About the job

Job summary

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure it was what it says it is, and that it is increasingly healthy and more sustainable.

We have an exciting opportunity for a current student or a recent graduate in Computer Science, IT, or another highly numerate degree to join the FSA on a Software Developer Internship. Offering a unique opportunity to learn in a fascinating and fast-moving working environment where your output can have a tangible impact on the wellbeing of every person in the UK, this internship will introduce you to the possibilities a career in the civil service presents.

Job description

The rate at which the food industry continues to change cannot be underestimated. New technologies, trends and consumer demands continue to present an ever-fluctuating state within the industry, and the FSA works hard to remain at the technological forefront. Our Openness, Data and Digital directorate plays a significant role in this, supporting the FSA’s operations with tech solutions that are fit for purpose, offer value for money to the taxpayer, and support the needs of consumers, businesses, and the FSA itself.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to varied projects, creating prototypes and designs for new features or services that will help the FSA communicate, working as part of the team to develop and test new products and ensuring accessibility and compatibility and contribute to the development and running of bespoke applications to respond to evolving user needs.

You will already be skilled at solving complex problems using data analysis, the building or usage of analytical models or algorithms and the help of programming languages or similar software packages. You will also be organised and capable of juggling several assignments, and communicating effectively to support your work, and the needs of the wider team.

This is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable working experience in a vital part of the civil service. If you are a fast and diligent worker keen to explore software development in an organisation that makes a real difference to lives across the UK, don’t miss this chance to undertake an internship at the FSA.

This post is a temporary Fixed Term or Loan appointment for 11 months (48 weeks).  

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

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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours 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.

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: Evidence of the ability to solve complex problems, which require data analysis, building or using analytical models or algorithms with the help of programming languages or similar software packages (e.g. python, R, C#, Matlab or similar).
• Evidence of proactively contributing to the work of the whole team, while remaining open to taking on new roles/tasks and delivering quality results to the deadline.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both in writing, verbally and using digital tools, while adjusting the content and delivery to the varied needs of different audiences.
• Evidence of knowledge and application of at least one front-end language, such as: HTML, CSS, Sass, etc and at least one programming language, such as: C#, Java, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, etc
• Experience of utilising source code version control and collaboration tools, such as GitHub, Bitbucket, svn or similar.

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

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview stage which will consist of an Ability Exercise, and if successful, you will then be invited to a sperate interview assessing you against the listed Civil Service Behaviours ( Level 1).

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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

Ability Exercise

• You can design, code, test, troubleshoot and document simple scripts and user interfaces using the right tools with guidance from others.
• You can assist in the investigation and resolution of technical problems, undertaking specific activities under the direction of others.
• You can put yourself in users’ shoes – and identify and understand different user journeys and goals; consider accessibility needs and keep web performance in mind.
• You are aware of information security and the basic security controls that can be used to mitigate security threats within solutions and services. 

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 7th April 2024

Sift: Expected to take place w/c 8th April 2024

Ability Assessment: between the 18th and 19th April 2024

Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 29th April 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.

The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.

Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.

Please be assured that diversity or socio–economic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications.  Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.

We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.

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.

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.