Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland

Scottish Government

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Healthcare

Part time

£93,667 - £97,451 per year

Job summary

Are you the scientific leader who can help shape Scotland’s food safety future?

Applications are invited from suitably qualified, accomplished scientists for this 2-5 year secondment opportunity as Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

Job description

Are you the scientific leader who can help shape Scotland’s food safety future?

Applications are invited from suitably qualified, accomplished scientists for this 2-5 year secondment opportunity as Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

The CSA for FSS will be a senior, independent Scientific Adviser, who will advise FSS’s CEO and Board on all scientific matters relating to the organisation’s statutory responsibilities and the delivery of its strategic objectives. FSS’s CSA will provide strategic science leadership for FSS; supporting its senior scientists in the provision of expert oversight and assurance for all of the organisation’s research, surveillance, monitoring and risk assessment functions; ensuring the evidence base used to underpin policy on food safety and public health nutrition is robust and delivers maximum impact. In line with other CSA roles across government, it will provide an independent challenge function to FSS, helping to further embed scientific evidence at the centre of policy development and decision-making across the organisation.

FSS’s CSA is an outward facing role, with responsibility for representing FSS’s use of science and evidence to key stakeholders, the media and public, including during incidents. It will promote and champion the work of FSS’s scientists; supporting learning and development and driving engagement across the wider scientific community and the food industry, to maintain and strengthen FSS’s reputation as a highly regarded science and evidence-based organisation.

The CSA for FSS will contribute to the existing network of independent scientific advisers in Scottish Government to support the CSA for Scotland in ensuring that there are mechanisms in place to ensure policy making in Scotland is underpinned by the best science available. The post will work particularly closely with the Scottish Government’s CSA for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) to promote the use of systems thinking and evidence that enables policy makers to understand the interactions and trade-offs between food chain sustainability and resilience, food security, dietary health and food safety in Scotland. It will also collaborate with the Food Standards Agency’s CSA in areas of shared policy responsibility and scientific interest to ensure co-ordination and alignment across the UK in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and delivery of FSS’s Food and Health Research Programme and Digital and Data Strategy; ensuring a strategic and co-ordinated approach to the identification and prioritisation of evidence needs, and promoting the responsible sharing and linkage of FSS data to maximise its value across the wider food and public health landscape.
• Provide strategic scientific leadership across FSS by offering expert advice and constructive challenge to staff, the Corporate Leadership Team, and the FSS Board on the generation, analysis and use of data and evidence to inform risk assessment, incident response, and the development of policies related to food safety and public health nutrition.
• Contribute to corporate leadership by ensuring robust science governance, supporting FSS scientists to provide the CEO and Board with assurance on the quality and cost-effectiveness of research and the processes used to commission and publish it. Work collaboratively with science and communications teams to ensure scientific outputs are accessible and effectively translated into advice for policymakers, stakeholders and consumers.
• Build impactful networks with the CSA for Scotland, Scottish Government’s portfolio CSAs (ENRA, Health and Marine), Public Health Scotland, and other government experts on public health and food; ensuring science priorities on food safety and dietary health in Scotland are understood across Government. Support a co-ordinated, systems thinking approach to the use of science in policy development, taking account of FSS strategy, the objectives of Good Food Nation, and wider strategies relating to population health, trade, food security/resilience and climate change adaptation in Scotland.
• Develop a strong working relationship with the Food Standards Agency’s CSA; engaging with them regularly to maintain an up to date awareness of respective priorities, science activities and resourcing issues, and ensure science aspects of our Memorandum of Understanding are kept under review, including FSS’s ability to access to UK Scientific Advisory Committees and specialist expertise in FSA for the best available scientific advice to inform policy development in Scotland.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness of all research activities relating to food and diet in Scotland and across the UK. Work with the CSA (ENRA) to ensure FSS funded projects and relevant work delivered through Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture are effectively targeted at addressing key public health and food policy objectives, and that duplication is minimised.
• Advise the CEO on relevant workforce and resourcing strategy for science in FSS, ensuring that the delivery of science advice is underpinned by appropriately qualified staff with the right mix of skills, knowledge and expertise to deliver FSS objectives. Work with the CSA, Scotland and the Head of Professional Development for Science in Scottish Government to enable consideration of appropriate career pathways and professional development schemes for scientists in FSS and other areas of food policy in Scotland.
• Act as a spokesperson for FSS on high profile scientific issues relating to food safety and public health nutrition; ensuring the scientific basis for decisions on policy, advice and actions is effectively communicated to different expert and lay audiences through a range of channels, including the media.
• Establish an impactful profile across the relevant UK and international scientific communities; and when required represent FSS and Scottish Government at delegations and conferences to promote and champion our research and science capabilities on the global arena.
• The CSA for FSS will be the nominal Head of Profession (Science and Engineering) for the organisation supported in this role by the Head of Science and Chief Nutritionist.

Person specification

Success Profile

It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role.

In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the professional experience and skills you will also be expected to evidence behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role.

Qualifications

You must hold a post graduate Masters or Doctoral qualification and have relevant academic, research or industry experience in one of the following fields:

Microbiological/chemical food safety
Public health nutrition
Food technology

Professional Experience:

We’re looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

1. A strong background and scientific reputation in food safety and/or diet and nutrition, with a clear understanding of how science, evidence and data inform policy, deliver outcomes and shape strategic direction.
2. A commitment to ensuring high quality and ethical research is conducted in own area and those of others, by applying objective quality assurance processes and is able to balance technical quality with considerations of cost, safety and timely delivery.
3. The ability to provide advice to senior stakeholders and peers, and maintain a positive, influential scientific reputation by building strong relationships with internal and external specialists, delivering scientific assessments, publications, and presentations at conferences, and representing their discipline on relevant professional or academic bodies.
4. Significant experience as a senior scientific leader in your area/discipline, with a passion for applying scientific knowledge to real-world challenges and the ability to work across disciplines to help support effective policy making.

Behaviours:

You can find out t more about Success Profiles Behaviours, including descriptors for each level here: Behaviours - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

You are expected to provide evidence of the following behaviours at Level 5.

• Leadership
• Developing Self & Others
• Working Together
• Communicating and influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £93,667, Scottish Government contributes £27,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 1,000 words that directly addresses the Qualification and Professional Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above. Your statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the specified experience requirements, and your CV must confirm your qualifications. General or unrelated statements, or failure to evidence the required qualification criteria, may result in your application not being considered.

During the interview and assessment process we will test your Skills, Experience and Behaviours aligned to this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If you are invited to the next stage, the assessment process will include an interview with a short presentation and a psychological assessment.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c’s 10 & 17 August 2026; however, this may be subject to change.

The Final Interview Panel will take place on Thursday 27th August 2026, in person at Pilgrim House, Old Ford Road, Aberdeen, AB11 5RL. The current Hiring Manager for this role is the Chief Executive of FSS, Geoff Ogle. Geoff is due to retire in August 2026, and a recruitment campaign is now underway to appoint his successor. Once the new Chief Executive is in post, they will assume responsibility for chairing the recruitment process for this role. The other panel Members are:

• Professor Calum Semple, Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland – Scottish Government
• Dr Jacqueline McElhiney, Head of Science Division – Food Standards Scotland
• Ms Dawn Davies, HR Manager – Food Standards Scotland

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

Interview Expenses

Any travel and subsistence expenses incurred during the selection process are the responsibility of the applicant.

About us

We are Scotland’s public sector food body. Established as a non-ministerial office to protect the health and wellbeing of consumers through three statutory objectives set under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015: to protect the public from risks to health which may arise in connection with the consumption of food, to improve the extent to which members of the public have diets which are conducive to good health, and to protect the other interests of consumers in relation to food.

As a body corporate, FSS is governed by a Board of 8 people appointed by the Scottish Ministers. Our remit covers all aspects of the food chain that impacts public health. Collaboration is key to our work.

We deliver official controls for meat, eggs, wine and animal feed and, working in partnership with the 32 local authorities in Scotland, we regulate and monitor all parts of the food chain to enforce food hygiene and standards across the country. We have recently launched a transformational change programme (SAFER) focused on redesign through digital transformation, stronger national coordination and learning from international best practice.

Since EU exit, our role includes functions and decisions that previously rested at European level, delivered in close partnership with the Food Standards Agency. We are jointly responsible for the process for granting market authorisations for the sale of certain food and feed products in Great Britain.

Our role in dietary health policy is focused on building the knowledge and evidence base to support and inform Ministers, delivery partners and consumers about diets that will support achievement of the Scottish Dietary Goals.

For more information, please visit our website The home of food and feed safety and healthy eating , Food Standards Scotland

Working pattern

This role is offered on the basis of a 0.6 FTE (three days a week) secondment on current employment terms for a minimum of 2 years with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of 5 years. The duration of any secondment should be discussed with your employer in advance of applying.

As this post is offered only on a secondment basis, the salary will be based on existing terms and conditions between the Scottish Government and your current employer.

Location

In line with our current ways of working, the successful candidate will work on a hybrid basis. Our colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (home based). Meetings are held via MS Teams and in person. The post holder will be required to attend the following meetings in-person: board meetings and seminars (up to appx 8 meetings per year), management meetings (up to appx 4 meetings per year), and science team meetings (up to appx 4 meetings per year), with these either being held in Aberdeen or at a Scottish Government office in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Attendance and travel to offsite meetings, conferences and events will also be required (this list is not exhaustive).

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

In addition to the standard pre-employment checks, this vacancy will also require all candidates to obtain National Security Vetting (NSV) at Security Check (SC) clearance level. This type of check normally includes meeting a minimum UK residency period, which for SC level is 5 years.

Further information about NSV checks can be found on the UK Government website - National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

If you would like further information or would like to discuss the role, please contact FSSPrivate_Office@fss.scot

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 5 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£93,667 - £97,451 per year