Veterinary Auditors (2 vacancies)
Food Standards Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 12th May 2024
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Veterinary Services
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About the job
Job summary
The FSA is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure that it is what it says it is, and that it is increasingly healthy and more sustainable.
We are looking for two Veterinary Auditors who can help us hold food produced in the UK to high standards. You will provide one-the-ground veterinary experience in the slaughterhouses that first introduce meat into our food systems, so we can ensure these systems have the best possible start in providing safe, hygienic, and trustworthy meat.
Job description
Our aim is to make sure that our food is the best that it can be. Animal hygiene and welfare is the very first step on the route to the nation’s dinner tables, and at the FSA we work hard to keep Britain’s interests in mind even at these early stages.
Your work will enable the FSA to monitor both the hygiene and the welfare of the animals that are being used for food and feed across the UK. Through the auditing of food safety management systems and animal welfare compliance, you will provide an invaluable service to the public.
We are looking for decisive and focused individuals who are passionate about the chance to positively affect the quality of the food on tables across the nation. Good communicators with strong interpersonal skills are required to fully demonstrate and share the values we hold food business operators to. You will be able to present and promote the FSA’s priorities to both the staff and managers of food business operators and other stakeholders.
If you are looking for the opportunity to do work that matters for a progressive and respected government department and can bring your own high standards and keen eye to the role, we look forward to your application.
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.
Licences
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Full details of the selection process are detailed 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 UK Driving Licence
- Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Fully Qualified or with experience as Official Veterinarian in Red Meat and White Meat
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 and desirable criteria. (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).
Essential criteria
Experience
- Experience of food hygiene or food law enforcement including meat and other product of animal origin
- Comprehensive and practical understanding of the legislation and official guidance relating to meat, other products of animal origin, animal health and welfare, and animal by-products
- Comprehensive and practical understanding of official guidance and the regulatory systems for delivering official controls.
Desirable criteria (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).
Experience
- Experience of auditing and/or inspecting food establishments
Technical
- Experience of Game Handling establishments and Meat Processing
- Level 4 HACCP Qualification
- Qualification or training in auditing; for example Quality Assurance Management, ISO Lead Assessor course or HACCP auditing, IRCA Registration
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 Technical requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours Level 3
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Technical
- Knowledge of the relevant veterinary regulatory framework for public health and/or animal health and welfare
- Ability to understand and apply veterinary risk assessment
Assessment exercise
As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the day / invitation to interview email.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 12/05/24
Sift: Expected to take place 13/05/24
Final panel interview: Expected to take place 27/05/24
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).
The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.
Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.
Please be assured that diversity or socio–economic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications. Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.
We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.
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 hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Monica Racero
- Email : monica.racero@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
