Senior Allergen Risk Assessor
Food Standards Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 3rd November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Science
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.
Travel across the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays. Occasional international travel may also be a possibility.
About the job
Job summary
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has a mission to protect consumers. Our team works on science that helps millions of people with food hypersensitivity (i.e. allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease) in the UK. We provide risk assessments that inform food safety decisions by our Policy colleagues, including whether product recalls and allergy alerts are needed to protect consumers with allergies when incidents are reported to us. Our risk assessments and the research we are involved in also inform the development of policies and guidance for food businesses and advice to consumers. We also attend relevant scientific meetings to keep our knowledge and networks up to date.
We are looking for a Senior Allergen Risk Assessor who can support our vital work in delivering on our promise of ‘food you can trust’.
Job description
The role involves engaging in varied and fascinating work that will support not only the mission of the FSA but also the health of people with food hypersensitivities. As our Senior Allergen Risk Assessor, you’ll lead on a wide range of tasks, including producing risk assessments to inform the handling of allergy incidents and the development of policies, guidance and advice in this field. You will offer leadership and line management to an Allergen Risk Assessor, and maintain effective working relationships with relevant FSA staff and external contacts such as other government departments to help drive the FSA’s response to allergen issues that present a risk to UK consumers.
The work requires flexibility, as well as the ability to work to tight deadlines in a technical area, good communication and collaboration. If you’re skilled in these areas, do not hesitate to apply.
Working pattern guidance
If applying as a job share partnership, you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Applicants who wish to work 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.
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
- A post-graduate qualification in a relevant scientific subject and/or significant experience working in a position with responsibility for food/feed safety or public health-related risk assessment.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Qualifications and/or experience specified in the 'Qualifications' section of the advert.
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 an appropriate subject (e.g. biology, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, food science), and/or equivalent relevant experience (e.g. critical assessment of scientific literature, basic quantitative analysis, and scientific writing skills).
- A post-graduate qualification in a relevant scientific subject and/or significant experience working in a position with responsibility for food/feed safety or public health-related risk assessment.
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 scientific specialism, such as food hypersensitivity, microbiology or toxicology, in a relevant field, e.g. food safety risk assessment, animal health or public health
- Proven ability of engaging effectively and working collaboratively with experts and non-experts both within and outside your organization.
- Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
- Proven ability to effectively organize and 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 requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours Level 3.
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Experience
- You could be tested against any of the Experience criteria tested at sift during your interview.
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
Advert closes: 3rd November
Sift: Expected to take place w/c 4th November
Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 18th 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 : Joanne Edge
- Email : joanne.edge@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
