Location

Home based in the UK. Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas. This post is for the East area and the work will be mainly required in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex (i.e. clusters 14, 15, 16 & 17). This will require to be based in the area and will involve some travelling outside this area.

About the job

The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1300 people, with a big vision – to drive change in the food system so that it delivers “food we can trust”. Our primary goal is to continue to protect public health and UK consumers’ wider interest in food. As we have now exited the EU the FSA faces a significant period of change and activity.

It’s more important than ever that our Agency continues to hold food produced in the UK to high standards, so that we can retain and grow our reputation as a robust and trustworthy regulator.

This approach starts at the very source of our food. Through our presence at the slaughterhouses that first introduce meat into our food systems, we can ensure these systems have the best possible start in providing safe, hygienic and trustworthy meat. Our aim is to make sure that our food is the best that it can be. Animal hygiene and welfare is the very first step on the route to the nation’s dinner tables, and at the FSA we work hard to keep Britain’s interests in mind even at these early stages.

Our veterinary auditors are a key part of this process, providing on-the-ground veterinary experience in slaughterhouses and enabling the FSA to monitor both the hygiene and the welfare of the animals that are being used for food and feed across the UK. Through the auditing of food safety management systems and animal welfare compliance, veterinary auditors provide an invaluable service to the British public, as well as monitoring the standards of meat that we export to other countries.

Job description

We are looking for decisive and focused individuals who are passionate about the chance to positively affect the quality of the food we eat as a nation. Good communicators with strong interpersonal skills are required to fully demonstrate and share the values we hold food business operators to. If you are looking for the opportunity to do work that matters for a progressive and respected government department and can bring your own high standards and keen eye to the role, we look forward to your application.

The successful candidate will be able to present and promote the FSA’s priorities to both the staff and managers of food business operators and other stakeholders. The impact of your work will be tangible, as you work alongside the FSA’s local teams to meet Agency targets and inform the development of policy through your findings and reports.
 

Licences

Valid full UK driving license (Manual / Automatic)

Qualifications

Fully qualified as Official Veterinary Surgeon in Red Meat, White Meat and /or Meat Products

Memberships

Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. 

Things you need to know

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift: W/C 08 March 2021
Interviews: W/C 22 March 2021
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

This will consist of shortlisting against the essential and desirable person specification criteria stated. If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to the final selection stage consisting of a behaviours/Government Vet Profession Competency Framework/Ability-based interview and a seen presentation.

In the event of receiving a large number of applications an initial sift may take place on just the identified lead criteria indicated below:

• Experience of food hygiene or food / feed law enforcement combined with a comprehensive and practical understanding 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.

We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within our organisation at this level. All appointments are made on merit.

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

Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached terms and conditions statement.

A reserve list will be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKs
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Laureano Garcia Munoz Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you wish to raise a complaint then please email [email protected] in the first instance.