Senior Horticulture and Marketing Officer – B2

Job Description

This opportunity is only open to applicants who are currently ‘Priority Movers’. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

SASA, a Division of the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, is responsible for providing a range of services in support of arable agriculture, horticulture, food, the environment and the wider rural economy. The Horticulture and Marketing Unit (HMU), a branch within SASA, consists of 22 specialist inspectors and support staff based in Edinburgh and Hamilton.

The Horticulture and Marketing Unit (HMU), is a high-profile regulatory team delivering statutory plant health and fresh produce marketing controls under national legislation and international obligations. Its work covers import and export controls, pest and disease surveillance, compliance across plant production and movement, and enforcement of fresh produce marketing standards. The team also leads responses to quarantine pest incidents to prevent spread.

Operating in a changing environment shaped by EU-UK SPS developments, the role requires strong engagement with horticultural stakeholders and the public. Reporting to the Operational Delivery Manager, the post includes managing two B1 inspectors and coordinating activity across the East of Scotland and wider branch to meet targets, with working patterns aligned to industry needs, including overnight stays, early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

The work of HMU is governed by legislation covering plant health and rules relating to the marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables. HMU provides technical advice in these areas and undertakes duties relating to:

• Import and export controls for plants and plant products entering or leaving Scotland.
• Monitoring and surveillance activities to guard against outbreaks of specific plant pests and pathogens.
• Ensuring compliance with controls relating to the production and movement of plants and plant products within the UK.
• Enforcement of the marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the marketing chain.
• Managing outbreaks of quarantine or other serious plant pests and pathogens, and taking action to prevent potential spread.

This area of work is facing significant change again as a result of the EU-UK reset in relation to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls. You will work and communicate with a wide array of stakeholders connected to the horticultural sector including growers, packers, traders, distributors, public or trade related organisations, and the general public.

This post reports directly to the Operational Delivery Manager and will have line management responsibility for 2 x B1 inspectors. Work will be coordinated across the team covering the East of Scotland region and also across the wider branch to ensure targets are met.

With much of the work undertaken closely related to the horticultural trade and distribution sectors, specific hours of attendance will be based on operating times of businesses and will include overnight stays, early morning, evening and weekend working.