Investigator (London/Wales Team)

About this role

We offer great flexible working opportunities, and have offices in Belfast, Cardiff and York.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Regular travel to London predominantly, Birmingham, Cardiff, or York Office required (approximately ¾ times per month). May also include travel across the UK and overseas, with occasional overnight stays required.

Job Summary

Do you have experience of conducting investigations in a criminal, civil, regulatory or food environment?

Can you prioritise workloads and meet deadlines despite conflicting demands?

If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as an Investigator, and we’d love to hear from you!

The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

The National Food Crime Unit is looking for an experienced Investigator to help tackle serious criminality within the food sector. In this important role, you will help develop evidence and intelligence against individuals and organisations suspected of food crime, supporting action that protects UK consumers, businesses and wider interests.

You will become part of a collaborative team with strong links across the Food Standards Agency and the wider law enforcement community. The role offers exposure to complex, fast-moving operational work and the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to public protection. It is suited to someone with recent investigative experience who can balance competing priorities, communicate clearly with different audiences and maintain high professional standards.

Job Description

You will plan and complete investigative activity under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer, while taking responsibility for straightforward cases when appropriate. Assignments may involve witness and suspect interviews, premises searches, evidence gathering, detailed examination of digital material and the preparation of case documentation for potential prosecution.

You will maintain accurate records, support effective disclosure and ensure enquiries comply with legislation including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and relevant criminal procedure, fraud and investigatory powers legislation. You will liaise with witnesses, suspects and operational partners, assess risks associated with planned activity and use public resources responsibly. A full category B driving licence is required because the position involves regular operational travel.

Please read before applying

As this is an investigatory role we need to be aware if any of our employees have any of the following: any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete. You will be asked to complete a declaration form covering the above if offered a role with the FSA.

You Must Declare To The Best Of Your Knowledge

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to your employment you have ever had
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards you have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded

The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court

You will plan and complete investigative activity under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer, while taking responsibility for straightforward cases when appropriate. Assignments may involve witness and suspect interviews, premises searches, evidence gathering, detailed examination of digital material and the preparation of case documentation for potential prosecution.

You will maintain accurate records, support effective disclosure and ensure enquiries comply with legislation including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and relevant criminal procedure, fraud and investigatory powers legislation. You will liaise with witnesses, suspects and operational partners, assess risks associated with planned activity and use public resources responsibly. A full category B driving licence is required because the position involves regular operational travel.

Please read before applying

As this is an investigatory role we need to be aware if any of our employees have any of the following: any misconduct or gross misconduct findings or where proceedings are not complete. You will be asked to complete a declaration form covering the above if offered a role with the FSA.

You Must Declare To The Best Of Your Knowledge

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to your employment you have ever had
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards you have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded

The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court

Person specification

Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Licences

Full Driving Licence (Manual or Automatic) for category B vehicles

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of the practical application of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, The Fraud Act 2006 and The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000/Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

Alongside your salary of £34,955, Food Standards Agency contributes £10,126 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Full details of the selection process can be found in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.

• Full Driving Licence (Manual or Automatic) for category B vehicles

If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.