Director of System Resilience

Job summary

The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. 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 you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Job description

Are you ready to lead the FSA’s work to strengthen the resilience of the UK food system at a time of significant change?

We are recruiting our first Director of System Resilience, a pivotal member of the Executive Management Team reporting directly to the Chief Executive. This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead a newly configured directorate that will play a central role in how the FSA anticipates, assesses and responds to risks across the food safety and authenticity landscape.

You will oversee the FSA’s work as a central competent authority, ensuring we manage risk across the food system with increasing agility and intelligence. Bringing together regulatory assurance, local authority delivery, business engagement, incident prevention and response, organisational resilience and our new Risk and Intelligence Hub, your directorate will strengthen our capability to detect, prevent and respond to emerging threats in a fast‑moving environment.

You will lead improvements in our engagement with local authorities and food businesses, deepening our understanding of operating conditions across the system and driving better, more transparent performance. You will also strengthen our incident response and resilience functions, ensuring the FSA is well prepared for future shocks and able to coordinate calm, decisive leadership during major events. You will represent the FSA in UK‑wide resilience planning and hold lead responsibility for key food-related risks on the National Risk Register.

We are seeking an outstanding system leader, someone who can draw insight from complex data, inspire coordinated action across organisational and sector boundaries, and provide confident judgement under pressure. You will set the tone for a directorate of around 175 people, bringing together existing and new teams and ensuring they operate collaboratively, intelligently and with a clear sense of purpose.

If you are motivated by the opportunity to shape a nationally significant agenda and strengthen the resilience of the UK’s food system for the future, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Working pattern guidance

If applying as a job share partnership, you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. 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.

Person specification

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £115,000, Food Standards Agency contributes £33,315 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.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

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

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Essential criteria

• System leadership and driving change: Proven ability to use data‑driven insights to manage system‑wide risk and performance, bringing together stakeholders to address issues and deliver improvements. Demonstrated capability to lead and coordinate multiple workstreams to drive organisation‑ and system‑wide change at pace

• Leading risk and crisis response: Demonstrated ability to lead an organisation or system through major incidents, lead multi-agency or cross-sector collaboration to ensure rapid and effective response. Able to make calm judgments under pressure and in the face of uncertainty, set strategic direction, put in place effective response and identify a path to recovery.

• Communication: First-class communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently with internal and external audiences at all levels including media. Demonstrable experience of representing your organisation with credibility, integrity and professionalism.

• Building effective networks and influencing: Experience of building strong relationships and drawing on them to deliver outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Ability to influence others, such as industry or local authority, to take coordinated action even where you have no direct authority or control.

• Inclusive leadership: Extensive experience of leading high performing teams and building capability to deliver exceptional results. Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity. This may include experience in leading remote or geographically dispersed teams.

Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.

This will consist of longlisting and shortlisting against the essential person specification criteria stated. If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to take part in a staff engagement exercise and a mock media exercise, before going on to attend a panel interview which will include an unseen presentation which you will be given on the day of the interview to prepare and questions assessing you against the essential criteria in the person specification.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Shortlisted candidates will be offered the opportunity to meet (remotely) with the Chief Executive of the FSA , Katie Pettifer, prior to the final selection panel interview to learn more about the organisation and role; further details of this will be confirmed with the applicant.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 15th March 2026

Sift meeting: Expected to take place week commencing 23rd March 2026

Longlist meetings: Expected to take place weeks commencing 30th March & 6th April

Shortlist meeting: 17th April

Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) & Media Assessment: 28th April 2026

Final panel interview: 14th May 2026

We are planning to conduct assessments and interviews face to face at 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

As UKSV SC is required for this role, please confirm you have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 of the last 5 years (or have extenuating circumstances e.g. have been serving abroad with HM Armed Forces).

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) Requirements (SC)

Appointment will be subject to the candidate having, or being able to achieve, National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) level.

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years (although there are some exceptions e.g. if you have been serving abroad with HM Armed Forces).

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• a departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records

• a check of both spent and unspent criminal records

• a check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency

• a check of Security Service (MI5) records

• exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed

• in the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out

• checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.

Childcare Vouchers

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

Reserve List

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

Candidates that do not pass the interview, but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not offer visa sponsorship and cannot provide advice on visa applications

Regrettably we are unable to refund travel costs if candidates attend an interview/selection stage for the vacancy.

Making a complaint

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.ukIf you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 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.

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.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.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Nicola Jenkins
• Email : nicola.jenkins@food.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk

Further information

If you wish to raise a complaint then please email hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk in the first instance.

Attachments

05-01 System Resilience Director Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 995kB)SCS Terms and conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 93kB)