Description Job Description Are you looking for a varied and rewarding role where you can be an integral part of the team that ensures the continued production of high quality Scottish Seed Potatoes? If you are interested in utilising your organisational skills, and want to build relationships with a vast range of staff and stakeholders, then this may be the role for you Scotland is a major producer of quality seed potatoes and working as part of the Perth Rural Payments and Inspection Division team will help to deliver a quality service to the Scottish Seed Potato industry. RPID teams of professional agricultural, customer service and administrative staff are based in a network of 17 offices located around rural Scotland. These teams manage the implementation of agricultural, environmental and rural policies, process applications for funding and provide high quality customer service. Due to the nature of this role, a considerable amount of driving is involved therefore a valid driving licence that enables the candidate to drive in the UK is mandatory. Responsibilities Responsibilities Undertake a key leadership role in supporting front line SG staff in Rural Scotland interacting with rural business, stakeholders, including Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and plant health policy colleagues to ensure consistency in plant health certification and the enforcement of regulations particularly but not solely related to potatoes Conducting site verification for the purposes of plant health, issuing phytosanitary certificates, coordinating plant health inspections and associated farm visits to meet regulatory requirements. Communicating with external stakeholders in regard to plant health, particularly seed potatoes. Line managing the potato labelling team and potato inspectors. Represent RPID at meetings with stakeholders and other interested bodies. Liaise with colleagues in SASA and other parts of the SG regarding potato plant policy implementation. Assist with recruitment, training and assessment of potato inspectors Qualifications Qualifications Valid driving licence which enables you to drive in the UK - Please confirm in your CV/Personal Statement that you hold this qualification. Professional / Technical Skills: Connections and communication – Recognises the complexities of organisational service delivery, and communicates key issues and messages in an open, simple, and accessible way to stakeholders ( Practitioner level) Delivery and decision making at speed – Empowers team to make decisions and to intervene to help expediate processes to outcomes for customers, but within policy and risk tolerance (e.g. when things good enough to proceed) ( Practitioner level) Experience FOR INTERNAL STAFF MEMBERS: Be an experienced RPID potato inspector, having attended and passed the SASA potato inspectors course Or FOR EXTERNAL STAFF: Demonstrate a thorough and full knowledge of the potato industry and a practical knowledge of growing potatoes, including the identification of varieties and diseases Behaviours Working together – Level 3 Managing a quality service – Level 3 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here Success Profiles How to apply: Apply online before midnight 9 April 2025, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more 1000 words which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an Interview and Presentation. Assessments are scheduled for 28 April 2025 however this may be subject to change. About Us The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Equality Statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.