• Welcome
• Background
• The role
  • Job description
  • Person specification
• How to apply
  • Download an application form
  • Recruitment process
  • Download Guaranteed Interview Scheme form
• Terms of engagement
• Seven principles of public life

Person specification

It is essential that in your application you give evidence of examples of proven experience in each of the selection criteria in Part One listed below. These responses will be further developed and discussed, along with the criteria in Part Two, with those candidates invited for interview.

• Evidence of achievement and governance in a leadership role;
   
• Evidence of personal achievement in influencing and responding to external change, developing and maintaining a strategic vision and approach in a complex, challenging and highly dynamic environment;
   
• Understanding of issues arising from delivering services and business improvements within a high profile and sensitive environment, working with external partners;
   
• Evidence of engaging successfully with others, building productive working relationships with a range of stakeholders.

• Having worked on a non-executive board or committee, or in a strategic leadership capacity, and an understanding as to how to operate in a non-executive capacity;
   
• A professional finance qualification and / or familiarity with Government accounting procedures to complement existing Board skills, would be advantageous;
   
• Have a genuine appreciation / interest of the issues relating to food safety and standards in the UK (although Board members do not represent a particular industry or sector or need to have specialist knowledge of any part of the food chain);
   
• An understanding of the stakeholder landscape that relates to food, public health and public administration in Northern Ireland. 

• Sound judgement and the ability to positively challenge, scrutinise and make decisions on delivery and finances, ensuring value for money;
   
• Ability to communicate effectively, using a range of media, to Ministers, officials, staff, a diverse range of stakeholders, the public, Parliament and the Devolved Administrations.  Be able to promote good relationships between the FSA and its stakeholders;
   
• Ability to champion equality of opportunity, recognising and valuing diversity;
   
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills and the ability to convince through personal credibility;
   
• Be able and willing to spend time preparing for meetings; read and analyse complex and lengthy papers; weigh evidence.

• Be an open-minded, strategic thinker and possess the mental resilience to participate in making difficult decisions;
   
• Have a high level of integrity and public responsibility; able to put the interests of the consumer first and those of public at large above personal interests;
   
• Have excellent communication skills, and be able to articulate arguments and views clearly and succinctly;
   
•  Discern what is significant and where further questioning is required;
   
• Be able to base decisions upon evidence properly tested, understand and weigh risks and to act proportionately and with sound judgement;
   
• Be able to operate effectively as a member of a team, listen to others, promote constructive discussion and subscribe to collective decisions;
   
• Be able to command the trust and respect of colleagues.

In addition, candidates must:

• Be able and willing to travel to meetings across the UK;
   
• Be resident in the UK.