Scientist (Risk Assessment and Communication)

Singapore Food Agency; Singapore; On-site; SGD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agency in Singapore seeks a qualified Food Safety Officer to conduct assessments and communicate risks related to food safety. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD and possess strong scientific writing, analytical, and communication skills. This critical role involves engaging with stakeholders and working independently or as part of a team to improve food safety management in the country.

Qualifications

• Minimum PhD required.
• Proficient in scientific literature search and translation of complex information.
• Good writing, analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct safety assessments and risk assessments for foodborne hazards.
• Prepare and present food safety risk communication content.
• Engage with stakeholders to enhance food safety knowledge.

Skills

Scientific writing

Analytical skills

Communication

Presentation skills

Education

PhD in public health, toxicology, pharmaceutical sciences, biological sciences, microbiology or food science

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

What the role is:

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. Evolving technologies and changes in the environment can lead to the occurrence of emerging or re-emerging foodborne hazards. The risks of these hazards to human health need to be assessed and communicated such that appropriate mitigation steps may be taken.

As an officer under the National Centre for Food Science, you will perform food safety assessments on various fronts, such as (i) safety assessments of novel foods, new food ingredients, food additives, food-contact chemicals and articles, new and emerging food business models and food handling practices and (ii) chemical and microbiological risk assessments of foodborne hazards. These food safety risk assessments will support the risk management actions taken by SFA.

You will also prepare and present food safety risk communication content to the public and industry as a representative of SFA to raise the level of food safety knowledge and promote joint responsibility in these groups.

What you will be working on:

• Conduct safety assessments of novel foods, new food ingredients and additives, food-contact chemicals and articles, new and emerging food business models, and food handling practices.
• Conduct food safety chemical and microbiological risk assessments of foodborne hazards to assess their health risks.
• Provide scientific support to risk management decisions and risk communication through risk assessments.
• Conduct literature search and regular monitoring of food safety articles to keep abreast of the emerging risk due to emerging or re-emerging hazards for highlighting concerns to management
• Communicate findings from food safety risk assessment through stakeholder engagement, conference presentations, scientific publications, project reports and workshops.
• Develop and maintain a network of local and overseas scientific experts and food safety regulators for discussions on the science, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication of food safety issues.
• Engage with external partners to build up food safety knowledge and capabilities in the public and industry.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum PhD in public health, toxicology, pharmaceutical sciences, biological sciences, microbiology or food science.
• Proficient in scientific literature search and good scientific writing skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific knowledge to simple language suitable for non-technical stakeholders.
• Knowledge of food safety management systems (such as GMP, HACCP) and/or food safety risk analysis would be an advantage.
• Able to work effectively in a team or independently.
• Demonstrate initiative, drive, and willingness to take on additional duties when required.
• Able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and effectively.
• Able to use a basic suite of computer software for office applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Good writing, analytical, communication and presentation skills. The ability to fluently speak languages/dialects besides English would be an advantage.

Other information

Office Location:SFA National Centre for Food Science, 7 International Business Park

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the interview.

About Singapore Food Agency

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is a new Statutory Board formed under the ‘Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to oversee food safety and security. The SFA will serve as the single point of contact for public feedback on food-related issues, and strengthen management of foodborne disease outbreaks to protect public health.The SFA will also facilitate more business-friendly regulations with oversight of all food safety policies and consolidation of food laboratory capabilities to deepen competencies in food diagnostics, and research and development in food safety.