Senior Behavioural Advisor

Clerk Grade: 9/10

Annual Salary Range : $129,464 - $142,665 plus superannuation

Employment Type: Temporary (up to 12 months), Full-time

Location: McKell Building - Haymarket, Sydney / Hybrid

Two great opportunities in one application - Temporary Role and Talent Pool Creation

This job ad serves two purposes: filling a current role and building a future talent pool.

1. Immediate Opportunity: To fill a temporary full-time position (12 months) working with First Nations' stakeholders across the community and justice sectors.
2. Talent Pool Creation: To establish a talent pool for future recruitment within the Behavioural Insights Unit to work across all projects. Applicants who are assessed as suitable may be considered for a range of similar roles-temporary, term, or ongoing-over the next 18 months. Being placed in the talent pool means you may be contacted as relevant opportunities arise.

Who we're looking for?

• Are you passionate about improving public services by applying your knowledge and experience in behavioural insights, behavioural science or behavioural economics?
• Do you have experience leading projects that create evidence to support change in service design or delivery and better outcomes for people?
• Do you have experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders within the justice, social or community sectors?

The award-winning NSW Behavioural Insights Unit are looking for you!

The NSW Behavioural Insights Unit uses the latest behavioural science research about how people think and act to help NSW Government agencies deliver better services. We work in partnership across government, applying and testing insights, supporting implementation, and growing capability through our relationships. We conduct randomised controlled trials, design impact evaluations, develop new sludge-busting tools, turn data into evidence and champion the voices of customers in co-design. Our work is driven by a commitment to evidence, ethics and empathy, with the customer and their needs at the heart of everything we do.

To learn more about what we do, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/behavioural-insights-unit

Your role

Your role is to manage projects, leading and conducting the research, design and implementation of behavioural interventions and supporting their evaluation. You will work closely with government partners to understand their challenges and build their capability and confidence in applying tools, evidence and advice from behavioural science.

Although no two days will be the same, you will be responsible for:

• Liaising closely with project partners to understand how the Behavioural Insights Unit can assist with the challenges, issues and experiences identified by diverse service users, frontline workers and policy makers. This will include engaging with First Nations' stakeholders and communities within the community and justice sectors
• Designing, managing and conducting qualitative or quantitative research as the foundation for evidence-based understanding, advice and impact
• Leading the design of behavioural interventions including preparing theories of change, applying behavioural change frameworks, enabling participant codesign, assessing intervention options, and managing risks
• Conducting effective project planning and project delivery using project plans and routines, balancing concurrent tasks and adapting to project challenges
• Learning about and then adhering to rigorous research, design and evaluation protocols to ensure our approach is ethical, our results are robust, and our work puts people first
• Bringing interventions and advice to life by reviewing and creating compelling, share-worthy visualizations, reports or stories you present and share with team members, agencies, decision makers, or the public
• Learning from and collaborating with team members and partners in an environment of curiosity and mutual support

By working with us you will share each day with teammates who love learning, care deeply and bring themselves (and their fun) to work. In supporting our team, you will build your experience as a Senior Advisor who has a track record of leading novel behavioural projects, turns research into real world impact and supports team members to grow and deliver.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

What we need from you

Review the role description and apply by submitting:

• An up-to-date resume (no more than 5 pages) - this should highlight experience relevant to the above role responsibilities and role description; and
• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below:

1. Please describe your experience applying behavioural science or evaluation expertise to improve policy or service outcomes. How have you supported changes in service design or delivery to achieve better outcomes for customers or communities?
2. This role will include working on projects that engage a diverse range of stakeholders in the community and justice sector. Describe your experience (giving examples) engaging with diverse stakeholders, including your approach building effective partnerships and how you ensure respectful and inclusive collaboration?

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply - you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

Salary Grade 9/10, with the base salary for this role starting at $129,464 base plus superannuation

Click Here to access the Role Description.

For enquiries relating to recruitment please contact Meg Rapley via [email protected].

Visit the Capability Application Tool to prepare for the recruitment process by accessing practice application and interview questions based on the focus capabilities listed in the role description.

Closing Date: Monday 3 November 2025 at 9:59am

Careers at Department of Customer Service
A career at the Department of Customer Service (DCS) gives you the opportunity to help improve government services and be part of reform that benefits people across NSW. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service, digital transformation, and regulatory reform. Come join us and influence the future of our great state.

Belong in our diverse and inclusive workplace

The strength of our workforce lies in its diversity and embracing difference, while the key to our success is leveraging the contributions of employees with different backgrounds and perspectives.

You can view our full diversity and inclusion statement here.

We want you to bring your best self to this application process. If you have any support or access needs that may require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in this selection process (including an alternate format of the application form) please contact [email protected] or 02 9494 8351.

For more information, please visit

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Information on adjustments available for the recruitment process