Head of Food System Risk and Intelligence

Do you have significant experience operating at a senior leadership level within risk, intelligence, analytical, regulatory or resilience environments?

Can you lead multidisciplinary teams through change and capability development?

If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as our Head of Food System Risk and Intelligence, and we’d love to hear from you!

This is a great opportunity to shape a new, high-profile capability at the heart of the FSA’s work to protect consumers and support a resilient food and feed system. As Head of Food System Risk and Intelligence, you will lead the development of the Agency’s operational risk and intelligence function, helping the organisation anticipate, understand and respond to existing and emerging challenges across a complex and changing landscape.

You will establish and lead the Food System Intelligence Hub as a centre of excellence, bringing together insight, analysis, data and intelligence to support confident decision-making at senior levels. Working across operational, scientific, policy and external networks, you will play a key role in building a more integrated view of risk and ensuring the Agency is well placed to act on opportunities, threats and priorities.

You will set the direction for the Food System Intelligence Hub, developing its operating model, governance arrangements and future capability. You’ll create consistent approaches for identifying, assessing and prioritising risks, while supporting the development of intelligence systems, data standards, risk dashboards and analytical tools that strengthen decision-making and organisational planning.

You’ll oversee the production of intelligence assessments, risk registers and strategic threat assessments, acting as a senior adviser on operational and strategic risk issues. The role will involve building strong relationships across government departments, devolved administrations, enforcement bodies, scientific partners and industry stakeholders. The successful candidate will also provide visible leadership to a multidisciplinary team, managing resources effectively, supporting professional development and fostering an inclusive culture focused on collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement and delivery.

Working pattern guidance

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 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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Full details of the selection process can be found in the attached candidate pack.

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

Experience

• Lead criteria: Significant experience operating at a senior leadership level within risk, intelligence, analytical, regulatory or resilience environments
• Experience of developing strategy and translating complex or incomplete intelligence into organisational decisions and priorities
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams through change and capability development
• Experience implementing analytical, data or AI-enabled intelligence capabilities

Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Experience

• Significant experience operating at a senior leadership level within risk, intelligence, analytical, regulatory or resilience environments
• Experience of developing strategy and translating complex or incomplete intelligence into organisational decisions and priorities

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 20/09/26

Sift: Expected to take place from 21/09/26

Final panel interview: Expected to take place from 05/10/26

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

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 at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of application (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.

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.

Please note that although the successful candidate will need to obtain SC clearance before starting the role, you will be expected to undergo DV clearance once in post.

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

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.uk. If 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.