Applications open for new independent Science Council

14 Nov 2016 02:48 PM

The Chair of the Food Standards Agency and its Chief Scientific Adviser are welcoming applications to join the new independent FSA Science Council. We are looking for passionate, highly capable and motivated people to be Chair and members of our new Science Council.

• Roles we are recruiting for
• ​How to apply
• Closing date
• Interview dates
• More about the Science Council
• Equal opportunities

You will work with us to help us identify, source and use the best scientific evidence and expertise to help inform our work, and ensure that it has real impact.

The closing date for applications is 5 December 2016.

We are working on exciting and complex challenges such as how to: 

• improve and assure food safety
• regulate food effectively, and sustainably
• use data and new technologies to help us innovate across a rapidly changing landscape
• work with people and businesses to understand their concerns and hopes for ‘our food future’, and how we can reflect this in our work.

You will help us understand how we can deploy scientific evidence and advice to address our challenges, understand new issues and developments, while helping maintain a focus on continuous improvement.

We welcome applicants from outside the UK, provided they can attend meetings as needed. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses can be claimed, in accordance with the terms set out in the Science Council Code of Practice.

Roles we are recruiting for

We are looking for a Chair and up to seven members, including a consumer member. All will have a strategic role, bringing their breadth of expertise and experience, and their networks to help tackle our current and evolving challenges.

• Applicants for the post of Science Council Chair will be leaders recognised in and beyond their field, with excellent credentials and national or international impact. They will have a track record of leading talented, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Applicants for the six posts as Science Council Members will have a high level of expertise and experience of multidisciplinary working to tackle strategic challenges. They will have national or international reputation.
• At least one member will have experience of understanding and representing people’s views and interests as consumers and citizens and how these can be reflected in wider scientific and or policy discussions. They will have experience of working with scientific experts - and they may be experts themselves.

How to apply

For further information and an application pack please email sciencecouncil@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk or call the Science Council Secretariat on 020 7276 8277, or you can download an information pack and application form below.

Each applicant must complete:

• Application Form - this includes a Political Activity Questionnaire and Declaration of interests – these must be completed and returned with your application form
• CV and/or List of Publications (optional) 
• Monitoring Questionnaire (optional)
• Assistance Questionnaire - if you have a disability and would like us to provide any particular assistance for your interview and, if appointed, your performance in post, please complete the questionnaire below on 'Assistance for Interview and Performance in Post' on FSA Advisory Committees.

Download the application form and attachments

Science Council information pack (327.61 KB)
Includes job advertisement, role and person specifications, application process information

Science Council application form (66.16 KB)

Assistance for interview and performance in post (62.54 KB)

Monitoring Questionnaire (38.41 KB)
Monitoring questionnaire for positions on FSA Advisory Committees

Closing date

The closing date for applications is 5 December 2016.

Interview dates

Interviews will be held on 17, 30 and 31 January and 1 February 2017.

More about the Science Council

The Science Council will meet twice a year, normally in London. Additional input between meetings will be required from the Chair and members. Appointments are not salaried, but members receive fees for attendance and preparation and reasonable expenses. Successful candidates will be required to declare any interests that may be relevant to the work of the Science Council.

Appointments will be for initial terms of three to five years, with the possibility of reappointment.  There will be a review point in year two, to allow us to take stock on how the new Council is operating.

Equal opportunities

The Food Standards Agency is committed to the principles of public appointments based on merit and equal opportunities, with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns.