Behavioural Scientist

About the agency

The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is a small agency that was established in 2013 to oversee national actions to improve asbestos awareness and the effective and safe management, removal, and disposal of asbestos. This involved coordinating the implementation of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan.

In December 2023, the agency’s functions were expanded to include silica through the Amendment of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013. The agency’s name changed to the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.

Our role is to assist in the prevention of exposure to asbestos fibres and respirable crystalline silica, to eliminate asbestos and silica related disease in Australia and the devasting impacts they create. We do this by coordinating the implementation of the national strategic plans for asbestos and silica. In doing so we are fortunate to work alongside other government agencies, employee and employer representatives, technical experts, the research community, impacted families, and partners, all motivated by the same outcome.

We are a non-corporate entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). Our Chief Executive Officer is appointed under the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 (the Act) and performs functions in accordance with that Act.

About the role

The Behavioural Scientist reports directly to Director, Research, Evaluation and Data. The role will focus on applying behavioural insights to enable public policy and program effectiveness, with a particular emphasis on preventative health related initiatives and sustained behaviour change.

The Behavioural Scientist will manage the development and implementation of the Agency’s behavioural insights strategy to enable behaviour change aligned to the Agency’s goals to eliminate asbestos- and silica dust-related diseases. The Behavioural Scientist will also provide insights and analysis that informs ASSEA’s policy and operational decisions. The role requires an innovative and strategic thinker who can manage complex stakeholder relations, deliver outcomes in both work and community environments, and develop programs that will result in sustained behaviour change in professional practice and in the community.

Relevant tertiary qualifications, and experience aligned to the functions is highly desirable, along with knowledge and familiarity of leading relevant technical, legislative, and APS policy requirements to develop advice and prepare complex reports and briefs.

The key responsibilities for the position include:

• Manage the development, implementation and evaluation of the Agency’s behavioural insights strategy and action plans. 
• Design and conduct behavioural research studies in consultation with other agency teams and external groups to inform awareness raising campaigns, policy, and practice in asbestos and silica safety.
• Develop, implement, and test behavioural interventions and materials aligned to the agency’s functions and the priorities of both the Asbestos National Strategic Plan and the Silica National Strategic Plan.
• Analyse complex data sets and translate findings into actionable insights, ensuring dissemination in spaces of greatest influence.
• Support and mentor colleagues developing programs and projects designed to effect behaviour change.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including other government departments, academic institutions, and partners
• Prepare reports and presentations for ASSEA’s leadership team and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate behavioural science principles into ASSEA’s programs and evaluate the impact of behavioural interventions.
• Guide the currency of ASSEA’s behavioural insights knowledge and capabilities through participation in professional bodies, forums, and stakeholder engagement including the ongoing up-skill approach for the ASSEA team.
• Identify emerging behavioural insights, issues, and opportunities through ongoing engagement with peer-reviewed and other research, and provide timely information and advice to ASSEA’s leadership team via business cases, submissions, parliamentary documents, Ministerial and agency briefs, and other high level corporate documents.
• Demonstrate flexibility and a commitment to organisational cohesion by undertaking other duties as directed.
• Advanced knowledge of behavioural science and behavioural insights, with an understanding of their application to public policy an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering behavioural insights through large-scale projects across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience implementing user-centred design strategies.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, Stata).
• Demonstrated experience in survey design, implementation, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellence in project management and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to diverse audiences.
• Adaptability and innovative thinking in applying behavioural insights to various policy areas.
• Ability to adapt across a number of programs aligned to the agency’s functions.

Skills and capabilities

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment with ASSEA, you must be an Australian citizen, and you will be required to successfully undergo a police record check.

The successful applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Baseline level security clearance or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.

Recruit Ability applies to this vacancy. Under the Recruit Ability scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability