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Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 14th July 2026

For more information on this role please see the following link: Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

Location
Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow

About the job
 

Job summary
Are you the scientific leader who can help shape Scotland’s food safety future?

Applications are invited from suitably qualified, accomplished scientists for this 2-5 year secondment opportunity as Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Food Standards Scotland (FSS).  

Job description
The CSA for FSS will be a senior, independent Scientific Adviser, who will advise FSS’s CEO and Board on all scientific matters relating to the organisation’s statutory responsibilities and the delivery of its strategic objectives. FSS’s CSA will provide strategic science leadership for FSS; supporting its senior scientists in the provision of expert oversight and assurance for all of the organisation’s research, surveillance, monitoring and risk assessment functions; ensuring the evidence base used to underpin policy on food safety and public health nutrition is robust and delivers maximum impact. In line with other CSA roles across government, it will provide an independent challenge function to FSS, helping to further embed scientific evidence at the centre of policy development and decision-making across the organisation.

FSS’s CSA is an outward facing role, with responsibility for representing FSS’s use of science and evidence to key stakeholders, the media and public, including during incidents. It will promote and champion the work of FSS’s scientists; supporting learning and development and driving engagement across the wider scientific community and the food industry, to maintain and strengthen FSS’s reputation as a highly regarded science and evidence-based organisation.

The CSA for FSS will contribute to the existing network of independent scientific advisers in Scottish Government to support the CSA for Scotland in ensuring that there are mechanisms in place to ensure policy making in Scotland is underpinned by the best science available. The post will work particularly closely with the Scottish Government’s CSA for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) to promote the use of systems thinking and evidence that enables policy makers to understand the interactions and trade-offs between food chain sustainability and resilience, food security, dietary health and food safety in Scotland. It will also collaborate with the Food Standards Agency’s CSA in areas of shared policy responsibility and scientific interest to ensure co-ordination and alignment across the UK in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and delivery of FSS’s Food and Health Research Programme and Digital and Data Strategy; ensuring a strategic and co-ordinated approach to the identification and prioritisation of evidence needs, and promoting the responsible sharing and linkage of FSS data to maximise its value across the wider food and public health landscape.
• Provide strategic scientific leadership across FSS by offering expert advice and constructive challenge to staff, the Corporate Leadership Team, and the FSS Board on the generation, analysis and use of data and evidence to inform risk assessment, incident response, and the development of policies related to food safety and public health nutrition. 
• Contribute to corporate leadership by ensuring robust science governance, supporting FSS scientists to provide the CEO and Board with assurance on the quality and cost-effectiveness of research and the processes used to commission and publish it. Work collaboratively with science and communications teams to ensure scientific outputs are accessible and effectively translated into advice for policymakers, stakeholders and consumers.
• Build impactful networks with the CSA for Scotland, Scottish Government’s portfolio CSAs (ENRA, Health and Marine), Public Health Scotland, and other government experts on public health and food; ensuring science priorities on food safety and dietary health in Scotland are understood across Government. Support a co-ordinated, systems thinking approach to the use of science in policy development, taking account of FSS strategy, the objectives of Good Food Nation, and wider strategies relating to population health, trade, food security/resilience and climate change adaptation in Scotland.
• Develop a strong working relationship with the Food Standards Agency’s CSA; engaging with them regularly to maintain an up to date awareness of respective priorities, science activities and resourcing issues, and ensure science aspects of our Memorandum of Understanding are kept under review, including FSS’s ability to access to UK Scientific Advisory Committees and specialist expertise in FSA for the best available scientific advice to inform policy development in Scotland.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness of all research activities relating to food and diet in Scotland and across the UK. Work with the CSA (ENRA) to ensure FSS funded projects and relevant work delivered through Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture are effectively targeted at addressing key public health and food policy objectives, and that duplication is minimised. 
• Advise the CEO on relevant workforce and resourcing strategy for science in FSS, ensuring that the delivery of science advice is underpinned by appropriately qualified staff with the right mix of skills, knowledge and expertise to deliver FSS objectives. Work with the CSA, Scotland and the Head of Professional Development for Science in Scottish Government to enable consideration of appropriate career pathways and professional development schemes for scientists in FSS and other areas of food policy in Scotland.
• Act as a spokesperson for FSS on high profile scientific issues relating to food safety and public health nutrition; ensuring the scientific basis for decisions on policy, advice and actions is effectively communicated to different expert and lay audiences through a range of channels, including the media.
• Establish an impactful profile across the relevant UK and international scientific communities; and when required represent FSS and Scottish Government at delegations and conferences to promote and champion our research and science capabilities on the global arena.

• The CSA for FSS will be the nominal Head of Profession (Science and Engineering) for the organisation supported in this role by the Head of Science and Chief Nutritionist.  

   

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £93,667, Scottish Government contributes £27,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
 

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 1,000 words that directly addresses the Qualification and Professional Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above. Your statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the specified experience requirements, and your CV must confirm your qualifications. General or unrelated statements, or failure to evidence the required qualification criteria, may result in your application not being considered.

During the interview and assessment process we will test your Skills, Experience and Behaviours aligned to this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If you are invited to the next stage, the assessment process will include an interview with a short presentation and a psychological assessment.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c’s 10 & 17 August 2026; however, this may be subject to change.

The Final Interview Panel will take place on Thursday 27th August 2026, in person at Pilgrim House, Old Ford Road, Aberdeen, AB11 5RL. The current Hiring Manager for this role is the Chief Executive of FSS, Geoff Ogle. Geoff is due to retire in August 2026, and a recruitment campaign is now underway to appoint his successor. Once the new Chief Executive is in post, they will assume responsibility for chairing the recruitment process for this role. The other panel Members are:

•    Professor Calum Semple, Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland – Scottish Government  
•    Dr Jacqueline McElhiney, Head of Science Division – Food Standards Scotland 
•    Ms Dawn Davies, HR Manager – Food Standards Scotland

For more information on this role please see the following link: Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

This research drew up a route map to show how Scotland can reach its potential of becoming leaders in the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecules for environmental monitoring and assessment. Biodiversity and environmental condition can be more efficiently and comprehensively assessed using eDNA than by using many traditional methods. They offer a powerful new approach, but there is currently no fully coordinated national strategy in Scotland. The clear strategic route map outlined in this research will guide investment, coordination, and the wider use of DNA-based monitoring over the next two to 10 years, providing an opportunity for Scotland to take a leading role in the UK in this field. Realising this potential will require alignment with international developments and sustained investment in standards, infrastructure and workforce. 

^{Main image: Sampling DNA from the environment (eDNA), such as on this freshwater filter, enables downstream detection and identification of a broad range of organisms from mammals, fish, insects or microbial pests and pathogens all on the basis of their DNA barcodes. Photo credit: David Cooke, The James Hutton Institute.}

The number of new largescale community land acquisitions has slowed over the past ten years. Largely, respondents in this research suggested this was less to do with a decrease in demand, but rather an increase in barriers to acquisition. Barriers identified by respondents were:

• Stretched community capacity and insufficient support from external 
  organisations;
• Lack of ongoing support for the acquisition from local residents;
• Insufficient available funding, and constraining conditions on its use;
• Overcomplicated and ineffectual legislative mechanisms for acquisition;
• Reliance on a willing and cooperative seller;
• Lack of appetite for risk both within the local community and from 
  funders.

Suggested solutions include:

• Increasing institutional support and community capacity;
• Improving promotion and communication of previous successes;
• Strengthening and simplifying legislative mechanisms;
• Improving and promoting routes to community empowerment short of ownership;
• Enhancing availability of funding and support for the acquisition process.

The vast majority of the thirty-four largescale community land acquisitions are located in two Local Authority areas – Western Isles and Highland – accounting for over 75% of acquisitions and over 94% of hectarage between them. The majority of these assets are crofting estates, followed by woodlands. While these assets and locations continue to dominate the largescale community land sector, in recent years there have been very few such acquisitions. Instead, different types of asset, including nature reserves, have emerged in different Local Authority areas. This may indicate a diversification of the types of largescale community land asset being acquired, but overall there has been a reduction in both the number of and hectarage of largescale community land acquisitions over the past ten years. The concept of ‘demand’ itself was considered elusive and very difficult to accurately gauge, due to it being significantly affected by the combination of favourable conditions required for a largescale acquisition. Thus, while 
it is not possible to accurately measure levels of demand over time, it can be stated confidently that there remains a level of demand for largescale community land acquisitions which has not resulted in acquisitions.

Case study: Why are large community buyouts slowing down? And why are there places where they never got started? | SEFARI

Demand for large-scale community land ownership in Scotland remains strong, but the rate of new acquisitions is slowing. Further, most large-scale acquisitions are concentrated in the Highlands and Islands, with much of Scotland seeing little activity. 
This SEFARI Gateway Fellowship identifies a consistent set of barriers, including limited community capacity, complex processes and constrained funding, which are preventing further progress.
By clarifying where and why these challenges arise, the findings provide practical insights and can support community organisations, support bodies and funders seeking to unlock future community ownership.

18 June 2026 -The Scottish Government has announced £150,000 funding to help Scotland become a world leader in animal health, aquaculture and agritech (AAA).

This is expected to support high-value jobs, particularly in rural and coastal communities, while driving export growth, inward investment and productivity.

Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands Jim Fairlie announced the funding today (18 June) at the Royal Highland Show.

It coincides with publication of a new report highlighting the significant contribution the sector could make to economic growth, food security and climate resilience.

Mr Fairlie said: “Scotland’s animal health, aquaculture and agritech sector represents a significant and growing part of our wider life sciences mix and is central to our ambition to grow the sector to £25bn turnover by 2035.

“This report highlights that, with the right investment and coordination, AAA can become one of Scotland’s most distinctive and internationally relevant innovation opportunities. This could deliver economic, environmental and social value, while contributing to global food, health and sustainability challenges.

“I’m pleased to announce that the Scottish Government is committing £150,000 funding to help realise the opportunities set out in the new report.”

The report was funded by SEFARI Gateway, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Scottish Enterprise (SE) and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).

It highlights a clear opportunity for Scotland to develop a more visible, coordinated and internationally competitive AAA sector. This would involve sustained collaboration across government, enterprise agencies, industry, funders and research organisations.

Director of SEFARI Gateway Dr Charles Bestwick said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Scotland’s enterprise agencies and three of our SEFARI research institutes on this major piece of work, which reveals exciting opportunities for the AAA sector in Scotland.

“We have the chance to grasp huge economic and innovation benefits at local to international scale, cementing an ability to nurture new, grow existing and attract international AAA enterprises. At the same time this would improve our capability to tackle issues such as climate resilience and food security.

“As the report shows, there are challenges in achieving this, but Scotland is well placed to compete with global leaders such as Norway and the Middle East. We hope this report will provide the foundation for action to make that happen.”

The report has been published by the Moredun Research Institute, The James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College. It was developed in collaboration with the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group AAA sub-group.

Co-chair of the sub-group and director (Scotland) at Pioneer Group John Mackenzie said: “We are excited to see this report launched and look forward to driving its recommendations forward through more coordinated leadership, increased collaboration and co-created innovation, targeted investment and stronger routes to international markets, where Scotland has a highly competitive value proposition.

Drawing on insights from workshops and a sector-wide survey, the research confirms that Scotland has a strong and investable AAA sector, with the potential to make a significant contribution to economic growth, innovation, exports, food security and climate resilience.”

The growing AAA sector includes organisations working in livestock health, seafood production, and development of novel technologies for agriculture. It involves more than 200 organisations and businesses and is part of the broader Scottish Life Sciences sector, which aims to grow its turnover to £25 billion by 2035.

The report, Scotland’s Animal Health, Aquaculture and Agritech (AAA) Sector: Baseline Assessment, Structural Challenges and Strategic Opportunities, describes Scotland's internationally recognised research capability, strong base of Small and Medium Enterprises and larger companies, established aquaculture and agricultural industries, specialist infrastructure, and a collaborative culture across research, industry and public agencies.

The team behind the report, led by Charlotte Burgess, head of business development at Moredun Research Institute, conclude: “With the right investment and coordination, AAA can become one of Scotland’s most distinctive and internationally relevant innovation opportunities, delivering economic, environmental and social value for Scotland while contributing to research into global food, health and sustainability challenges.”

For more information:

Charlotte Burgess (head of business development, Moredun Research Institute): charlotte.burgess@moredun.ac.uk

Jenny Fyall (SEFARI): jenny.fyall@sefari.scot

The report is available here: Scotland’s Animal Health, Aquaculture and Agritech (AAA) Sector: Baseline Assessment, Structural Challenges and Strategic Opportunities - Full Report | SEFARI

Emerging climate-smart technologies will need to play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beef production, however, their impact at farm level is not fully quantified. Modelling using real Scottish beef farm data demonstrated that three emerging climate-smart technologies: feed additives (including bolus), microbiome-driven breeding and GreenShed (a methane capturing cattle shed that utilises waste products to power the shed and grow indoor crops) reduced both whole farm and product emissions across all farms.

Found out more about the project here: Data driven innovations for improved sustainability of ruminant productions systems | SEFARI

Current commercially available precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies have the potential to indirectly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beef farms by improving production efficiency. Modelling based on real Scottish beef farm data showed that three PLF technologies - automatic weighing platforms, health sensors, and fertility sensors - reduced emission intensities on average, although impacts varied across production systems and technologies.

Find out more about the project here: Data driven innovations for improved sustainability of ruminant productions systems | SEFARI

Author: Cathy Hawes