Location

Multi-location from one of our FSA Offices (Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, London or York), or home based in the UK. Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas. Travel across the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.

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 consumers’ wider interest in food. As we have now exited the EU the FSA faces a significant period of change and activity.

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.

We have an exciting opportunity for a student currently studying 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.

Amongst the varied projects you’ll have an opportunity to contribute to are: the creation of prototypes and designs of new features or services; the development of automated tests for new products to ensure accessibility and compatibility; 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, building or using analytical models or algorithms and applying them with the help of programming languages or similar software packages. You will also be organised and capable of juggling several assignments, and communicating effectively in order 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.
 

Responsibilities

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.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• See Lead Criteria 1 detailed in the Candidate pack.

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

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack. 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-based interview and exercise to assess your abilities.

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

• Studying for a highly numerate degree (e.g., mathematics, engineering, physics) or Computer Science / IT and expecting to achieve a 2:1 or above. You must be in at least your second year of study and must be returning to university after completing your placement, for either your current degree or a masters (Lead Criteria 1)
• 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) (Lead Criteria 2)

The FSA is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. 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.

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

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

Timeline
Sift: week commencing 14 February 2022
Interviews: from 28 February 2022

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Please note that the interview date maybe subject to change.

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 UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of 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 :   Anna Nikiel 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.
 

Attachments Software Developer Internship Candidate Pack FINAL Opens in new window(pdf, 1094kB) Terms and Conditions as at April 2020 Opens in new window(pdf, 61kB)