Principal Scientist- Food Authenticity & Safety

Job title:

Principal Scientist- Food Authenticity & Safety

Company

Fera Science

Job description

Join us as a Principal Scientist (Food Authenticity & Safety) and make an invaluable contribution to our Biosecurity & Food Safety!At Fera, we’re making the world a better, healthier, and safer place. We’re a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we’re working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating food safety and authenticity, plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.We’re seeking a Principal Scientist who has expert knowledge of food safety and authenticity to join our organisation to support the growth of our business.We invest in our people and have appointed a number of emerging leaders with the potential to act and lead on innovative initiatives. Our Principal Scientists demonstrate strong subject matter prowess with the ability to fundamentally challenge the science quality across our business whilst taking responsibility for representation of its science externally and applying commercial acumen for the evaluation of opportunities.As a Principal Scientist, you will play the leading role in the science development and delivery of work in your scientific area(s) of expertise and make a significant contribution to the overall scientific direction of Fera. You will be accountable for the successful (scientifically and financially) and efficient delivery of a portfolio of testing services and/or projects, directing and mentoring colleagues as appropriate. Your breadth of knowledge will be such that you can lead and influence across the whole business in multiple science workstreams.What you’ll be doing:The role will play a key role in the expansion and delivery of Fera’s work on the safety of food and feed and other relevant sectors to ensure product integrity (e.g. quality and authenticity) as well as:

• Developing Fera’s science offer in food safety and authenticity identifying new products and services for national and international markets.
• Formalising Fera’s food safety and authenticity R&D capability to present it coherently to industry / enforcement / regulator stakeholder groups in a compelling manner.
• In partnership with Head of Business Unit and other Principal Scientists, developing the sustainable growth plans for the business unit, ensuring alignment with Fera’s business and science strategies.
• Leading on and contributing to the delivery of scientific projects on food safety and authenticity.
• Leading by example: Maintain personal science expertise and reputation, delivering science projects, public speaking and publishing high quality scientific publications.
• Identifying and developing the potential in emerging scientists through inspiring, mentoring, and coaching Fera colleagues.
• Identifying the key areas of specialist scientific skills and knowledge that need to be developed to meet future capability needs to grow Fera’s offer.
• Being a leading ambassador for the organisation who promotes the Fera vision, strategy, and values.
• Growing Fera’s reputation as a leading international science organisation and increase public visibility of Fera through internal and external activities; actively communicating views and news on the science disciplines of the business unit, co-ordinating and delivering science talks, hosting thought leader round tables and workshops, responding to public consultations, participation at appropriate conferences and science networks, and directing a flow of Fera science grey literature for external communication via thought leader blogs and social media.

What we’re looking for:

• You’ll have relevant qualifications at Bachelor, Masters, or PhD level plus significant industry experience.
• You’ll have an established reputation and national / international profile in food safety and authenticity research, with demonstrable skills in analytical measurement science and interpreting quality scientific data.
• You’ll have experience of working to quality standards, e.g. ISO17025 and GLP.
• You’ll have a demonstrable understanding of the regulatory requirements for food safety and authenticity.
• You’ll have a reputable track record of strategic science development.
• You’ll be a strategic thinker and an effective decision maker and have the ability to make strategic and informed decisions based on knowledge, experience and insights.
• You’ll be an excellent communicator – presentation skills, public speaking, excellent writer, influencer, have the ability to translate complex problems into comprehendible solutions.
• Accountability is key – thought leadership and taking full accountability for your area of science and guidance on those that you facilitate.
• Collaboration – you’ll be an excellent collaborator capable of leading projects, delegating, and drawing on skills and capabilities from across the business.
• Leadership – leading, motivating, and inspiring colleagues to accomplish a common objective or goal and taking stakeholders on your science journey.
• Innovation – a clear innovator, driving change and delivering services which demonstrate a clearly differentiated offering compared to competitors.
• Commercial acumen – you’ll be comfortable with commercially led conversations and understand how to convert concepts to completion.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary.
• 23 days’ holiday (rising to 27) with the opportunity to buy extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking.
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice.
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle – from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel, and technology
• Access to our Employee Network Groups, which represent every strand of diversity and allow colleagues to connect and learn from each other on an open, inclusive platform

What we hope you’ll do next:Choose ‘Apply now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you’d like to ask before applying, you can contactWe’re an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We’re committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you’d like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at and we’ll get back to you.At Fera, we’re making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We’re a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we’re working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.

Expected salary

Location

York

Job date

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:44:42 GMT

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