Job summary
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure that it is what it says it is, and that it is increasingly healthy and more sustainable.
We are looking for a Microbiological Risk Assessor to help us deliver this important work, delivering key insights on food safety that will guide our policy development and incidence response.
As well as carrying out robust risk assessments, the team also commissions external research that empowers us to make decisions based on the latest science. You will work on a wide range of projects, from detailed reports to incident response risk assessments. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to engage in varied and fascinating work that will support not only the mission of the FSA but also the health of the wider public.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the and the .
Job description
You will work with colleagues from across the FSA, as well as other government departments, gathering and assessing scientific information that will fuel our wider work. You�ll also provide key secretariat support to our Scientific Advisory Committee, supporting their work through the drafting of agendas, discussion papers and meeting reports.
The work requires flexibility, as well as the ability to deliver results at pace when necessary. If you are as comfortable working in a close-knit team as you are settling down to work on a longer project under your own initiative and are driven by a desire to deliver excellent scientific research and analysis, do not hesitate to apply.
Please read before applying
This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment until 31 March 2025 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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
1. Making Effective Decisions
2. Delivering at Pace
3. Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
4. As described in the Candidate Pack - Technical Criteria.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �32,505, Food Standards Agency contributes �9,417 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.