Food Standards Agency
Head of Risk Assessment
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We offer great flexible working opportunities, and have offices in Belfast, Cardiff and York.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.
Travel within the UK will be required on a regular basis, possibly with overnight stays.
Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a senior science leadership role at the heart of food and feed safety. As Head of Risk Assessment, you will help shape and oversee the delivery of high-quality scientific risk assessment that supports evidence-based decision-making and protects consumers across the UK.
Working within the Information and Science Directorate, you will co-lead a large, specialist unit covering areas including chemical, microbiological, allergy, and radiological risk assessment, as well as market authorisations. You will bring strategic insight, visible leadership, and scientific credibility to a role that offers real influence across the organisation and with senior partners across government, academia, and industry.
Job Description
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the unit delivers timely, robust, and fit-for-purpose scientific advice, drawing on expert committees, national and international expertise, commissioned research, and emerging evidence. They will support continuous improvement in how evidence, data, tools, and methodologies are used, encouraging innovation while maintaining the quality and integrity of technical outputs.
They will manage senior team members, develop capability across the unit, and contribute to wider divisional planning, prioritisation, and resource management. The role will involve overseeing budgets, supporting incident and authorisation workstreams, acting as senior responsible owner for projects where required, and representing the function with confidence to internal and external audiences. They will also contribute to wider organisational leadership, helping to drive change, strengthen communication, and support cross-cutting priorities.
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?
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 29.6 hours per week.
Please Read Before Applying
This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment available until the return of the substantive post holder, estimated to be 01/07/2027. There may be the potential, 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 – please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. 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).
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If you are applying for a vacancy on a Loan basis, you MUST seek approval from your Director in line with our FSA Staff loans policy.
Person Specification
Please read the attached Job Description to discover further details about the role, 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 degree in a relevant science or equivalent demonstrative understanding of the scientific issues associated with risk assessment
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please provide evidence of how you meet the following Technical criteria. A degree in a relevant science or equivalent demonstrative understanding of the scientific issues associated with risk assessment
Alongside your salary of £68,767, Food Standards Agency contributes £19,921 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides [here](opens in a new window).
Please take a look at the Working for the Food Standards Agency, Civil Service Careers to find out about the benefits the FSA has to offer.
Please also refer to the Terms and Conditions statement attached to this advert.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our [candidate guidance](opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience, and Technical skills.
Full details of the selection process can be found 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 degree in a relevant science or equivalent demonstrative understanding of the scientific issues associated with 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.
Experience
Essential Criteria
- Lead criteria: Proven record of leadership of regulatory risk assessment and team/unit management, including setting direction, thinking strategically in support of corporate objectives.
- Proven record of building capacity and capability in risk assessment to address current and future challenges.
- Has built good relations and gained the confidence of different stakeholders and partners within government, academia, and industry and acting as a credible ambassador for the organisation.
- Demonstrable appreciation and understanding of successfully delivering a quality technical/science-based service for example in risk assessment.
- Proven delivery of formal presentations to internal and external stakeholders and communicating technical issues to non-technical audiences.
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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 the 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 the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience / Strengths requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.
Behaviours
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Experience
- Demonstrable appreciation and understanding of successfully delivering a quality technical/science-based service for example in risk assessment – assessed via presentation
- Proven record of leadership of regulatory risk assessment and team/unit management, including setting direction, thinking strategically in support of corporate objectives.
- Proven record of building capacity and capability in risk assessment to address current and future challenges.
Strengths
We will also assess you against a number of Civil Service Strengths – these are not disclosed prior to interview.
Assessment Exercise
As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen verbal presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the invitation to interview email.
Expected Timeline
- Advert closes: 17th August
- Sift: Expected to take place from 18th August
- Final panel interview: Expected to take place from 1st 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 at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of application (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.
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
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