Company Description
The Health Food Manufacturers' Association (HFMA) is the leading Trade Association for the natural health industry in the UK. As the authoritative voice of the sector, HFMA advocates for its members' interests with legislators and regulators. The association promotes best practices focused on product quality and safety while providing reliable and responsible information to consumers. HFMA plays a significant role in shaping industry standards and supporting the growth of the natural health market.
Job Title: Scientific Adviser
Department: HFMA Adviser
Reports to: Director General
Employment Type: Consultant
Location: Remote
Contracted Days: To be discussed.
Purpose
- Advises the HFMA on scientific issues relating to specialist health foods and food supplements.
- Proactively defend UK and EU food supplement and protect the interests of the HFMA Members
- Research and report on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods Regulations
- Support HFMA in keeping its members informed and educated on scientific issues relating to specialist health foods and food supplements.
- Staying ahead of scientific literature to identify emerging trends and new research that supports natural health products.
- Translating complex scientific data into clear, actionable insights for HFMA and its members
Regular Responsibilities
- Provide monthly reports to the HFMA Council (8-10 per annum), which are also shared with HFMA Members.
- Attend (in person) HFMA’s Member-only Technical & Regulatory Working Group Meetings and present updates as required (6-8 per annum).
- Attend (in person) and present at HFMA ‘s Annual General Meeting
- Provide an article for HFMAs Annual Report
- Present two HFMA webinars per annum
- Presents at least 2 (per annum) of HFMA organised/endorsed Conferences, Seminars, Workshops and Trade Shows.
- Provide an analysis of 3 Positive Natural Health Products studies per month for HFMA’s Member Research Insider bulletin.
Ad hoc Responsibilities
- Ad hoc advice to HFMA, CLEAR CHECK®, Council and HFMA Members via CLEAR CHECK®
- Provide expert advice in response to media and regulatory issues
- Attendance at Council meetings as required (2-3 per annum)
- Ad hoc involvement in negotiations with Regulators in UK and EU
- Involvement in planning and executing campaigns to promote the positive role of supplementation
- Other projects as agreed (e.g. Creating HFMA member Guidance notes, and Reports on various subjects (previous examples: Collagen Report and Consumer Guide to Labelling Nutrient Reference Values on Children’s Products in the UK)
Requirement for the role
- Degree (ideally MSc or PhD) in nutrition, food science, biomedical science, pharmacology, or related field
Research experience related to:
- Food supplements
- Functional foods / natural health products
- Nutritional science
- Publications, systematic reviews, or clinical research involvement
- Experience evaluating scientific literature
- Experience writing scientific reports or evidence reviews
- Experience presenting complex scientific information to non-scientific audiences
- Regulatory affairs role in supplements, and or functional food
· Access to and working knowledge of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), with the ability to use its data to support annual monitoring and reporting.
Knowledge in
- UK and EU food supplement regulations
- Nutrition & Health Claims Regulation
- EFSA / UK regulatory processes
- Evidence standards for health claims
This role benefits from someone who understands the industry.