Specialist Team Lead / Senior Scientist (Pesticides Residues)

Singapore Food Agency; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency focused on food safety in Singapore is looking for a leader in the Pesticide Residue Team. You will conduct pesticide residue testing, develop new testing methodologies, and perform risk assessments. Ideal candidates will have a Master’s or PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related fields, and experience with advanced instrumentation. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential. Join us in safeguarding the food safety of Singapore through innovative science and technology.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of advanced chemical hazard detection methods.
• Experience implementing ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory systems is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and take on additional duties as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead pesticide residue testing and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Manage laboratory operations and train team members for competency.
• Conduct risk assessments and communicate findings through reports and publications.

Skills

Analytical Chemistry

Sample extraction and detection

Networking

Negotiation skills

Education

Master or PhD in relevant scientific fields

Tools

LC-MS/MS

GC-MS/MS

LC-HRMS

GC-HRMS

Job description

What the role is:

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. The National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) under SFA oversees the application of science and technology to enable evidence-based risk assessment for foodborne hazards to support SFA’s food safety program. NCFS collaborate with stakeholders across the entire food chain and research institutions to address emerging food safety and security concerns.

You will join Pesticide Residue Team under Food Science Rapid Response Department (FSRRD) of NCFS to lead the team in conducting pesticide residue testing, strengthening testing capabilities through method development and research activities, and conducting risk assessment to support SFA’s operation needs for food safety regulation, market monitoring programs, and outbreak investigations. This position provides an opportunity for you to learn and apply cutting‑edge testing and diagnostic technologies to solve real world problems and safeguard the food safety of Singapore.

What you will be working on:

Laboratory operation

• Lead the team in conducting pesticide residue testing, ensuring the delivery of reliable results and compliance with required turnaround times.
• Oversee and guide the teams to maintain smooth laboratory operations, manage administrative matters, and uphold the laboratory quality assurance programme in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
• Plan and lead the procurement of scientific equipment and laboratory supplies based on operational needs, ensuring full compliance with all financial rules and regulations.
• Serve as an expert witness in court to support prosecution cases related to the enforcement of food safety rules and regulations.
• Train and mentor team members to ensure their technical competency and continuous professional development.

Testing capability development

• Lead the team in experimental design, technology evaluation, methodology optimisation, and troubleshooting.
• Oversee the validation and accreditation of new testing methods to support food safety testing and incident investigations.
• Lead training initiatives for capacity building and organise proficiency testing programmes to strengthen NCFS’s role as a food testing reference laboratory.

Data analysis, risk assessment and standard setting

• Conduct data analysis to facilitate sound risk assessments, supporting policy reviews, national regulatory limit setting, and adjustment of food safety programmes.
• Review and update pesticide regulatory limits to ensure alignment with international standards and scientific developments.
• Lead the assessment of pesticide dossiers for registration purposes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Communicate testing outcomes, technical findings, expert opinions, and research achievements through reports, presentations, and scientific publications.

What we are looking for:

• Master or PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Organic chemistry, or other related scientific fields.
• Good knowledge and hand‑on experience in sample extraction, cleanup and detection of chemical hazards using advanced instrumentation such as LC‑MS/MS, GC‑MS/MS, LC‑HRMS, GC‑HRMS.
• Prior experience in implementing ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory quality system is beneficial.
• Prior knowledge in pesticide dossier assessment and regulatory limit setting is beneficial.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Good networking and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrate proactiveness, self‑motivation, ability to work independently, and willingness to take on additional duties when required.

Work Location

National Centre for Food Science, 7 International Business Park, Techquest building, Singapore 609919.

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.