conduct, and evaluate Randomised Controlled Trials.

About the Behavioural Insights Team
The Behavioural Insights Team is a unique company. We started life inside No.10 Downing Street as the world's first government institution dedicated to the application of behavioural sciences.

We are now a world-leading social purpose company whose mission is to help organisations in the UK and overseas to apply behavioural insights in support of social purpose goals.
The company itself has three owners: the employees, the UK government, and Nesta (the UK's leading innovation charity).

As well as applying behavioural science to public policy, the team is also at the forefront of a revolution in evidence based policy. The team has conducted randomised controlled trials (the gold standard of evidence) across the policy spectrum, in fields ranging from health, to energy, to charitable giving and employment. The research team, which heads up the design of these trials and their analysis, is responsible for ensuring the rigour of these trials is kept to the highest possible standard, while ensuring that the team continues to conduct impactful, pragmatic research. Few organisations offer the opportunity to work on as wide a variety of trials as the Behavioural Insights Team, and none with the same focus on trials coordinated and run alongside government.
 
The Role: Research Advisor
You will work across a range of Behavioural Insights projects providing specialist trial design, implementation and analysis.

Phase 1: Develop your expertise and specialise (3-6 months) In this phase you will:
Familiarise yourself with the Behavioural Insights Team, its way of working and its clients.
Learn the Behavioural Insights Team's Research processes and practices.
-    Develop your expertise in econometrics, statistics and randomised controlled trial design.
-    Work with colleagues to develop and run randomised controlled trials across the policy spectrum.
-    Design and develop trials under the supervision of a more senior researcher.

Phase 2: Development (6-12) In this phase you will:
Continue to design and implement trials in collaboration with senior members of the team and policy colleagues
Begin to take the lead on designing trials Experience:

Essential:
A good degree (2:1 or higher) in a relevant subject (such as economics and psychology), including significant statistics and econometrics, ideally at postgraduate level
Good working knowledge of Stata or SPSS (this will be tested)
Ability to manage a workload of several projects and to deliver to a high standard on deadline
Ability to work collaboratively, with a range of stakeholders in delivery, policy and academic fields
An excellent understanding of the behavioural science literature A good, intuitive understanding in econometrics or statistics
The ability to communicate complex topics to a large audience clearly and effectively
Experience conducting original research, either using large datasets or conducting experiments in the lab or field (for example as a research assistant or as part of study)
Excellent communication skills, including ability to communicate to non¬technical and policy audiences

Desirable:
A Masters Degree or significant research experience in a relevant subject area, including, but not limited to:
o    Economics
o    Behavioural Economics
o    Psychology
o    Econometrics
o    Anthropology
Experience of running Randomised Control Trials and familiarity with other evaluation methods routinely used in field experiments
Experience working with large datasets
Candidates should apply by submitting a CV and a one page cover letter outlining their suitability for the role. This should be sent to biL.job.A@tic,ihaviu,.dlinz,,ghts.k..—.Jk by Midnight on 25" August 2014.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: Candidates must have pre-existing right to work in the UK. We will not be able to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this role.

Terms:
Salary: c£30,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience 25 days leave per year, plus public holidays

Generous pension and other benefits

U.S. Social Security Administration - Social Science Research Analyst

Job Title:Social Science Reseach Analyst
Agency:Social Security Administration
Hiring Organization:Office of Retirement and Disability Policy/Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
Job Announcement Number:SH1180208
SALARY RANGE:    $75,621.00 to $116,901.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:    Friday, August 1, 2014 to Tuesday, August 5, 2014
SERIES & GRADE:    GS-0101-12/13
POSITION INFORMATION:    Full Time - Permanent
DUTY LOCATIONS:    1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington DC, DC View Map
WHO MAY APPLY:    United States Citizens
SECURITY CLEARANCE:    Not Applicable
SUPERVISORY STATUS:    No
JOB SUMMARY:
Do you have a desire to:

help SSA manage its Social Security programs?
analyze and solve problems?
help and advise millions of retired and disabled individuals?
work on a team to make a difference in people's lives and your own?
Join SSA, one of the top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!

The employee conducts in-depth public policy analysis and manages projects and studies in support of major policy proposals and options.

NOTE: Your resume must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. If your application materials do not demonstrate the competencies and experience needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

This position is located in Washington DC.

Important: One (1) position will be filled between the GS-12 and GS-13 level.

TRAVEL REQUIRED
Not Required
RELOCATION AUTHORIZED
No
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizenship Required.
Selective Service Registration, if applicable.
Background and/or Security Investigation Required.
Selectees are required to serve a 1 year probationary period.
Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the closing date.
DUTIES:
Back to top
Provides in-depth analysis on policy issues and produces concise policy papers to customers that include Agency executives, the Social Security Advisory Board and external policymakers. 
Prepares position papers and reports and presents analyses of issues for higher-level officials.
Performs quantitative and qualitative analysis of complex and sensitive policy issues and problems in a timely manner. 
Solicits input from other internal components and external experts when necessary. 
Presents information and findings in analytical papers or provides input into reports and papers.
Synthesizes complex and detailed research findings and other background information on policy issues and evaluates the overall impact of such issues on the immediate, foreseeable and long-range interest of the Agency.
Serves as a representative on intercomponent task forces and workgroups, internally and externally.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Back to top

To qualify for this position at any grade level, applicants must possess one of the following:

A degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education; OR
A combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field; OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants must qualify for the posted grade level(s).

To qualify for the GS-12, applicants must also possess one of the following:

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a behavioral or social science. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education; OR
52 weeks of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or above. Specialized experience for this grade level is characterized by participation, with minimal supervision, in research and analysis of recent topics in a behavioral or social science. Also includes performing quantitative and qualitative analysis of policy issues using appropriate research methodology; OR
A combination of graduate level coursework and specialized experience (as described above) which equals 100% of the total requirements for this grade level. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education.
To qualify for the GS-13, applicants must have 52 weeks of experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this grade level is characterized by conducting economic and social survey research, leading broad studies, and making recommendations regarding research proposals, plans and policy. Also includes performing quantitative and qualitative analysis of policy issues using appropriate research methodology.

In addition to qualifying for the position and posted grade levels, applicants for the GS-12 must meet the following Selective Placement Factor: Skill in analyzing behavioral and psychological concepts related to individual judgment and decision-making, including the effects of choice architecture and hyperbolic discounting. To demonstrate this skill, applicants must have 2 out of the following 3 experience indicators:

Experience analyzing the effects of choice architecture and hyperbolic discounting on individual judgment and decision-making.
Experience applying concepts from the field of behavioral psychology to examine the decision-making process.
Experience effectively relating your own judgment and decision-making research methods to the previous work of others.
 

In addition to qualifying for the position and posted grade levels, applicants for the GS-13 must meet both of the following Selective Placement Factors:

1. Skill in analyzing behavioral and psychological concepts related to individual judgment and decision-making, including the effects of choice architecture and hyperbolic discounting.To demonstrate this skill, applicants must have 2 out of the following 3 experience indicators:

Experience analyzing the effects of choice architecture and hyperbolic discounting on individual judgment and decision-making.
Experience applying concepts from the field of behavioral psychology to examine the decision-making process.
Experience effectively relating your own judgment and decision-making research methods to the previous work of others.
2. Ability to translate detailed research findings into practical recommendations for modifying policies and procedures. To demonstrate this skill, applicants must have 2 out of the following 3 experience indicators:

Experience summarizing complex social science research for decision-makers.
Experience identifying the practical implications of social science research and applying these findings to help clients achieve particular goals.
Experience reviewing policies and procedures and making recommendations for modifications based on your knowledge of social science research topics.
NOTE: Your resume must specifically address the experiences needed for each selective placement factor. This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official.