15392 - Head of Behavioural Science
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 05 Mawrth 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £71,381 i £85,257 bob blwyddyn |
| Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog: | The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 22 Mawrth 2026 |
| Lleoliad: | UK |
| Gweithio o bell: | Hybrid - gweithio o bell hyd at 3 ddiwrnod yr wythnos |
| Cwmni: | Ministry of Justice |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | 15392 |
Crynodeb
Head of Behavioural Science
Location: National*
Closing Date: 22/03/2026
Interviews: week commencing 6th March 2026 (this may be subject to change)
Grade 6
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)
Salary:
National £71,381 - £80,419
London £75,674 - £85,257
Working pattern: Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share
Contract Type: Permanent
Vacancy number: 15392
*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP
The Role
We’re recruiting for a Head of Behavioural Science here at Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Science Office.
Providing high-quality scientific advice and evidence is a core function of the Ministry of Justice Science Office. The Head of Behavioural Science plays a senior leadership role in ensuring that behavioural science is applied effectively, ethically and proportionately across the department.
This role leads the department’s behavioural science capability and shapes how behavioural science is understood, governed and deployed across policy and operational delivery. The postholder will ensure that behavioural science contributes demonstrable value, is grounded in robust evidence and evaluation, and is applied appropriately in complex justice contexts, including high-stakes and coercive environments and those involving vulnerable populations.
There are significant opportunities for behavioural science across the justice system, aligned to outcomes including protecting the public, reducing reoffending and ensuring access to justice. The postholder will provide professional leadership to ensure behavioural science interventions are credible, scalable and effective in real-world settings, and that limitations and risks are clearly understood by decision-makers.
The MoJ Science Office sits within the Data Directorate, and is led by MoJ Chief Scientific Advisor. We are the MoJ's centre of expertise for science, R&D strategy, foresight and emerging technology, ensuring that decision making across the justice system is informed by robust evidence, scientific thinking, and forward-looking insight. Our work brings together futures and horizon scanning, deep-subject specialism in natural and behavioural sciences, and the responsible application of new and emerging technologies to address current challenges and support long term, strategic decision making.
As a team we are collaborative, outward facing, and impact driven. We operate as an open innovation unit working closely with other government departments, the Government Office for Science, regulators, academics and industry partners to bring fresh thinking and robust insight into the heart of MoJ.
Key Responsibilities:
If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!
Benefits
● 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
● A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms
● Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow
● Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)
● 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings’ birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.
● Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!
● Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.
● Nurturing professional and interpersonal networks including those for Carers & Childcare, Gender Equality, PROUD and SPIRIT
● Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)
● Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
● 5 days volunteering paid leave.
● Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.
Person Specification
Essential
Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC.
We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.
Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
Location: National*
Closing Date: 22/03/2026
Interviews: week commencing 6th March 2026 (this may be subject to change)
Grade 6
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)
Salary:
National £71,381 - £80,419
London £75,674 - £85,257
Working pattern: Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share
Contract Type: Permanent
Vacancy number: 15392
*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP
The Role
We’re recruiting for a Head of Behavioural Science here at Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Science Office.
Providing high-quality scientific advice and evidence is a core function of the Ministry of Justice Science Office. The Head of Behavioural Science plays a senior leadership role in ensuring that behavioural science is applied effectively, ethically and proportionately across the department.
This role leads the department’s behavioural science capability and shapes how behavioural science is understood, governed and deployed across policy and operational delivery. The postholder will ensure that behavioural science contributes demonstrable value, is grounded in robust evidence and evaluation, and is applied appropriately in complex justice contexts, including high-stakes and coercive environments and those involving vulnerable populations.
There are significant opportunities for behavioural science across the justice system, aligned to outcomes including protecting the public, reducing reoffending and ensuring access to justice. The postholder will provide professional leadership to ensure behavioural science interventions are credible, scalable and effective in real-world settings, and that limitations and risks are clearly understood by decision-makers.
The MoJ Science Office sits within the Data Directorate, and is led by MoJ Chief Scientific Advisor. We are the MoJ's centre of expertise for science, R&D strategy, foresight and emerging technology, ensuring that decision making across the justice system is informed by robust evidence, scientific thinking, and forward-looking insight. Our work brings together futures and horizon scanning, deep-subject specialism in natural and behavioural sciences, and the responsible application of new and emerging technologies to address current challenges and support long term, strategic decision making.
As a team we are collaborative, outward facing, and impact driven. We operate as an open innovation unit working closely with other government departments, the Government Office for Science, regulators, academics and industry partners to bring fresh thinking and robust insight into the heart of MoJ.
Key Responsibilities:
If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!
Benefits
● 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
● A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms
● Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow
● Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)
● 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings’ birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.
● Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!
● Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.
● Nurturing professional and interpersonal networks including those for Carers & Childcare, Gender Equality, PROUD and SPIRIT
● Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)
● Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
● 5 days volunteering paid leave.
● Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.
Person Specification
Essential
Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC.
We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.
Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.