Manager Behavioral Change

Role Overview

Saahas Zero Waste is looking for a behavioral change Manager who is curious about how people places and systems are interconnected and how each influences the other in a waste management context.

This role applies behavioral science to real-time challenges on the ground. It involves working closely with waste workers entrepreneurs bulk waste generators and government stakeholders to understand behavior as it exists today and to design thoughtful interventions that enable safer more formal and more sustainable practices.

The role combines field immersion behavioral diagnosis intervention design and continuous learning.

Job Description:

Behavioral diagnosis through field immersion

Spend significant time on the ground observing everyday practices decisions and constraints across waste workers entrepreneurs Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) and government stakeholders.

Identify behavioral barriers such as biases choice architecture gaps capability constraints cultural norms and incentive misalignment.

Translate observations into clear context-specific behavioral problem statements.

Formalization of waste worker practices

Design and support interventions that promote adoption of PPE safety protocols formal payment systems and compliance.

Apply habit formation principles reinforcement mechanisms and peer influence.

Work alongside social inclusion and operations teams to ensure that interventions are supportive ethical and feasible.

Build feedback loops to refine interventions and to scale.

Interventions for Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs)

Design behavior change interventions that encourage BWGs to choose formal waste services over informal alternatives.

Apply tools such as choice architecture default options social norms etc.

Shift behavior of BWGs through ease clarity and credibility rather than enforcement alone.

Entrepreneur development

Identify cognitive and operational barriers that limit technology adoption among small and mid-scale waste management entrepreneurs.

Use stepwise nudges simplificationuser interface design and feedback loops to improve adoption

Frame technology as a tool for control visibility analytics and business stability.

Bring behavior change in waste management entrepreneurs from informal to formal practices.

Support the transition of entrepreneurs from informal to formal practices through phased transformation milestones.

Behavioral engagement with government representatives

Identify non-monetary incentives that influence behavior including recognition reputational value ease of coordination and outcome visibility.

Design low-friction engagement mechanisms aligned with governance priorities.

Strengthen institutional buy-in through behavioral alignment rather than transactional approaches.

Measurement learning and iteration

Document and generate insightful reports covering behavioral problem statements intervention design implementation processes and outcomes.

Work with data teams to track adoption persistence and drop-off.

Iterate interventions based on evidence feedback and evolving contexts.

Requirements

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Behavioral Science Psychology Economics Sociology Public Policy Development Studies or related fields.

Relevant applied experience may substitute formal qualifications.

Writing and editing tools: Google Docs MS Word

Presentation tools: Google Slides PowerPoint Canva

Design tools: Adobe Illustrator (or similar)

Basic data representation: charts infographics

Behavioral techniques and frameworks

Field research and qualitative methods

Structured documentation and reflective reporting

Stakeholder facilitation and engagement

Strong verbal communication in Kannada and Hindi

Communication skills in Bengali or Telugu are an added advantage

Personal qualities

Empathy and social awareness

Curiosity: A drive to ask dig and uncover hidden and overlooked patterns.

Vigour: Persistence and energy to capture narratives even in challenging field contexts.

Attention to Detail: Commitment to accuracy and nuance in every intervention.

Collaborative work style with the ability to work independently when needed

Patience and persistence required for systems-level behavior change

Comfort working in complex systems and real-time challenges

Ability to influence behavior without enforcing authority