About the job

Job summary

Would you like the opportunity to grow and develop your skills with a variety of learning and development opportunities?

If so, SASA are looking for an Analyst to join its Chemistry team to contribute to the delivery of the statutory Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) UK surveillance programme. This programme is required as part of the national pesticide regimes and contributes to food safety and surveillance of good agricultural practice across Scotland. 

Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) supports Scotland’s arable and horticultural sectors, by developing policy and providing scientific advice, research, surveillance and inspection services. Our ca 180 staff conduct a wide range of functions in offices, laboratories, glasshouses, farm buildings and farmland as well as at third party inspection sites.

The primary role of the Analyst is to assist in the chemical analysis of samples submitted as part of the PRiF programme, using a variety of analytical techniques. 

You will be expected to prepare and run samples and to scrutinise analytical data to ensure suitability and accuracy and to meet the mandatory deadlines set out in the contractual agreement with HSE.

This role involves a range of analytical chemistry methods and will therefore require specialist technical knowledge.

SASA are based in the west side of Edinburgh at Roddinglaw Road, Gogarbank.  SASA is housed in a new modern building within its farmland at Gogar. It has dedicated facilities including a staff restaurant and fitness room. The site is readily accessible by car.  For staff commuting by public transport, SASA has arranged a morning and afternoon shuttle service linking SASA to the RBS headquarters at Gogarburn which is well served by the city’s bus network. These aspects make SASA a desirable working location.

Job description

• One of the core functions of the Chemistry team is to analyse and report Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) in various fruit and vegetables in accordance with the UK pesticides surveillance programme. Your primary role will be to assist in the chemical analysis of samples submitted as part of PRiF, using a variety of analytical techniques.
• You will have a flexible approach to work and will contribute to other areas of work undertaken by the Chemistry Branch when required. This will include Wildlife Incident and Investigation Scheme (WIIS) analysis and analysis to support the General Analytical Service (GAS).
• You will perform appropriate tasks including sample receipt, extraction of samples, analytical data processing and tabulation of results.
• You will work with a variety of analytical systems and be able to scrutinise analytical data and instrument performance. In addition, you will report and work to resolve any non-compliance issues when required.
• You will keep accurate records of all work undertaken and ensure that duties are carried out in in compliance with the requirements of the ISO 17025 and local quality management system guidelines and health & safety procedures.
• You will monitor the performance of laboratory equipment to ensure conformance with ISO 17025 quality assurance requirements.

Person specification

1. Experience of working in a laboratory environment utilising chromatography, mass spectrometry and allied techniques.
2. Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to build good working relationships at all levels, and the ability to work flexibly within a small, collaborative team.
3. Experience of working in an accredited laboratory environment especially in accordance with standards specified in ISO 17025.
4. Excellent record keeping skills and a good working knowledge of IT packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,558, Scottish Government contributes £8,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Sift and Interview dates TBC
Please apply using the link provided

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.