About the job

Job summary

SASA are a Division of the Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) Directorate and are a community of 170 scientists, inspectors, policy professionals and support staff. We have responsibility for providing a range of services in support of arable agriculture, horticulture, food, the environment and the wider rural economy. We are the certifying authority for seed potatoes in Scotland and provide advice and scientific services to the ARE Directorate and stakeholders in the potato industry.

The Bacteriologist role sits within the Potato, Virology and Zoology branch. The Branch's, core function is to provide a diagnostic testing service on a range of samples to meet the Scottish Government’s commitments in relation to Plant and Bee Health legislation and Seed Potato Classification.

Using a range of techniques such as DNA extraction and qPCR, you will be responsible for the day to day routine testing and diagnosis of potato and plant material for Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp. You will also work closely with and provide support to the Potato Bacteriologist.

You will report directly to the Potato Bacteriologist and work alongside Potato pathologists within the branch, and other bacteriologists within the Plant Health branch.

The work of the Bacteriologist is performed predominantly in the laboratory and glasshouse, this can also include field work subject to survey results. There will be limited opportunities to work from home.

Job description

• Participate in field work to test Scotland’s watercourses for the presence of Dickeya spp. including identifying areas to be sampled and ensuring the necessary equipment and labware/media is available.
• Maintain records of tests performed using a bespoke database, ensuring that data is entered accurately and in compliance with the quality management system.
• Provide laboratory support for the Potato Bacteriologist with ongoing externally funded projects concerning blackleg disease of potato.
• Assist in testing potato tubers received from internal/external customers for Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp. Liaise with customers to keep them updated on progress of tests.
• Assist the Bacteriology team with testing for the non-indigenous potato pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum (potato brown rot) and Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus (potato ring rot) when necessary.

Person specification

1. Experience of microbiology and good laboratory practice including pathogen diagnosis - preferably plant pathogens, and utilising a range of methodologies including classical and molecular techniques.

2. A team player, working well with others but can carry out individual tasks as required with the minimum of supervision.

3. Well organised and able to respond to competing priorities, adapting skills and resources to changing circumstances.

4. Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,513, Scottish Government contributes £7,428 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

Interviews are anticipated to take place in early June but may be subject to change. Interview questions will be provided in advance.

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.