Senior Assurance Auditor

Scottish Government; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A Scottish regulatory agency seeks a part-time auditor to join Food Standards Scotland in ensuring compliance with food and feed law. The role involves leading audits, engaging stakeholders, and contributing to policy development. Candidates must possess relevant qualifications as an Environmental Health Officer or Food Safety Officer, alongside experience in food law delivery in a Local Authority. This role offers flexibility with hybrid working options and requires collaboration with various partners to enhance public health standards.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive and inclusive environment

Employee benefits

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of food law legislation and guidance.
• Direct experience with food law delivery within a Local Authority.

Responsibilities

• Meet legislative requirements for auditing and monitoring.
• Prepare audit reports and make recommendations.
• Contribute to policy and strategy development.

Skills

Connections and communication

Data and insight

Education

Environmental Health Officer or Food Safety Officer qualification

Lead Auditor qualification

Job description

Job Description

Would you like an opportunity to play a key role in the audit of food and feed law delivery by Food Standards Scotland and all of Scotland's Local Authorities?

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has a small Audit and Assurance team which is responsible for ensuring that the delivery of controls for food and feed in Scotland meets the legal requirements and official guidance. The function is delivered through a risk‑based audit programme presented by a small team of auditors. The role is one of these auditors, developing, undertaking and leading audit activities, including onsite visits, with the aim of providing assurance on the standard of delivery of food and feed law enforcement services by Local Authorities and FSS. The role is broad‑ranging and involves engagement and collaboration with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders and operational partners.

This post is offered on a part‑time basis (17.5 hours per week).

Responsibilities

• Meet legislative requirements for auditing and monitoring the delivery of official controls by Local Authorities and FSS.
• Examine and assess FSS and Local Authority food and feed law enforcement arrangements by undertaking assurance audits of their service delivery in accordance with relevant procedures, milestones and timelines, and by analysing performance monitoring data, acting as Lead Auditor for some of these audits.
• Prepare audit reports on the outcome of audits and make recommendations, take appropriate follow‑up action to support FSS and Local Authorities in their implementation of timely and effective measures to address identified problems, and liaise with internal colleagues and external officials, as necessary, on the outcome of audits.
• Contribute to policy and strategy development on audit and monitoring of FSS and Local Authority food and feed law enforcement activity including analysis of information and add to the wider contributions to inform FSS enforcement related policy issues and the function and implementation of these.
• Keep up to date with key developments relevant to FSS strategic objectives, and be able to present relevant FSS policy at senior level meetings and events.
• Represent FSS at external meetings and presentations.

Qualifications

Environmental Health Officer or Food Safety Officer with an appropriate qualification recognised by REHIS/EHRB, and Lead Auditor qualification (e.g. UKAS ISO courses, or IRCA certified training programmes for Lead Auditor roles).

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills

• Connections and communication. Builds and uses relationships and networks to share insights, customer views, and learning about the issues affecting service and delivery effectiveness and impact. Ensures both self and teams apply best practice for diffusing hostility and managing conflict, and supports colleagues when incidents occur. Recognises the complexities of organisational service delivery, and communicates key issues and messages in an open, simple, and accessible way to stakeholders.
• Data and insight. Sources and analyses a range of data and insights (e.g. user‑insights, socio‑economic data) to inform options and make decisions. Leads the development of metrics, KPIs and dashboards to assess performance and improvements to services and operational delivery. Manages, supports and engages positively with inspections and audits – to gather data and evidence, and shape and act upon findings and recommendations.

Experience

• Comprehensive and practical understanding of the legislation and official guidance relating to food law, and the regulatory systems for delivering official controls with direct experience of working in food law delivery within a Local Authority.

Behaviours

• Working together – Level 3.
• Making effective decisions – Level 3.

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience, and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

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.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 23 February 2026, however this may be subject to change.

About us

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was established by the Food (Scotland) Act 2015 as a non‑ministerial office, part of the Scottish Administration, alongside, but separate from, the Scottish Government. Our primary concern is consumer protection – making sure that the food is safe to eat, ensuring consumers know what they are eating and improving nutrition.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has a wide and diverse remit which covers all aspects of the food chain which can impact on public health – aiming to protect consumers from food safety risks and promote healthy eating. Our mission is to be Scotland's leading authority on food safety, standards and healthy eating; using data and evidence to provide assurance and advice that inspires consumer confidence and improves public health.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard working hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the post. This role is hybrid compatible. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

FSS employees currently work in a hybrid fashion. FSS's Head Office is based in Pilgrim House in Aberdeen, and travel to meetings at this office would be expected on occasion. We do invite applications from outside this area, and there would be opportunities to work from an alternative Scottish Government building.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre‑employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Apply before: 8 February 2026 (23:59)