Temporary Technical Executive, Food Science & Technology - 11 months

Food Safety Authority of Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Food Safety Authority of Ireland is seeking a qualified scientist to support regulatory functions across novel foods, GM foods, and food enzymes. You will analyse data, prepare briefing notes, and help communicate with national and EU stakeholders to uphold high standards of food safety.

Working with a multidisciplinary team, you will monitor compliance, respond to information requests, assist with technical aspects of authenticity and allergen monitoring, and ensure timely delivery of accurate

Qualifications

• Honours science degree or equivalent.
• Minimum two years' relevant post graduate experience or MSc.
• Excellent analytical, report writing and organisational skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to set and meet deadlines.
• Confidential handling of written/spoken information.
• Computer literacy with standard office software.

Responsibilities

• Assist with ensuring competent authority functions in novel foods and related areas.
• Contribute to emerging risk intelligence and briefing notes.
• Utilise analytical and digital tools to strengthen risk detection.
• Represent the Authority at regulatory meetings as designated.
• Collate and interpret data for enforcement, public, or EU use.
• Liaise with national and international parties to develop standards.
• Respond to information requests from the public, departments and industry.
• Assist with monitoring of food authenticity and allergens.

Education

MSc in a relevant science field

Job description

JOB ENVIRONMENT

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is a statutory, independent and science-based national agency, dedicated to protecting consumers by leading a collaborative food safety community to continuously raise food standards and create a culture of excellence. Core FSAI objectives exist to ensure through regulation and engagement with stakeholders, that food consumed, produced, distributed or marketed in Ireland is to the highest possible standards. Consumers are placed at the centre of all its activities. Consumers have a fundamental right to safe food and also that they are not being misled about the food they are purchasing or eating.

As the competent authority in Ireland for novel food, GM food, food enzymes and irradiated food, the obligations of the FSAI are extensive, requiring routine attendance at national and international regulatory meetings (virtually or physically) as well as the delivery of precise technical and legislative information on request. The FSAI in recent years has also engaged in proactively identifying potential risks to the safety and integrity of the food supply chain using data and information from a variety of sources.

Inter-divisional cooperation with FSAI staff members with both scientific and non-scientific backgrounds is essential for the efficient functioning of the organisation. Effective and timely interaction with other regulatory bodies, the food industry and the public is crucial to a seamless enforcement of EU and national food law.

PRINCIPAL JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Assist the Chief Specialist, Food Science & Technology in ensuring that the competent authority functions of the Authority (novel foods, GM foods, food enzymes and irradiated foods) are achieved.
• Contribute to the emerging risks process within FSAI, including the development of emerging risk intelligence, situation reports and briefing notes
• Utilise and contribute to the further development of innovative analytical and digital tools, including AI-enabled literature mining systems, media monitoring platforms, data analytics tools, and horizon scanning technologies to strengthen emerging risk detection capabilities.
• Represent the FSAI and Ireland at EU regulatory meetings as designated.
• Represent the FSAI at, and participate in expert or scientific gatherings as designated.
• Collate and interpret analytical data and information from national and international sources for the purpose of dissemination to enforcement officers, the public or EU institutions.
• Liaise with national and international parties (State Agencies, DOH, DAFM, EU Commission, OECD and Codex) contributing to the development of various standards and protocols.
• Respond to requests for information from members of the public, Government Departments, Government Agencies and industry as required.
• Assist with the technical aspects of monitoring food authenticity.
• Assist with food allergen monitoring.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• An honours science degree, or equivalent, with experience in at least one of the following areas: Food Science, Food technology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or other relevant scientific disciplines.
• A minimum of two years’ relevant post graduate work experience or a relevant post graduate qualification (minimum MSc)
• Experience in project research, collation, evaluation, interpretation and dissemination of data/information.
• Excellent analytical, report writing and organisational skills are essential.
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to treat written and spoken material and information in strict confidence when required.
• Be computer literate. The standard business software in the FSAI is Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise and Microsoft Office 365
• Knowledge of EU and national legislation governing various food categories, along with practical experience of their application in a variety of situations would be an advantage.