Details
Reference number
431043
Salary
£40,800
£40,800 (National) £44,076 (London) (2025/26 pay award pending)
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
FSA - Information and Science - Science Engagement and Impact Team
Type of role
Project Delivery
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Homeworking
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
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.
About the job
Job summary
Do you have excellent communication and engagement skills?
Do you have the skills to translate and present complex science clearly and concisely?
If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as our Research and Engagement Partnerships Co-ordinator, and we'd love to hear from you
Access to safe, healthy, and sustainable food is vital for everyone. The FSA is the lead authority in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland responsible for ensuring that food is safe and accurately described.
Science has always been at the heart of the FSA's work. Our scientific evidence and research underpin everything we do, from risk assessment and management to enforcing controls on food hygiene, animal feed, and foodborne diseases.
The Science, Evidence and Research Division (SERD) leads this work, ensuring the FSA remains a trusted, evidence-led regulator. SERD's mission is to make sure our decisions are grounded in robust science, helping to ensure food is safe, authentic, healthier, and more sustainable. This is achieved through our in-house science and socio-economic experts, as well as through collaboration with external experts, science committees, and research programmes.
Job description
This role is central to increasing the impact of FSA's science and evidence. You'll lead the development and delivery of strategic engagement, building partnerships, shaping priorities, and crafting compelling, scientifically sound narratives. Using a multi-channel approach, you'll help raise awareness of our work, build trust, and create advocates for FSA science. You'll also play a key role in promoting our Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) to both internal and external audiences.
As part of the Engagement and Impact Team within the Science and Research Unit, you'll ensure that FSA science is connected across the organisation and beyond—delivering maximum value for the UK food system.
A key focus will be on developing and maintaining strategic relationships with external partners, including government bodies, academia, UKRI, learned societies, and international science organisations. You'll help the FSA access funding, influence shared science agendas, and strengthen our scientific capability.
Internally you'll lead efforts to embed science across the FSA, breaking down silos, improving communication, and ensuring our science is accessible and impactful.
You'll also be part of a small collaborative team who work closely together to maximise FSA science impact. You will manage the Scientific Engagement and Communication Officer, supporting their development and ensuring the team delivers high-quality engagement and communication.
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 degree or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific or science communications discipline
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Changing and Improving
* Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £40,800, Food Standards Agency contributes £11,819 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
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 degree or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific or science communications discipline
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 and desirable criteria. (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).
Essential criteria
Experience
* Lead criteria: Experience of developing and delivering multi-channel science stakeholder communication and engagement activities
* Proven record in leading or managing projects or programmes with partners
* Presenting complex information clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing
* Knowledge and insight of the UK research landscape
Desirable criteria (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).
Experience
* Line management experience
* Experience in delivering accessible scientific communications
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 whichwe will assess you against the following Experience and Strengths requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.
Behaviours
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Changing and Improving
* Working Together
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Experience
Experience of developing and delivering multi-channel science stakeholder communication and engagement activities
Strengths
We will also assess you against a number of Civil Service Strengths – these are not disclosed prior to interview.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 15/10/25
Sift: Expected to take place from 16/10/25
Final panel interview: Expected to take place from 03/11/25
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
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.
Making a complaint
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA's Director of People at If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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)
* 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
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Lottie Chapman
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you wish to raise a complaint then please email in the first instance.