Summer Plant Health Inspector - Perth (2985)
Job summary
Would you enjoy a job working in the beautiful Scottish countryside this summer, gaining hands-on experience in plant health and strengthening your skills whilst making a positive contribution to Scottish agriculture?
The Scottish Government is seeking enthusiastic individuals to join the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) teams in Perth, Fife and Kinross as temporary Plant Health Inspectors for summer 2026 to support the vital summer potato inspection programme across Scotland’s key growing regions. These inspections play a vital role in protecting crop health, supporting farmers, and safeguarding Scotland’s agricultural reputation.
This six-week temporary appointment includes a fully paid two-week practical training course (which you must pass) in June 2026, with travel, accommodation and subsistence costs covered. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience outdoors while contributing directly to Scotland’s agricultural resilience and biosecurity. Daily rate of pay is £111.59 per day
The course will start on 15 June 2026, with the exam taking place on 24 June 2026.
Potential for progression to senior inspector status exists subject to satisfactory performance and experience.
This role does NOT offer Visa Sponsorship, if you do not meet the UK Civil Service Nationality rules you should not apply for this role. Please refer to the Nationality requirements - Civil Service recruitment: candidate guide - gov.scot before submitting an application.
Job description
- Inspect seed potato crops throughout the growing season to ensure that they meet requirements for disease and purity.
- Attend the annual seed potato inspector training course held at Gogarbank, Edinburgh and reach the required standard necessary to conduct inspections.
- Work as part of a small team inspecting seed potato crops, liaising with growers and recording the results of inspection in an accurate manner.
Person specification
Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Behaviours:- Making effective decisions - Level 1
- Communicating and influencing - Level 1
- Working together - Level 1
- Developing self and others - Level 1
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Developing Self and Others
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.Assessments are scheduled for w/c 30 March 2026 however this may be subject to change.In the event of a high volume of applications, candidates will have their applications initially assessed against the communicating & influencing criteria above. Candidates who pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against all criteria.
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
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ryan Chapman
- Email : Ryan.Chapman@sasa.gov.scot
Recruitment team
Salary range
- £111.59 per day