Senior Regulated Products Risk Assessor – Cell-Cultivated Products x2 posts
Food Standards Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 1st November 2024
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Salary
Salary will be pro rata for if working part time or as part of a job share partnership. If applying on a job-share basis, the expectation is that you are already in an established job-share partnership.
Applicants who wish to work part time / compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available, and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Due to the nature of the role, we are unable to consider requests for part time working of less than 30 hours per week.
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Location
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.
Travel within the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.
About the job
Job summary
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure it is what it says it is, and that it’s increasingly healthy and more sustainable. Our work is ever-changing and ensures that consumers can always believe in the quality and safety of food, no matter where it comes from.
We are looking for two Senior Risk Assessors who can help deliver an exciting new sandbox project that will define the way the FSA engages with cell-cultivated products (CCPs).
These products cover a variety of foods that use innovative production techniques that can act as an alternative to traditional farming and agricultural practices and remove the need for the slaughter of animals. Cells isolated from animals or plants are grown in a controlled environment, and then harvested to make a final food product.
Job description
You will work with a range of companies, internal and external stakeholders and a committee of experts to help us develop effective regulatory practices to ensure the safety of future food products in this area.
This is an opportunity to develop important work that will impact the lives of consumers across the country for years to come, helping us to ensure that this developing field of food production is supported and regulated effectively. If you are excited by the opportunity to engage with innovative new technology, working with a wide range of collaborators to ensure public safety, apply today to join the FSA as a Senior Risk Assessor.
What to know more about these roles?
We will be holding two informal information sessions for prospective applicants to hear more about the specific roles available and meet the respective hiring teams. During these sessions you will have a chance to ask questions. These sessions will be held virtually over MS Teams. You do not need to attend both sessions. Please use the following links to register:
Session 1: 17:30 – 18:30, Thursday 17th October: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1036700157077?aff=oddtdtcreator
Session 2: 10:00 – 11:00, Wednesday 23rd October: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1036654249767?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please read before applying
The FSA will run a 23-months regulatory ‘sandbox’ programme to facilitate extensive dialogue with the industry to inform regulatory actions that strike the right balance between ensuring consumer safety and facilitating innovation.
This post is a temporary Fixed Term appointment for 23 months with the possibility, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency.
Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy.
Note for FSA employees
You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy, this includes applying for a new post during an existing temporary posting. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).
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:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please describe how your scientific degree is relevant for the role, or how your understanding of the scientific issues associated with regulated products demonstrates equivalent knowledge for the role.
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
You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.
Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.
- A scientific degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. food science, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology) or equivalent understanding of the scientific issues associated with regulated products.
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.
Essential criteria
Experience
- Lead criteria: Experience of applying a deep specialism, such as microbiology or toxicology, to assess safety risks in a relevant field, e.g. food safety, animal health or public health
- Experience with CCP relevant processes (e.g. CCP production, fermentation to produce a marketable product, bioreactors, bioengineering), and understanding of the cross-cutting issues associated with assessments for food/feed safety or public health-related risk assessments.
- Experience of applying sound scientific knowledge and judgement, including experience in evaluating scientific information to generate robust advice and communicating this to a range of stakeholders.
- Proven ability of engaging effectively and working collaboratively with experts and non-experts both within and outside your organisation.
- Proven ability to effectively prioritise workload to meet challenging deadlines
Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.
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 and Civil Service Behaviours Level 3.
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Experience
You could be assessed against any of the experience criteria at interview.
Assessment exercise
As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the invitation to interview email.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Expected Timeline
Information Sessions: 17th October 17:30 – 18:30 & 23rd October 10:00 – 11:00
Advert closes: 1st November
Sift: Expected to take place from 4th November
Final panel interview: Expected to take place from 13th November
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.
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.
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Chris Rundle
- Email : Chris.Rundle@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
