Lead Behavioral Advisor (Remote)
National Association of State Workforce Agencies
The Lead Behavioral Advisor will provide behavioral insights subject matter expertise and project support to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs).
Background on NASWA
The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) is the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C., and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, and business services, in addition to administering unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment, and labor market information programs. NASWA provides policy expertise, shares promising state practices, and promotes state innovation and leadership in workforce development.
The purpose of the Behavioral Insights (BI) project, which is situated within the NASWA Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity Center (Center), is to:
- Promote behavioral insights as a framework to help UI agencies address program problems driven by behaviors, and
- Support states in using behavioral insights principles, methods, and strategies to improve UI integrity and address emergent challenges in the program.
Overview of Position
The Lead Behavioral Advisor will provide behavioral insights subject matter expertise and project support to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). Support to states may range from qualitative research, to reviewing and providing recommendations or revisions of communications, processes, and systems, to behavioral diagnosis and intervention design. The Lead Behavioral Advisor also will provide project oversight and behavioral insights quality assurance as the NASWA Project Lead, both on projects supported by behavioral insights contractors and those directly executed by NASWA BI team members. This position also will manage an individual or team of individuals supporting this work.
Working closely with the Behavioral Insights Project Director, the Lead Behavioral Advisor will play an active role in strategic planning and business development for the NASWA BI unit, helping to shape overall project direction and its future. The Lead Behavioral Advisor will also 2 help to plan, curate, and/or develop new content for the Behavioral Insights Toolkit and provide subject matter expertise for the Behavioral Insights Curriculum and other possible emergent initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the Behavioral Insights Project Director, the BI staff, and other NASWA colleagues in supporting states’ behavioral projects, participating in planning and brainstorming meetings, providing project oversight, and conducting quality control reviews of Contractor deliverables.
- Provide behavioral subject matter expertise and technical support for NASWA and/or SWA staff for short-term (e.g., guidance offered in a single email or single meeting) and long-term (e.g., state projects, curriculum development) efforts.
- When projects demand, conduct desk-based and qualitative research, diagnose behavioral problems, design interventions, develop implementation and evaluation plans, and oversee the execution of behavioral trials in the field.
- Collaborate with the Behavioral Insights Project Director on:
- Project strategic planning, researching and suggesting ideas for ways to better serve SWAs and to expand the educational and resource offerings and the use of behavioral insights in SWAs,
- Acting as a sounding board on emergent challenges, and
- Building NASWA BI’s Business Development strategy.
- Assist in the planning, curation, and development (research and writing) of relevant resources for the Behavioral Insights Toolkit to ensure that it effectively serves its community/ies of users and stays fresh and relevant. Participate in BI Toolkit platform design and enhancement discussions with the Knowledge team.
- Develop and deliver virtual and in-person presentations on behavioral insights for SWA audiences, communicating key behavioral concepts in a way that is easy to understand and promoting behavioral insights as a solution for program challenges.
- Supervise one or more individuals who are part of the NASWA BI unit.
- Provide administrative support for projects, including behavioral SME assistance with developing project Scopes of Work, project budget estimates, Task Order Requests, proposal reviews, contracts, and vendor support and management.
Education
Required
- Bachelor’s degree, plus 5 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years designing and executing behavioral trials in a real-world environment. Degree(s) must have been earned from an accredited institution, with primary coursework in behavioral insights, behavioral science, behavioral or experimental economics, psychology, statistics, or related discipline.
Preferred
- Master’s degree, plus 3 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years designing and executing behavioral trials in a real-world environment.
Competencies
Required
- Solid expertise in applied behavioral insights and evaluative methodologies and how they can help solve complex problems in government programs.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey meaning and relevance of concepts clearly and concisely to non-expert audiences.
- Demonstrated skills in conducting both desk-based and field research.
- Demonstrated skills in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.
- Demonstrated ability to manage work on multiple projects at a time.
Experience
Required
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience designing and executing behavioral trials in a real-world environment (i.e., must have industry/work experience in applied behavioral insights).
Preferred
- Prior work experience in using behavioral insights with government programs.
- Prior work experience developing or executing business development strategies.
- Prior experience in planning, organizing, developing, and conducting focus groups, surveys, MTURK, and/or user/customer interviews.
- Prior work experience with user experience and/or usability testing.
- Prior experience with project oversight, developing scopes of work, project plans and providing project leadership.
- Knowledge of and experience with using plain language approaches in writing and revising communications.
- Prior experience (academic and/or applied) with human-centered design.
- Prior supervisory experience.
Personal Qualities
- Uphold NASWA’s organizational values of integrity, diversity, flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and customer focus in approach to work.
- Work well independently and as a member of a team. As part of a small team, the successful candidate will need to be reliable, collaborative, and willing to take responsibility for elements of projects, meetings, and daily routines.
- Shares knowledge, skill, and expertise with others, recognizes and addresses coaching opportunities with staff. Encourages and reinforces individual and professional development.
- Flexible and adaptable to manage work in a sometimes-ambiguous and often-dynamic environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills, respectful and professional demeanor toward colleagues, members of the Association, callers, stakeholders, and vendors.
- Ability to develop collaborative partnerships with colleagues throughout the organization, contractors/vendors, state and federal partners, and stakeholders.
- Effective time and task management skills, paying close attention to detail and keeping errors to a minimum.
Job Details
Location: Remote position
Reports to:Director, Behavioral Insights
Position Type: Full-time
Salary Range: $115,000 – $130,000 per year, commensurate with experience
Benefits: NASWA offers competitive benefits including an exceptional health care package, 401(k), educational assistance, remote work stipend, plentiful time off, and other great options.
Travel Requirements: Minimal travel will be required around the country for conferences, meetings, or trainings.
How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume demonstrating experience meeting the job requirements and responsibilities to recruiting@naswa.org no later than December 30, 2024.
