Consultant Scientist (Food and Agriculture) in Cardiff

MTD is currently recruiting for a Consultant Scientist (Food and Agriculture) to join our consultancy team in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

As a Consultant Scientist within MTD’s food and agriculture consultancy team, you will develop the skills required to perform forensic investigations into safety and quality disputes on a variety of food and agricultural commodities. This will include extensive training in our Food Laboratory at our Head Office in Cardiff and attendance on site with experienced consultants to learn in the field.

The disputes can arise throughout the supply chain and are undertaken for clients in the marine and insurance sectors, including international insurance companies, traders, manufacturers, suppliers, ship owners, P&I Clubs, claims handlers, loss adjusters and solicitors. Our clients appoint MTD to provide clear and independent technical advice into the cause of an incident and how the problem might best be mitigated. Investigations typically involve attendance at the site of an advisor (often at very short notice) to gather evidence, oversee sampling, interview parties and manage high-pressure, contentious situations. Further investigation may involve laboratory analysis of samples using routine international test methods or tailored methodologies to determine the root cause of an incident. Findings are compiled into a technical report for clients without a scientific background, and experts may be required to give evidence in court, arbitration or mediation.

Example Work

• Develop and oversee appropriate sampling protocols to determine the extent of mycotoxin contamination.
• Conclude reliably the rate of heat damage to a consignment of soya beans in East Asia and appraise how such damage could be mitigated.
• Attend in Djibouti to investigate the cause of a fire to a consignment of bagged wheat flour.
• Investigate the cause and extent of an infestation to grain in silos and warehouses in the United Kingdom.
• Investigate the apparent increase in moisture content to a consignment of refined sugar in West Africa despite no signs of external wetting.
• Attend in Central America to investigate the allegation, cause and extent in the change of colour of a consignment of maize.
• Investigate to determine the nature and source of a particulate contamination to a consignment of vegetable oils refined in Indonesia.
• Determine the cause of increased acidity of refined vegetable oil intended for use as a biofuel feedstock.

Key Responsibilities

• Attend incidents worldwide to perform forensic investigations into safety and quality disputes concerning food and agricultural commodities.
• Prepare sampling and testing protocols for consignments in line with International Standards.
• Witness and supervise sampling operations.
• Gather contemporaneous evidence related to the background and circumstances of the incident.
• Review and consult documentation while researching applicable standards and regulations where required.
• Manage cases by reporting to clients and liaising with other parties involved in the incident.
• Prepare written technical advice and reports.
• Attend meetings with clients to discuss findings.
• Provide expert evidence in mediation, arbitration or court.

MTD’s Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject preferred but not essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including preparing scientific reports for non-scientific clients.
• Problem-solving skills and initiative.
• Eagerness to learn and develop skills.
• Prepared to travel at immediate notice.
• Ability to manage own workload and meet deadlines when handling multiple projects.
• Experience in the food industry or agricultural science is advantageous.
• Experience with sampling or analysing food and agricultural commodities would be considered an advantage.