Now hiring: Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland
Use your scientific expertise to help shape Scotland’s food safety future.
Join Food Standards Scotland as Chief Scientific Adviser and provide strategic scientific leadership on a range of issues relating to public health, nutrition, and food safety.
Apply now
- Role: Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland
- Salary: £93,667 – £97,451 FTE
- Working pattern: Part-time (0.6 FTE, salary pro rata)
- Apply before: 14/07/2026, 23:55
This role is a secondment, offered on terms of minimum of 2 years with possibility of extension.
Shape Scotland’s food future
This is a significant opportunity for a passionate scientific leader to take on a high-impact role shaping public health nutrition and food safety in Scotland.
You will oversee the delivery of key strategic objectives, leading an evidence-based and data-driven approach across the organisation while supporting Food Standards Scotland (FSS) scientists and providing independent, constructive challenge.
As a prominent and outward-facing position, you will represent FSS’s use of science and evidence to the media and a wide range of influential stakeholders.
The role also offers extensive collaboration with external partners, including the UK’s Food Standards Agency, national organisations, the wider scientific community, and colleagues across the Scottish Government.
What you’ll oversee
Providing strategic and scientific leadership
You will provide strategic scientific leadership across FSS, overseeing the delivery of the Food and Health Research Programme and Digital and Data Strategy.
By guiding the generation and use of evidence, you will support robust risk assessment and policy development, ensure strong science governance, and enable high-quality, cost-effective research that underpins organisational decision-making.
Representing FSS, protecting our reputation and maintaining networks
You will act as a senior ambassador for FSS, representing its use of science and evidence to stakeholders, media and the wider public.
Building and maintaining strong networks across government, industry and the scientific community, you will promote collaboration, align priorities, and strengthen FSS’s reputation nationally and internationally.
Who we’re looking for
The ideal candidate will be a passionate scientific leader in the areas of Microbiological/Chemical Food Safety, Public Health Nutrition, or Food Technology, with a strong track record of applying evidence and data to shape policy and deliver impact.
They will have significant experience leading high-quality, ethical research, influencing senior stakeholders, and collaborating across disciplines to address real-world challenges. A recognised expert, they will build strong partnerships and contribute to the wider scientific community.
The effectiveness of this role is strengthened by having someone who is actively involved in industry or academia and committed to maintaining those links throughout their appointment.
For full person specification and to apply, visit our job advert.
Food Standards Scotland
We are Scotland’s public sector food body, established to protect consumers’ health and wellbeing through three statutory objectives under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015.
Governed by an eight‑member Board, our remit spans the full food chain. We work with all 32 local authorities to regulate food hygiene and standards and deliver official controls for meat, eggs, wine, and animal feed.
Our SAFER programme is driving major digital and operational transformation. Since the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, we have taken on functions previously held at European level, and we continue to build the evidence base that supports Scotland’s dietary health goals.
Further info
Our benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits including:
- A competitive salary
- A generous pension scheme and annual leave package
- The opportunity to deliver meaningful work for the people of Scotland
- Access to ongoing professional development
- An inclusive and supportive workplace
Committed to diversity
We are committed to recruiting a workforce which is reflective of our diverse population, where individual contributions are encouraged and valued.
We want to ensure that all applicants have the opportunity to perform at their best and we offer recruitment and workplace adjustments to anyone who needs them.
Senior Civil Service Candidate Guide
For helpful info on how to apply, our recruitment principles, requesting adjustments, and more, check out our Senior Civil Service Candidate Guide.
Ready to apply?
We strongly encourage applications from diverse backgrounds. Follow the link to view the full role description.