A BIT of Behavioral Science Internship Program

• Full-time, paid internship

• Compensation: $850/week

• Duration: 8-10 weeks between June and August 2023

• Location: US-based. Remote, CST and EST time zones. Optional to be based in our Brooklyn or DC office, but we cannot offer relocation assistance at this time. 

• US work authorization is required.

About the job

Passionate about behavioral science, public policy, or evaluation? Looking for practical summer experience at a successful organization dedicated to creating social impact? If so, we want to hear from you.

The Behavioral Insights Team (BIT) is a global leader in using behavioral science research to design services, policies, and interventions that improve people’s lives. Established by the UK Government in 2010, BIT is the original “Nudge Unit.” Today, we are a social purpose consulting firm with over 250 employees and offices around the world. 

Our expert team partners with all levels of government, nonprofits, and the private sector to reach their goals across a wide range of areas—from health and education to sustainability. For example, we have helped tuberculosis patients take their medicine, helped organizations narrow their gender pay gap, and more. We design complex interventions, run mixed-methods evaluations, develop and inform policy, and help organizations build their capacity to use behavioral science and evidence. 

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to bring their unique talents to our team. At BIT, we believe that behavior change is an important lever of social change, and we need people from all walks of life to help us achieve it. By leveraging diverse experiences, backgrounds and insights, we aim to create better and more equitable outcomes for our team, our clients, and the people at the center of our work. Inclusion and diversity are areas we’re committed to and always growing in — and we’d love to have you join us.

What will a Summer Intern do? 

Your daily tasks may include a combination of:

• Intervention development:  applying behavioral science concepts to communications, processes, programs, and policies

• Capacity-building: helping deliver trainings, developing materials, and creating resources to help clients build skills over time

• Research and evaluation: conducting mixed-methods research and literature scans, helping synthesize findings

• Writing and speaking: drafting client-facing notes, slides, emails, and reports, as well as attending meetings and calls

What makes a great Summer Intern? 

Internships are about learning! We’re looking for people who share our values and are keen to develop their expertise. We think this opportunity is a good fit if: 

• You want to pursue a socially impactful career 

• You have an interest in our fields of expertise (the behavioral sciences, public policy, and research methods)

• You are curious about consulting roles

As a successful candidate, you should be able to:

• Explain and apply at least some key concepts from the behavioral sciences, public policy, and research methods 

• Identify what makes some policies and services effective vs. ineffective, focusing on the people affected by them most

• Communicate to different audiences (e.g., partners across sectors, service users, etc.)

• Manage your time and tasks to produce high-quality work

• Work as a team, seek a diverse range of perspectives, and approach new challenges with humility and curiosity

What can we offer you?

Positive social impact is at the center of everything we do at BIT. It’s how we make strategic decisions and judge the quality of our projects. Here, you get to apply behavioral science to real world issues and see your work improve lives. This internship experience offers you:

• Deeper knowledge of what the practical application of behavioral science for social impact looks like in the real world

• Opportunities to hone your consulting skills, including communication, stakeholder management, and project management

• Access to a global network of amazing colleagues who are kind, intelligent, and fun to be around

• A culture that values work/life balance and gives you flexibility in how, when, and where you do your work 

How to apply

We use the Applied platform to reduce bias in our recruitment. Rather than us looking at your resume, you will answer a few questions that will be anonymously scored against a rubric.

Candidates with top scores will be invited to complete a structured interview and work-based task. It’s at this stage that we first see your resume. We always give applicants feedback, no matter what stage your application reaches.

To learn more about what it's like working at BIT, check out this FAQ.

Key dates:

• Role closes: February 21, 2023 

• Interviews and task completion: February 27 through March 10, 2023

All dates are subject to change (but we’ll do our best not to change them!)

The Behavioral Insights Team is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, or because an employee or applicant is a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, other protected veteran, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Some of the personal data you provide to Applied when you apply for a role with The Behavioral Insights Team will be passed on to The Behavioral Insights Team for the purposes of (a) reviewing your application; (b) inviting you for interview; and/or (c) offering you a job and getting you set up as an employee/contractor. For full details on how BIT collects and uses your personal data please visit our website - https://www.bi.team/bit-global-recruitment-privacy-notice/