Investigator (London/Wales Team)

Do you have experience of conducting investigations in a criminal, civil, regulatory or food environment?

Can you prioritise workloads and meet deadlines despite conflicting demands?

If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as an Investigator, and we’d love to hear from you!

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.

The National Food Crime Unit is looking for an experienced Investigator to help tackle serious criminality within the food sector. In this important role, you will help develop evidence and intelligence against individuals and organisations suspected of food crime, supporting action that protects UK consumers, businesses and wider interests.

You will become part of a collaborative team with strong links across the Food Standards Agency and the wider law enforcement community. The role offers exposure to complex, fast-moving operational work and the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to public protection. It is suited to someone with recent investigative experience who can balance competing priorities, communicate clearly with different audiences and maintain high professional standards.

You will plan and complete investigative activity under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer, while taking responsibility for straightforward cases when appropriate. Assignments may involve witness and suspect interviews, premises searches, evidence gathering, detailed examination of digital material and the preparation of case documentation for potential prosecution.

You will maintain accurate records, support effective disclosure and ensure enquiries comply with legislation including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and relevant criminal procedure, fraud and investigatory powers legislation. You will liaise with witnesses, suspects and operational partners, assess risks associated with planned activity and use public resources responsibly. A full category B driving licence is required because the position involves regular operational travel.

Please read before applying

As this is an investigatory role we need to be aware if any of our employees have any of the following: any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete. You will be asked to complete a declaration form covering the above if offered a role with the FSA.

You must declare to the best of your knowledge:

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to your employment you have ever had
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards you have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded

The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court

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 Experience and Technical skills.

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.

Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.

• Full Driving Licence (Manual or Automatic) for category B vehicles

If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

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: Experience of conducting investigations in a criminal, civil, regulatory or food environment
• Proven experience of prioritizing workloads and meeting deadlines against competing demands
• Experience of drafting and writing documents, articulating and presenting findings verbally, to a wide range of audiences, including senior, internal and external partners
• Data inputting – proficient in the use of Sharepoint Excel and Word documents (or equivalent software packages)

Technical

• Experience of the practical application of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, The Fraud Act 2006 and The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000/Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (including interviewing and taking of statements)

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, GPTW 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 and Technical requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.

Experience

• Experience of conducting investigations in a criminal, civil, regulatory or food environment
• Proven experience of prioritizing workloads and meeting deadlines against competing demands
• Experience of drafting and writing documents, articulating and presenting findings verbally, to a wide range of audiences, including senior, internal and external partners

Technical

• Experience of the practical application of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, The Fraud Act 2006 and The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000/Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (including interviewing and taking of statements

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 25/10/26

Sift: Expected to take place from 26/10/26

Final panel interview: Expected to take place from 09/11/26

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.

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

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.