Head of Division

Vacancy Description

The Food Standards Agency’s job is to protect the public health and consumers’ interests in food. Its core values are to put the consumer first; to be open and accessible; and to be an independent voice. It is a Government Department in its own right, reporting to a Chairman and Board rather than directly to Ministers. The FSA is playing a pioneering role in developing a more open approach to policy development through holding Board meetings in public, workshops with key stakeholder groups, and open meetings. The FSA’s strategic aims are to be trusted as the UK’s most reliable source of advice and information about food; to protect and improve the safety of the food people eat; and to make it possible for people to choose a healthy diet. The FSA website contains further information.

If you would like to discuss the post in more detail please contact Alan Harvey, the current head of division, on 0207 276 8303.

The post: This post will lead a Division responsible for the formulation of policy and implementation of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) controls. The division co-ordinates the FSA TSE targets on food safety – ensuring that the TSE controls are based on the latest scientific knowledge; protecting consumers by enforcing proportionate and effective controls in relation to both UK-produced and imported meat; and promoting the development of a sensitive, rapid live test for TSEs by 2010.

There are about 17 staff working in three branches: Specified Risk Material; the Over Thirty Months rule; and Research. The division benefits from having its own veterinary adviser and three scientific experts.

The postholder will: be responsible for public health (food safety) policy on TSEs; chair the InterDepartmental Group responsible for reviewing implementation of the change to the Over Thirty Month Rule being introduced in November 2005; act as FSA’s assessor to the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) working closely with that committee’s dedicated Secretariat; overview policy, and any emerging science, in relation to BSE controls over domestic and imported meat. A particular issue in the coming years will be to ensure that proportionality and the need to take a risk-based approach are carefully factored in, as the overall BSE risk declines, while nonetheless safeguarding the interests of consumers in the light of remaining scientific uncertainties.

The postholder will manage the team by giving them purpose and direction, and advise the Directors, Chief Executive and the FSA Board on BSE. In taking the work forward, the postholder – who will report to the Director of Enforcement - will in particular work closely with the FSA’s Veterinary Director and the Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service. There will be frequent contact with representatives of consumers, the meat industry, farming organisations, enforcement bodies, the Human BSE Foundation; other government departments especially the Department of Health and Defra; and scientific experts.

The person:

To do this job effectively you will need to demonstrate:

• an ability to give purpose and direction in your work and to a team;
• drive, persistence, vigilance and a commitment to deliver;
• a record of being able to work with specialist subject matter and distil key messages into a form suitable for a lay audience;
• that you can effectively manage a multidisciplinary team, leading and inspiring staff in accordance with Investors In People principles;
• a strong appreciation of the role of scientific and veterinary advice in policy development in a sensitive area;
• to have excellent presentational and interpersonal skills;
• an ability to form effective relationships with – and to influence – both internal and external stakeholders;
• the flexibility to respond to sudden changes in demands and priorities.

You must also be able to demonstrate ability in the SCS competence framework.

A scientific background would be helpful, but is not essential in this post.

How To Apply

If you would like to discuss the post in more detail please contact Alan Harvey, the current head of division, on 0207 276 8303. For a full job description & person specification, application form and line managers reference form please contact Bridgette Symons in the Food Standards Agency Human Resources Division, 111C, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH on 020 7276 820 or email Bridgette.symons@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Completed applications, a reference completed by your line manager, your CV and copies of your last two annual reports should be sent to Bridgette at the above address no later than Friday 21 October 2005. Please quote reference 10246 in all correspondence.

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