Behavioural Scientist at MECS (Pty) Ltd

• My client is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced candidate to fill the role of Senior Specialist in Behavioural Economics.
• It is essential to have quantitative, big data experience and to have worked within a large organisation.
• The main purpose of the role is to lead the development of behavioural insights Unit to understand why people behave the way they do, how they make decisions and how they can be motivated or nudged to "do the right thing".

Education required:

• Relevant Master’s degree in Mathematics, Behavioural Economics, Economic Psychology, Economics, and Computer Science, Quantitative Social Science, Decision science, Data Science or related field with a strong emphasis on sophisticated mathematical algorithm design, AI and Machine Learning,
• 10-12 years' experience in a behavioural economics environment of a large  public or private organisation, of which 3 – 4 years at specialist level.
• OR
• Relevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Mathematics, Behavioural Economics, Economic Psychology, Economics, and Computer Science, Quantitative Social Science, Decision science, Data Science or related field
• AND 12 - 15 years’ experience in a behavioural economics environment of a commercial entity with a national footprint.

Responsibilities include:

• Use evaluative frameworks, behavioural experimentation methodologies, theory construction and model building skills to facilitate evidence-based product and design decisions.
• Design, launch, and analyses experiments to uncover user needs & behaviour with a cross functional team consisting of user researchers, data scientists, product managers, designers, and engineers.
• Deliver fresh, business relevant insights that are brought to life through engaging storytelling in continuous dialogue, presentations, and workshops. Contribute actively to company-wide research practice and community.
• Lead and execute complex multi-stream research design projects for products and experiences independently and as part of a team.
• Collect, analyse, and synthesize responses through surveys, benchmark studies, and online experiments
• Provide additional perspective on qualitative findings in lab studies, field visits, and ethnography.
• Lead in the development of a Behavioural Economics Laboratory
• Embedding Behavioural Economic principles in various company operations
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions to compliance and revenue collection
• Develop behavioural, systems and process models
•  Maximise the use of technology, AI and Machine learning for impactful solutions
• Review of communication messages to identify and amend in order to include Behavioural Economic principles
• Influence/drive implementation of behavioural economic recommendations
• Develop unit’s governance documents
• Develop and implement the unit’s short- and long-term strategic plan
• Development of Capacity and resources planning
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies, and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks, supporting tactical development and excellence.
• Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure on-boarding of new thinking.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse & produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies & inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy development and optimisation of practises, processes & systems across an internal value chain.
• Collaborate with stakeholders in the field at national and international level.
• Disseminate behavioural change insights and outcome to promote knowledge sharing within the organisation, locally and internationally.