About the job

Job summary

Are you a talented leader who can foster collaboration and support teams through periods of change?

Do you have a proven track record of leading strategy development? 

Are you looking for a role that makes a real difference to lives across the country? 

Job description

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is looking for a Deputy Director of Strategy who can join our dedicated colleagues on a 12-month contract. You’ll be integral to guiding the important work that our organisation does to deliver its mission of food that is safe, food that’s what it says it is, and food that’s healthier and more sustainable.

This exciting opportunity at the very heart of the FSA will see you working closely with our Chief Executive and the Chair of the Board as well as the whole senior team of executive directors. You’ll play a critical role in shaping the organisation’s overall strategy and reform agenda, and will help us adapt to a changing political context and the ever-evolving food industry.

You will lead three teams, implementing the FSA’s five-year strategy, helping to oversee our spending review bid, and responding to emerging cross-government priorities. You will lead our high-quality legislative programme and you will also take the lead in our project delivery function, ensuring the delivery of a broad portfolio of change projects which improve the day-to-day operations of the organisation.

This role is a fantastic opportunity not only to deliver senior leadership in a small but highly effective government department, but also to be a part of a team that impacts lives across the country every single day. Everybody eats, and the work you’ll do as Deputy Director of Strategy for the FSA will ensure that when they do, it’s food they can trust.

This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan/ appointment for 12 months.

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,000, Food Standards Agency contributes £21,148 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Essential criteria

Experience

• Lead criteria: Proven track record of strong people leadership, including leading through change and uncertainty, and fostering a culture of cross-departmental collaboration.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the problem-framing and structured-thinking skills to get to the heart of complex issues quickly, and the ability to draw on and make sense of a wide range of evidence.
• Excellent influencing and collaboration skills with experience of doing this across departmental and organisational boundaries where objectives differ or conflict, and partners are in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record of leading strategy development, contributing thought leadership to shape and deliver strategic aims.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to understand and meet the needs of different audiences, and to command the confidence of senior officials and board members.
• An in-depth understanding of the workings of government, including the legislative process, with experience in a senior policy or strategy role within a government department.

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 Experience requirements of the role assessed at sift (listed above).

As part of the interview, you will be asked to deliver a presentation which you will need to prepare beforehand. Further information will be provided to you on the invitation to interview email.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 28th July 2024

Sift meeting: Expected to take place during week commencing 29th July 2024

Final panel interview: Expected to take place during week commencing 19th August 2024

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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.