Location

Multi-location from one of our FSA Offices (Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, 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. Having left the EU, 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 we can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Job description

The economic complexity of leaving the EU is one of many areas that will impact and guide the Agency’s approach to its work over the coming years. Providing insight in this field, the economic branch of the Analytics Unit works closely with senior policy colleagues, providing support and guidance.

From policy development to economic appraisal and evaluation that is guided by strategic priorities, economists have an important role to play in the FSA. Policy leads and other teams across the Agency call on the Analytics Unit to help them develop new ideas and projects or contribute to policy development, using key economic insights to shape their direction.

The Senior Assistant Economist will work to lead in the provision of this advice, as well as the shaping of economic reports and briefs that address a number of bespoke and emerging issues. Presenting key information in a clear and digestible manner, these reports are key documents impacting the work of the Agency’s senior policy officials.

The post holder will be engaged with developments in the field, both regarding economics and their impact on food safety and regulation. Managing a mainstream assistant economist, you will be an invaluable team member who strives to deliver the best work possible to ensure the FSA’s various policy teams are always informed and able to deliver the best possible outcome for the consumer.

The successful candidate will be able to confidently lead on tasks, offering guidance and support to their colleagues, organising and prioritising work around the wider demands of the Agency. You will be able to make effective and impactful decisions regarding the information you share and will be enthused by the potential impact your work will have on policy decisions that will positively impact the nation’s food and wellbeing. If you are keen to approach this challenge with a positive and collaborative attitude, apply today.

If you would like to discuss this role further please get in touch with [email protected]

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:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Application of Knowledge (Level SEO) Lead scoping work programmes, management of internal or external analytical projects and potentially building links with policy leads and academia; while demonstrating an in-depth theoretical and empirical knowledge
• Effective Communication (Level SEO) Build effective working relationships with policy colleagues, including at times some senior colleagues and other analytical professions, to facilitate continuous discourse and build mutual understanding of how to work
• Analysis of data (Level SEO) Work with, quality assure and understand economic models and interpret output data for the purposes of providing supporting evidence to advise decision-makers. Proactively explore and propose appropriate techniques/analysis;

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 an technical and behaviours based interview and a 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:

• Successful record of managing, appraising, quality assuring and delivering research projects, from scoping through to methodology and preparing research specifications, including managing and developing contractor/ supplier relationships and managing budgets (Lead).

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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 :Nicholas Daniel
• 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 Senior Assistant Economist Candidate Pack Opens in new window(pdf, 1201kB) Terms and Conditions as at April 2020 Opens in new window(pdf, 61kB)