Senior Behavioral Scientist, Nudge Unit & Behavioral Insights

Ready to help us transform healthcare? Bring your true colors to blue. 

Reporting to the Director, Nudge Unit & Behavioral Insights, the Senior Behavioral Scientist, Nudge Unit & Behavioral Insights, will support the company’s efforts to apply behavioral insights (i.e., “nudges” and other behavioral insights techniques) to improve the decisions, experiences, and health of BCBSMA’s members, network providers, and employees. All nudge unit activities will further BCBSMA’s strategic pillars: quality, equity, affordability, and consumer experience.

In May 2020, BCBSMA formed an internal Nudge Unit, led by its Performance Measurement and Improvement (PMI) division, and assisted by consultants and selected academics. Early goals have included helping key operational units (e.g., medical management, member and provider communications, contracting and network management) recognize opportunities to apply behavioral insights to improve member and provider decision making, developing behavioral insights-informed versions of submitted interventions (or developing new interventions where none had existed before), and deploying these interventions to maximize their evaluability and value to the health plan and its members.

Since its inception, the BCBSMA Nudge Unit has deployed over 100 behavioral insights-informed interventions, preferring randomized deployments to maximize evaluability. These interventions have included efforts to improve guideline-concordant screening uptake, medication use, laboratory testing, and provider billing patterns. Intervention channels include unidirectional communications (e.g., letters, emails, text messages, faxes) and more complex choice architecture (e.g., BCBSMA’s member app, which has more than 1 million users).

The Senior Behavioral Scientist will oversee complex projects from concept through implementation, mentor and coach junior team members, and contribute to strategic efforts. This position is ideal for an experienced behavioral scientist who combines strong analytical and research skills with excellent relationship-building, project leadership, and strategic thinking.

This position is open to candidates based in Massachusetts as well as remote, US-based candidates.

Your Day to Day:

• Lead the design, implementation, and delivery of behavioral science projects across a diverse portfolio of work.

• Serve as a technical lead on projects, ensuring the quality, rigor, and practical application of behavioral science methods and recommendations.

• Develop high-quality reports, proposals, presentations, and other deliverables.

• Guide research design, literature reviews, data analysis, and evaluation activities, ensuring findings are translated into actionable insights.

• Coach and mentor other internal Nudge Unit staff, providing guidance on project execution, professional development, and technical approaches.

• Collaborate with the Director to shape the team's strategic priorities and identify opportunities to expand the organization's behavioral science work.

• Support coalition-building efforts by engaging diverse stakeholders and helping align partners around shared goals and evidence-based solutions.

• Oversee project timelines, and deliverables, ensuring high-quality work is completed on schedule.

• Stay informed of emerging research and best practices and identify opportunities to incorporate new evidence and innovative approaches into the organization's work.

What We’re Looking For:

• Demonstrated expertise in applying behavioral science principles to real-world challenges.

• Significant experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects from design through implementation.

• Strong knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and program evaluation.

• Experience mentoring or supervising colleagues and supporting professional development.

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders across sectors.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a collaborative environment.

• Knowledge of US health care industry and external environment preferred.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s or PhD Degree in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Economics, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field strongly preferred.

• At least eight years of relevant professional experience in behavioral science, applied research, program evaluation, consulting, or a related field.

Minimum Education Requirements:

High school degree or equivalent required unless otherwise noted above

Location

Boston

Time Type

Full time

Salary Range: $122,490.00 - $149,710.00

The job posting range is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future.  An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs and affordability.

This job is also eligible for variable pay.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and a suite of well-being benefits to eligible employees.

Note:  No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

WHY Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA?

We understand that the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can  prevent  amazing candidates coming our way, so please don’t hesitate to apply. We’d love to hear from you. You might be just what we need for this role or possibly another one at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be brilliant. We encourage you to bring us your true colors, , your perspectives, and your experiences. It’s in our differences that we will remain relentless in our pursuit to transform healthcare for ALL.

As an employer, we are committed to investing in your development and providing the necessary resources to enable your success. Learn how we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and rewarding workplace that promotes excellence and provides opportunities for employees to forge their unique career path by visiting our Company Culture page. If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you. You can also join our Talent Community to stay “in the know” on all things Blue.

At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we believe in wellness and that work/life balance is a key part of associate wellbeing. For more information on how we work and support that work/life balance visit our "How We Work" Page.