Appointment details

Member of the Food Standards Agency

Summary

• Organisation: Food Standards Agency
• Sponsor department: Department of Health and Social Care
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Health and Social Care
• Skills: Communication, Technology / Digital, Regulation, Consumer Advocacy
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 20 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £8,000 per annum
• Length of term: 3
• Application deadline: 11:55am on 27 July 2026

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   10 June 2026

2. Application deadline

   11:55am on 27 July 2026

3. Sifting date

   12 August 2026

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 September 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Chair

Introduction from Professor Susan Jebb, Chair of the FSA

I am delighted that you are considering applying for a non-executive role as Member of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board. 

The FSA is a regulatory department, charged by law with protecting public health, and the wider interests of consumers, in relation to food.  Our overarching aim is to ensure that the public can trust that their food is safe and authentic.  We act on the basis of science and evidence, and we put public health and the consumer interest first in our decision making.  We operate with high levels of transparency, including holding our Board meetings in public and inviting questions from the public on our work, to sustain trust and confidence in food standards.  

Our status as a non-Ministerial Government Department, serving England, Wales and Northern Ireland gives us a high degree of independence, and we operate free from political direction or control.  Legislation and 'floor of the House' matters are handled by the relevant Health Minister in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  We have a budget from the HM Treasury and Devolved Administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland of around £140 million and directly employ around 1400 civil servants. The FSA works closely with our sister department in Scotland, Food Standards Scotland. 

The Board sets the strategic priorities to fulfil the FSA’s statutory purposes, and reviews progress against agreed outcomes. The Board takes major decisions on public health and regulatory matters and assures the delivery of our programmes and plans.  

In 2022 the FSA published its strategy for improving food over the next five years and recommitted to its mission of food you can trust. The five-year strategy reflects the FSA’s greater responsibilities now that the UK is outside of the EU and also commits the FSA to working alongside other government departments towards healthier and more sustainable food. 

The Board's ambition is for the FSA to be regarded as an excellent, accountable, modern regulator.  We have a very committed and cohesive Board with Members from a range of backgrounds who share their knowledge and expertise in support of this goal.  We hold Board meetings in public on four occasions each year, with two private Board retreats and regular briefings and stakeholder visits. We are united by a common purpose to uphold and enhance food standards. People across the UK, and in those countries we export to, care about food and if you join us, your contribution will help uphold and enhance the food standards we are proud of in the UK. 

In this pack you will find additional information about the FSA and its work, details of the role, and how to apply.  I look forward to receiving your application.

Appointment description

• To ensure the FSA discharges its statutory duties in line with the requirement to protect public health and consumer interests in relation to food.
• To set and to reinforce the FSA’s core values through the development and monitoring of strategic objectives, plans and policies.
• To represent the FSA and its values in communications with key stakeholders.
• To monitor the performance of the Executive in meeting agreed objectives and targets, including: the delivery of services; continuous improvement; financial performance, and risk management.
• To assist with the appointment of the Chief Executive.
• To play an effective part in Board meetings, discussions and decisions, and work towards shared success.
• To participate as a member or Chair of one or more of the Board Committees: Business, and Audit and Risk Assurance.
• To act in the public interest at all times, not as a representative of the interests of any particular sector, and without regard to any personal interests.

Organisation description

The FSA is an independent, non-ministerial department, established in 2000 following several high-profile outbreaks of foodborne illness such as BSE (mad cow disease).

The objectives, powers and duties are mainly set out in the Food Standards Act 1999. They work across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their main objectives in law are to protect public health from risks arising from the consumption of food and to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food.

The FSA aim to protect the public by ensuring that food is safe and is what it says it is, and by playing their part in helping to make food healthier and more sustainable for everyone.  They work across the food system to uphold high standards and to make it easier for businesses to  do the right thing. Their work helps ensure that the public, and international trading partners, can have confidence in UK food.

The FSA’s role includes providing policy advice to ministers, monitoring developments in science and technology and commissioning research, ensuring their decisions and advice are always based on the best and most recent science. They also provide information and advice to other policy-makers and to the general public in connection with matters within their statutory objectives. They have similar functions in relation to animal feed. 

The FSA’s statutory powers include the power to issue guidance on control of foodborne disease, and the power to gather and publish information about the food system in support of their objectives, and to publish their own advice.  They also have specific powers as a regulator, to enforce food safety controls directly with some businesses and to oversee the enforcement of them by local authorities, with different policy responsibilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the UK left the EU, they also assess all applications for new foods, feed, or food contact material to be sold in England and Wales and advise health ministers on authorisations.

The FSA governed by an independent Board, rather than ministers. The chair and other members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and the Welsh and Northern Ireland governments. They work closely with Food Standards Scotland, which is the equivalent public body for Scotland.

The FSA’s work is underpinned by the latest science and evidence and agreed at their open Board meetings.

HM Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive contribute to their budget, which in recent years has been about £140 million.

Further information about the FSA’s work can be found on their website at:

Homepage | Food Standards Agency

Useful links

The FSA Brochure

Consolidated Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Our Food 2024 | Food Standards Agency

FSA Board Operating Framework

Business Committee performance report for Q2 2025/26 | Food Standards Agency

Board composition

The FSA hold three Board meetings and two retreats at various locations around England. 

One Board meeting per year is held in either Northern Ireland or Wales.

Future meetings are scheduled for:

15 & 16 September 2026

12 & 13 October 2026

8 & 9 December 2026

Further information can also be found at FSA Board Meetings | Food Standards Agency.  This includes videos of previous Board meetings

Person specification

Essential criteria

• A strong career track record of significant delivery at a senior level within the private, public or voluntary sectors. 
• Ability to operate effectively as part of a team on the board of a national public body, where you provide support, challenge and assurance. 
• Sound judgement, with an ability to critically analyse a wide range of information and make evidence-based, strategic decisions. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to gain the confidence of colleagues within your organisation and of its stakeholders. 
• Experience of working with, or on behalf of the public and an ability to represent consumer interests.

Desirable criteria

• Applications are particularly welcomed from those with a background in data/AI.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Natasha Burgon – Departmental Official

DHSC Director, Health Improvement (panel chair)

Natasha Burgon has no political activity to declare.

Susan Jebb – Public Body Representative

Chair of the Food Standards Agency

Susan Jebb has no political activity to declare.

Gurch Randhawa – Independent Panel Member

Director, Institute for Health Research 

Gurch Randhawa has no political activity to declare.

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

In addition, legislation related to the FSA sets out how individuals are disqualified from appointment as a Member, if they are a Member of the House of the Commons or the Northern Ireland Assembly

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact Jessie Rourke on jessie.rourke@dhsc.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

The Department of Health and Social Care also requires all those appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to public appointments, to be a fit and proper person, comparable with the requirements placed on board members in the NHS. As such, the successful candidate will be required to undertake security checks to ensure that you meet these requirements. For more information see the Candidate information pack.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Members of the FSA are remunerated at a rate of £8,000 per annum for a time commitment of 20 days per annum.

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact Zubeda Seedat in the public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at zubeda.seedat@dhsc.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The DHSC privacy notice can be found at DHSC privacy notice - GOV.UK.

Attachments

• FSA Member candidate information pack

Contact details

Ann Stirling

Tel: 07970 401448    

Email: board.sec@food.gov.uk