Behavioral Insights Expert- Contract

The Behavioral Insights SME will support in the establishment, operationalization, and long-term sustainability of the Behavioral Insights (BI) Unit with the ability to provide expert advice and hands-on contribution to establish a self-sustaining Behavioral Insights Unit, and an internally capable team able to independently lead and deliver Behavioral Insights projects.

Responsibilities:

• BI Unit Establishment: Lead and support the establishment and scaling of the Behavioral Insights Unit, including defining its structure, operating model, methodologies, processes, and ways of working, with a focus on embedding the function effectively within a government/public-sector environment.
• Governance & Operating Model: Developing the BI function's operating model, governance framework, SOPs, project prioritization criteria, ethical standards, templates, toolkits, and quality-assurance processes.
• Behavioral Diagnosis & Intervention Design: To identify behavioral barriers, drivers, biases, and contextual factors and translate findings into practical, evidence-based behavioral interventions.
• Research & Experimentation: Design and lead qualitative and quantitative behavioral research, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, RCTs, A/B testing, quasi-experimental approaches, and other appropriate testing methodologies.
• Measurement & Evaluation: Establish behavioral KPIs, measurement frameworks, and evaluation approaches to assess the effectiveness and impact of interventions and determine opportunities for scaling.
• Application Across Government: Embed behavioral insights into policies, programs, services, communications, campaigns, and digital journeys, particularly within government or citizen-facing environments where needed.
• Knowledge Transfer & Capability Building: Build internal BI capability and transferring technical knowledge to teams through structured training, workshops, coaching, shadowing, and hands-on project delivery. Develop practical toolkits, templates, playbooks, guidance materials, and knowledge repositories that enable the BI team to independently apply behavioral science methodologies.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial applied experience in behavioral insights/science.
• Master's degree or PhD preferred in Behavioral Science, Behavioral Economics, Psychology, Economics or other relevant discipline.
• UAE/GCC government experience would be an advantage.
• Arabic language capability would be an advantage, although strong technical Behavioral Insights expertise should remain the priority.

Required Skills:

• Behavioral Science Expertise: Proven experience delivering behavioral projects through the full lifecycle: diagnosis → intervention design → testing → evaluation → scaling. Previous experience establishing or strengthening a BI function/unit related to the social sector or citizen-focused behavioral challenges.
• Stakeholder & Partner Management: Experience working with government stakeholders, research agencies, academia, behavioral science partners, and consultants, including reviewing methodologies and ensuring the quality and rigor of externally delivered work.
• Strong analytical, research, facilitation, stakeholder-management, and communication skills.
• Experience in social policy, family, community development, wellbeing, or citizen-focused behavioral challenges would be highly desirable.