Senior Behavioral Scientist, Gov

About the role

Transform how the world’s leading companies invest in their people. At BetterUp, we’re building a new kind of partnership with our customers — one that doesn’t stop at platform adoption. We’re in the business of deep, lasting transformation. That’s where you come in.

Responsibilities

• Measurement & Value Architecture
  • Measure and own the end-to-end measurement strategy aligned to each agency's purchased solution and stated business outcomes.
  • Translate solution capabilities into defensible success metrics, KPIs, and leading indicators of impact.
  • Ensure measurement frameworks are statistically sound, scalable, and aligned to agency decision-making.
  • Create rigorous ROI models and business cases that quantify the financial and organizational impact of the solution.
  • Partner with Sales and Enterprise teams to embed impact narratives into deal strategy and late-stage sales motions.
  • Produce executive-ready materials that directly support deal expansion, renewal, and upsell conversations.
• Advanced Analytics & Insight Generation
  • Lead advanced data analysis to identify meaningful patterns, causal signals, and outcome drivers across agency datasets.
  • Move beyond descriptive analytics to generate insights that explain why outcomes are occurring and what to do next.
  • Validate findings against scientific standards to ensure credibility and repeatability.
• Data Storytelling & Executive Communication
  • Develop high-impact data narratives that translate complex analyses into clear, compelling executive insights.
  • Create and deliver Business Value Reviews that demonstrate measurable value realization.
  • Influence senior agency stakeholders by connecting data to strategic priorities and operational decisions.
• Client Value Realization & Retention
  • Act as a core partner in ensuring agencies achieve and recognize value from their investment.
  • Proactively surface risks to value realization and recommend evidence-based course corrections.
  • Strengthen client trust and long-term partnerships through credible, outcome-focused storytelling.
• Scientific Integrity & Governance
  • Serve as the internal authority responsible for upholding the scientific rigor, validity, and ethical standards of all measurement and analytics work.
  • Safeguard the credibility of the company’s science in both client-facing and internal contexts.
  • Bring pattern recognition, coaching mindset, and a high bar for strategic execution to every engagement.

Requirements

• PhD with 7+ years of experience in behavioral science or a related field (e.g., business, organizational leadership).
• Domain expertise in behavioral science AND HR (especially Talent Development or Talent Management, L&D, & OD).
• Facilitation and presentation skills, experience presenting to large audiences and executives both virtually and in person.
• Experience researching and understanding businesses including business strategy, identifying business challenges, and applying business acumen.
• Strengths in verbal and written communication, building and delivering presentations, and storytelling.
• Expertise and comfort working with quantitative and qualitative data (basic statistics, examining patterns, developing recommendations based on data).
• Agility and comfort with ambiguity to adapt and adjust to the market, the state of the organization and quickly shifting priorities.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to craft and deliver a narrative that moves hearts and minds.
• Comfort with ambiguity, a bias for action, and a drive to make things better, not just get them done.

Qualifications

• Experience operating inside high-growth SaaS, human transformation platforms, or people tech companies is a plus.
• Experience working with federal clients (e.g., federal consulting) or in public sector/federal agencies is strongly preferred, but not required.
• A mindset rooted in outcomes, ownership, and long-term impact.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience with data analysis and interpretation.
• Knowledge of behavioral science principles.

Benefits

• Access to BetterUp coaching; one for you and one for a friend or family member.
• Competitive compensation plan with opportunity for advancement.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible paid time off.
• All federal/statutory holidays observed.
• 4 BetterUp Inner Workdays.
• 5 Volunteer Days to give back.
• Learning and Development stipend.
• Company wide Summer & Winter breaks.
• Year-round charitable contribution of your choice on behalf of BetterUp.
• 401(k) self contribution.

Pay

The Base Salary Range For This Role Is $184,000 – $230,000: New York City and San Francisco $165,600 – $207,000: All other Hub Offices

Schedule

Hybrid with a focus on in-person collaboration when necessary. Employees are expected to be available to work from one of our office hubs at least two days per week. Our hub locations include: Austin, TX; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL San Francisco, CA; and the Washington, DC metro area.