About the job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) as part of the Pesticide Usage Survey Team.

SASA is a Division of the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate. SASA is a community of 170 scientists, inspectors, policy professionals and support staff with responsibility for providing a range of services in support of arable agriculture, horticulture, food, the environment and the wider rural economy.

We are seeking one Pesticide Usage Surveyor within the Pesticide Survey Unit (PSU) at SASA. SASA’s Pesticide Survey Unit is a small team of five permanent staff which conducts statutory post-approval monitoring of pesticide usage. As a Pesticide Usage Surveyor, you will be responsible for assisting in the planning, organisation and conduct of pesticide surveys. You will be responsible for collecting data from farmers, entering it into a database and performing data checking procedures. With training and experience you take responsibility for writing technical reports. The data collection aspect of this role may require short periods of working away from home.

This post offers the opportunity to develop a wide range of analytical and communication skills, and gain a good technical understanding under direction and guidance from line management.

A full valid driving licence that enables the candidate to drive in the UK is required. However, the Scottish Government will consider proposals put forward by applicants to carry out the duties by any other means.

Job description

• You will be responsible for assisting in the planning, organisation and conduct of pesticide surveys. This will involve collecting detailed pesticide usage information from farmers and growers on a range of agricultural and horticultural crops, by face-to-face and phone interview, ensuring that all data requirements are met.

• You will enter data into a database and conduct data validation and checking procedures.

• With training and experience you will perform statistical estimation of national pesticide use and take responsibility for writing technical reports.

• You will be expected to develop and maintain knowledge of agronomic practices, pesticide product approvals and common agricultural diseases, insect pests and weeds.

Person specification

1. Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to maintain good working relationships with stakeholders, ideally with experience of communication with farmers/growers.

2. An ability to produce clear and concise written reports using multiple data sources.

3. Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines.

4. Competent in Word and Excel or equivalent with experience of working with numerical datasets and a strong attention to detail.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,140, Scottish Government contributes £8,407 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 March but are subject to change. 

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.