About the job

Job summary

Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), a Division of the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate headed by the Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland, is a community of 185 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.
SASA is the certifying authority for seed potatoes in Scotland and, working in conjunction with Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), is responsible for the management and administration of the Seed Potato Classification Scheme. The Scottish seed potato industry is an important part of the rural economy, generating a direct income of over £80 million and SASA produce and maintain the starting material for all seed potato crops grown in Scotland.
The post holder will be responsible for the day to day running of the Potato Pathology laboratory and the diagnostic services provided. This will include pathogen isolation and identification using a range of techniques and reporting results to stakeholders. They will also be responsible for method development through optimisation and validation of existing and novel microbiological and molecular assays for use in routine testing. The post holder reports to the Potato Pathology Manager (B2).

Job description

• Be responsible for the routine testing and diagnosis of potato material for pathogens (primarily fungal), including management of the annual Pre Basic Tissue Culture production surveillance programme.
• Manage day-to-day running of the Potato Pathology laboratory, prioritising work objectives and ordering reagents and consumables.

• Plan and carry out the optimisation and validation of microbiological and molecular assays for use in routine testing.

• Act as deputy Quality Manager for Potato Pathology, ensuring accurate records are kept, assay controls perform as expected and assisting the Potato Pathology Manager with review of SOPs Standard Operating Procedures and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and Risk Assessments.

• Support the delivery of training courses to Plant Health inspectors and external stakeholders in disease identification and inspection procedures.

• Engage with stakeholders to report results and ongoing research work associated with Pre-Basic Tissue Culture mini tuber production.

Person specification

No specific qualifications required for this post.

Essential Criteria
1. Knowledge of plant pathogens, preferably those affecting potato, and practical experience using molecular and microbiological techniques for pathogen identification and maintenance.
2. Experience working within a quality management system.
3. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to balance competing demands and prioritise responsibilities whilst responding to tight deadlines.
4. Proven ability to communicate clearly within a team and ability to engage and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. 

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

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.