COT

COT Secretariat

• Committee on Toxicity
• About the COT
• COT membership
• COT meetings
• COT reports
• COT statements
• COT Working groups
• COT publication scheme

COT Secretariat
Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH

Tel: 020 7276 8522
Fax: 020 7276 8513

cot@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

• Sponsoring departments
• Food Standards Agency
• Department of Health
• Sister committees
• Committee on Carcinogenicity
• Committee on Mutagenicity
• More links >>

• Tell a friend
• Printer friendly
• Text only
• Acrobat PDF access

COT recruitment of a specialist members

The Chair of the Food Standards Agency and the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health invite applications for specialist Members of the COT which will become vacant from 1 September 2008.

The COT is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body providing independent expert advice on toxicological risk to humans. The Committee's advice has consistently provided the sound scientific basis for the development of policy on issues that have major implications for public health, the economy and consumer confidence in food safety.

Please note that this position does not offer employment.

Vacancies for specialist members (arising from 1 September 2008)

Applications are invited from anyone with experience in toxicological risk assessment. Specific expertise in epidemiology, application of statistics in epidemiology and/or risk assessment, endocrine disruption or respiratory toxicology would be advantageous.

Candidates must be strong team players, with effective communication, negotiation, judgement and influencing skills combined with strong analytical and problem solving skills. As a COT member you must be able to weigh issues outside your own specialist areas and to appreciate the impact that COT decisions may have on public health, consumers and the environment. You must be able to work in a committee structure to arrive at sound, balanced and timely decisions.

Appointments will initially be for a three year term, and may be renewed subject to satisfactory performance reviews, which will be carried out annually. There are normally six meetings a year in London and 1 outside London. An attendance allowance and reading payment will be available and all legitimate expenses will be fully reimbursed.

Although these appointments do not come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, they are being made using a process which takes into account the Commissioner's Code of Practice as good practice. Selection will be in accordance with the Government's Equal Opportunities policy.

The Agency is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns and to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency of process.

If you are interested in applying for membership of the COT, an information pack and application form may be obtained from Mrs Julie Shroff, COT Secretariat, Food Standards Agency, Room 511c, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH; email: julie.shroff@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 30 May 2008.

Interviews will be held on 4 July 2008. Please ensure this date is kept free.