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About the job
Job summary
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure that it is what it says it is, and that it is increasingly healthy and more sustainable. As we take on new responsibilities in the wake of the EU exit, it is more important than ever that we deliver for consumers across the country.
We are looking for a Team Leader who will direct the important work our Risk Assessment unit does in ensuring that we maintain the high regulatory standards we have in place whilst reacting and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the global food industry.
Risk assessment offers us the opportunity to do this through robust analysis, the identifying of intrinsic gaps in our knowledge, and the active pursuit of answers. Delivering high quality scientific advice and assessment, your team will enable the FSA to plan ahead, identify issues with regulated products, and address them directly, and effectively. Both the consumer and those receiving imported and exported goods rely on our work to ensure the safety of what they eat.
Job description
You will play an integral part in this process and will be expected to ensure the continuation of our robust risk management decisions and policies in the years to come. Offering co-leadership over a team that has responsibility for food and animal feed import risk assessment, dietary exposure assessments and technical advice regarding food and feed, this is an opportunity to make a real difference to food on tables across the country.
As well as building capabilities in the team to ensure effective and high-quality risk assessments that will continue to support our work in keeping food safe, you will work alongside colleagues in the FSA and external stakeholders to deliver key assessments and advice that will guide our wider actions.
We are looking for a strong communicator with fantastic leadership and teamworking skills. Youll need a keen eye for the big picture, enabling you to identify areas that need further research, assess their position with regards to the FSAs wider objectives, and identify the implications of policies in order to best fulfil our goal of delivering food you can trust.
Person specification
Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.
We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.
Application and shortlisting
Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.
- A scientific degree in a microbiological, chemical, or toxicological subject area or equivalent understanding of the scientific issues associated with imported food and feed hazards.
If you cannot answer yes to this question you will not be able to proceed further with your application.
You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.
Experience
Lead criteria: Experience of leadership of either a team or a project which produced high quality outcomes, to time, using the successful shared ownership of goals.
- Experience of regulatory risk assessment.
- Experience of interdisciplinary / interdepartmental working, such as with other government departments, the science community, industry or key stakeholder representatives.
- Experience of setting quality standards and expectations and monitoring these to ensure they are delivered.
- Proven delivery of formal presentations to internal and external stakeholders, and communicating technical issues to non-technical audiences.
Lead Criteria: An initial sift may take place on just the identified Lead Criteria indicated.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.
Interview
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience / Technical requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours Level 4
Behaviours
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Experience: Demonstrable appreciation and understanding of successfully delivering a quality technical/science-based project for example in risk assessment (Presentation)
As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the day / invite to interview email.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 23rd August
Sift: Expected to take place 24th August
Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 11th September
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application.)
Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.
United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) Requirements (SC)
Appointment will be subject to the candidate having, or being able to achieve, National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) level.
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years (although there are some exceptions e.g. if you have been serving abroad with HM Armed Forces).
Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.
Checks will be made against:
- a departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records
- a check of both spent and unspent criminal records
- a check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- a check of Security Service (MI5) records
- exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed
- in the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out
- checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.
The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.
Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.
Please be assured that diversity or socioeconomic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications. Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.
We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to the Food Standards Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.
Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Amie Adkin
- Email : Amie.Adkin@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
