About the job

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. We’re looking for a Regulatory Auditor who will work alongside the FSA’s own inspection teams who monitor food production, helping them to ensure that our regulatory controls are effective. These controls, which primarily take place in approved meat and cutting plants, play a significant role in keeping the food on our tables safe. Delivering high-quality audits of the FSA officials that carry them out, your work will support the production of food and ensure a consistent standard is met by local authorities and food businesses alike.

Job description

As well as drafting and publishing comprehensive reports, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of our auditing process, enabling us to adapt to changing needs. You’ll support colleagues as we develop and deliver audit programmes and associated documentation.

If you have a knack for analytical thinking and can build effective relationships, communicating your ideas clearly, this Regulatory Auditor role is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to food in the UK.

Please read before applying

This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment until 31 August 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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,611, Food Standards Agency contributes £9,417 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

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 (Membership and Licence): You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the following Technical requirements of the role. 

• A member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) who holds Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) OR Fully qualified Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) in Red Meat, White Meat and/or Meat Products

OR

A fully qualified member of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Meat Hygiene Inspector (Red and White Meat)

• Valid Full UK Driving License

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

Experience

• Lead criteria: Comprehensive and practical experience of the legislation and official guidance relating to meat, other products of animal origin (where applicable), animal welfare, animal health, animal by-products and the regulatory systems for delivering official controls.
• Proven record in analysis and use of a range of relevant and credible information to support decisions.
• Has prepared and delivered successful communications to a range of stakeholders both face to face and in writing.
• Has successfully managed competing and challenging pressures in the achievement of key business objectives.

Technical (Training and qualifications)

• Training or qualification in HACCP (or a commitment to train to Level 3 upon appointment)
• A recent qualification or training in auditing e.g. ISO 19011 (or a commitment to train upon appointment)

Lead Criteria An initial sift may take place on just the identified Lead Criteria indicated.

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 Civil Service Behaviours Level 3.

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

• Changing and Improving

Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 11 August 2024

Sift: Expected to take place 12 – 14 August 2024

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

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 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.