Joint Head of SPS and Innovation Policy

Are you an experienced policy leader?

Does working at the intersection of regulation, innovation and public protection sound like an interesting challenge?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking a Joint Head of SPS and Innovation Policy to help shape how the UK responds to emerging food technologies and novel products, ensuring consumers remain protected while supporting responsible innovation across the food sector.

We are 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.

This is a unique opportunity to influence some of the most high-profile policy issues facing the organisation, including novel foods, CBD, genetic technologies and the implementation of the proposed UK-EU SPS Agreement.

Working alongside our existing Joint Head of SPS and Innovation Policy in a shared leadership model, you will contribute to strategic decision-making, provide advice on complex regulatory issues and help define the future direction of food innovation policy across Great Britain.

You will provide strategic direction to a multidisciplinary team, creating an environment where colleagues can deliver high-quality policy advice and outcomes in a fast-moving and highly scrutinised environment. You will work closely with scientific, operational and policy experts across the FSA and government to develop evidence-based approaches to complex regulatory challenges, while maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders across industry, academia and the devolved administrations.

A significant focus of the role will be leading planning and implementation activity linked to the proposed UK-EU SPS Agreement, considering both immediate regulatory changes and longer-term future operating models. You will also play a key role within the Market Authorisations Service, contribute to ministerial advice and senior briefings, and represent the FSA in discussions with key national and international partners, helping to ensure an effective and trusted regulatory framework for innovative food products.

You'll join a supportive and inclusive leadership team that values collaboration, innovation and shared success. Alongside jointly leading a fantastic team of dedicated professionals, you'll have the opportunity to work with knowledgeable colleagues from across the FSA who are committed to making a real difference through their work.

Candidates invited to interview will be offered an informal conversation with the existing Joint Head of SPS and Innovation Policy, providing an opportunity to learn more about the role and ask any questions before the interview

Working pattern guidance

Applicants who wish to work part time / 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.

Due to the nature of the role, we are unable to consider requests for part-time working of less than 30 hours per week.

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)

Please read before applying

This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment available until 31/03/2027 due to limited funding for project work. There may be the potential, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency. Due to the urgency of the role, candidates must be able to take up employment within 6 weeks of conditional offer.

Note for current civil servants

Candidates that are already established civil servants will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy. Please ensure that your department is aware of relevant payroll arrangements for a loan of less than 6 months’ duration.

Note for FSA employees

You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy - please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).

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 Strengths 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

• Policy Development: Demonstrable experience delivering policy outcomes in a complex strategic context, working with closely with a range of experts to deliver evidence-based recommendations. (Lead criteria)
• Leadership: Ability to lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team, making the most of varied skills and experience and creating an environment where all team members are equally valued and enabled to contribute.
• Collaboration: Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to quickly establish and maintain productive relations with a range of senior stakeholders across departments.
• Communication: Ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to a range of stakeholders from different backgrounds and levels (including senior management). Confidently present to Board members/Ministers, exert influence in relationships and provide constructive challenge where necessary.
• Delivery: Ability to work across multiple different and conflicting priorities at once, prioritising effectively to ensure timely delivery of objectives.

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

• Policy Development: Demonstrable experience delivering policy outcomes in a complex strategic context, working with closely with a range of experts to deliver evidence-based recommendations. (assessed via assessment exercise – details below)
• Leadership: Ability to lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team, making the most of varied skills and experience and creating an environment where all team members are equally valued and enabled to contribute.
• Collaboration: Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to quickly establish and maintain productive relations with a range of senior stakeholders across departments.
• Communication: Ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to a range of stakeholders from different backgrounds and levels (including senior management). Confidently present to Board members/Ministers, exert influence in relationships and provide constructive challenge where necessary.

Strengths

We will also assess you against a number of Civil Service Strengths – these are not disclosed prior to interview.

Assessment exercise

As part of the interview process, you will be sent an information document 24 hours before your interview to familiarise yourself with. One hour prior to your interview, you will receive instructions outlining what you need to prepare and deliver at the start of your interview.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 31 August 2026 (23:55)

Sift: Expected to take place from 1 September 2026

Informal meetings with existing Joint Head of SPS and Innovation Policy

Final panel interview: Expected to take place 17 and 18 September 2026

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.

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.