Principal Research Scientist – Chief Public Health Nutrition Advisor – Non-Ongoing (up to 3 years)
Chief Scientist Branch
The Contact Officer for this position is Paul Brent on 61 2 6271 2215 or paul.brent@foodstandards.gov.au
Closing date for applications close is 18 December 2008
Duty Statement
Position number: 2689
Classification: Principal Research Scientist
Local title: Chief Public Health Nutrition Advisor
Location: Canberra
Immediate supervisor: Chief Scientist
Highest subordinate: N/A
Security clearance: Confidential
Duties:
- Provide expert advice on public health nutrition and epidemiology issues relevant to assessments of nutritional risks and associated development of food standards;
- Strengthen and manage strong networks with professional colleagues in a range of settings;
- Maintain and strengthen FSANZ nutritional assessment capability to address emerging nutritional assessment issues.
- Keep the FSANZ Board and staff informed about public health nutrition and epidemiology issues relevant to the development of food standards and their public health impact; and
- Represent the Agency at public and scientific forums and relevant committees, both domestically and internationally.
Duty representing highest function: 1 & 2
Most time consuming duty:1 & 2
Qualifications and experience: Postgraduate qualifications in public health nutrition (preferably at Ph.D level) and relevant work experience are mandatory.
FSANZ is committed to workplace diversity and participative work practices and to ensuring we have a safe and healthy workplace. All employees are required to adhere to APS and FSANZ policies on these and other workplace matters.
Selection criteria
- High level ability to identify relevant strategic issues in the field of public health nutrition, particularly in relation to food standards and to identify problems, develop concepts and develop options for action;
- High level conceptual and analytical skills in the field of public health nutrition, particularly in relation to food standards;
- High level ability to communicate effectively with teams of specialists and with a range of stakeholders, both orally and in writing;
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and accomplish tasks and balance short and long term perspectives with respect to food standards issues;
- High level liaison, negotiation and representational skills with scientific experts and stakeholders in the domestic and international environment;
Mandatory qualifications and experience:
Postgraduate qualifications in public health nutrition (preferably at Ph.D. level) and relevant work experience.
Job description
The occupant of this position will have primary responsibility for providing expert advice on public health nutrition issues and building and managing close links with the public health nutrition community in Australia and New Zealand and internationally. He or she will also provide information to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Scientist and staff of FSANZ on these matters.
The occupant of the position will:
- Provide expert advice to ensure that the recommendations and decisions of FSANZ that relate to public health nutrition issues in the development of food standards are based on the best available scientific information and sound public health principles
- Keep the Board and staff of FSANZ informed on public health nutrition issues that are relevant to the setting of food standards, including those issues that are of emerging importance;
- Ensure that FSANZ has a strong network of public health nutrition professional contacts in a range of settings in Australia and New Zealand, as well as internationally; and
- Strengthen FSANZ’s profile and standing in the public health nutrition community by participating, and facilitating staff participation, in appropriate events and promoting the public health nutrition work of FSANZ.
Gazette/Circular information
Job description:
This is a three year senior appointment. Responsible for providing expert advice on public health nutrition issues in relation to food standards to ensure that decisions are supported scientifically and are consistent with sound public health principles. Strengthen and manage close links with the public health nutrition professionals in other agencies in Australia and New Zealand and internationally. Maintain and strengthen FSANZ nutritional assessment capability. Represent the FSANZ at various forums relevant to public health nutrition.
Approved by the Chief Scientist, Dr Paul Brent 1 / 12 / 2008