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 an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.
Job Summary
The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.
Throughout this time, our ability to respond to food safety issues remains a key priority. The FSA works hard to build on the hard-earned trust the public has in its work. This means maintaining the high regulatory standards we have in place whilst reacting and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the global food industry.
Genetic technologies continue to play an important role in the future of our food and play a role in areas that the public might not even consider, such as the feed that we give the animals within our food systems. The Risk Assessor for Genetic Technologies will deliver work around GM technology in partnership with the independent scientists who advise the FSA on new foods entering the market.
Job Description
The successful candidate will need to be able to present and convey scientific issues and ideas to non-scientific audiences, working to ensure that decisions made in response to findings and recommendations will serve the public need and consumer health as a whole. Presenting these ideas to senior officers, policy colleagues or advisory committees, the post-holder will have strong people skills and be an excellent communicator. As the demand for genetic technology work grows, they will also be available to provide support and insight across a range of other risk assessment areas as needed by the Agency.
The food landscape never stops moving, and there are always new products, new technologies and new ideas that need to be assessed. Candidates should be able to grasp the big picture that this industry presents, working closely with colleagues from across the Agency to ensure that we can keep food safe, and what it says it is. If you are excited to be a part of this important mission, and can deliver efficiently and at pace, apply for this role today.
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 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.
Please read before applying
This advert is for two positions. One permanent role and fixed term / loan appointment (until 02/02/2027 with the possibility, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency). The highest scoring candidate at interview will be offered the permanent position.
Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis (if appointed to the temporary role) 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).
Qualifications
* A postgraduate degree or relevant laboratory experience in Genetics, risk assessment of GMOs or similar.
* A practical understanding of Genetic modification and Genome editing technologies.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Delivering at Pace
* Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* A postgraduate degree or relevant laboratory experience in Genetics, risk assessment of GMOs or similar
* A practical understanding of Genetic modification and Genome editing technologies.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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 postgraduate degree or relevant laboratory experience in Genetics, risk assessment of GMOs or similar.
* A practical understanding of Genetic modification and Genome editing technologies.
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
* Lead criteria: Experience of reviewing technical scientific information in support of risk assessments in the area of genetic technologies.
* 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 organization.
* Proven ability to manage your own workload effectively, prioritising activities 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.
Behaviours
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Delivering at Pace
* Working Together
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Experience
During your interview, you will be asked questions related to the above Behaviours, as well as Experience questions that may cover any aspect of the listed sift criteria.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 27th April 2025
Sift: Expected to take place from 28th April 2025
Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 12th May 2025
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.
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.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Contact point for applicants:
* Name: Rachael Oakenfull
* Email: Rachael.J.Oakenfull@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team:
* Email: hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
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