Fish Health Inspector (2023-6104)

Would you like a role that gives you the opportunity to travel around Scotland?  

The Fish Health Inspectorate’s mission is to support a healthy, sustainable aquaculture industry and to safeguard the health of wild fish stocks, through regulation and scientific advice backed by high quality research. 

The Inspectorate contributes towards the Scottish Government National Outcome: ‘We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment’. 

As a Fish Health Inspector you will assist in delivering this mission by working to prevent the introduction and control the spread of listed diseases within aquatic animals in Scotland.  You will be required to carry out site visits to diverse types of aquaculture establishments, both land based and accessed via boat, in all reasonable weather conditions, a willingness to undertake these visits and work with live fish and dissect fish tissues are prerequisites for the post.

The role involves significant technical and administrative work in support of the regulatory functions of the group and will require you to drive to remote locations, all around Scotland, you must therefore be willing to travel to undertake field duties away from home. This will normally be for 3-4 nights per week, for one week per month, however, during busier periods this may be for 2-3 weeks per month.

Due to the remote locations of aquaculture sites a considerable amount of driving is involved therefore a full valid driving licence that enables the candidate to drive in the UK is required.

You will be required to complete a Post graduate qualification in aquaculture and aquatic animal health after you have completed your initial training.

• Responsible for the completion of discrete areas of work which may advise Scottish Government policy; assist the Scottish Government to achieve its delivery requirements.
• Deliver in whole or in part against the Inspectorate’s Annual delivery plan targets or other essential work packages providing reasoned and evidenced scientific advice to achieve these goals. This role will include the collection, analysis and presentation of information to a range of audiences.
• Carry out statutory and non-statutory sampling, inspection and investigative inspection visits at fish and shellfish farms to enable the inspectorate to achieve the targets as laid out in the schedule of services and to ensure that the requirements of the relevant legislation is met.
• Produce accurate written reports on all completed cases within the timescales laid down in the Fish Health Inspectorate Service Charter.
• Deliver information in response to requests made under the terms of the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information regulatory regime.
• Act as duty inspector and on call inspector per the rotas set within the inspectorate.

1.  Relevant experience to undertake the role of a Fish Health Inspector including fish health, administration and computer literacy.

2.  A good working knowledge of aquatic animal disease and aquaculture within Scotland with a clear understanding of the role of the Fish Health Inspectorate at both a national and international level.

3.  Good working knowledge of the current fish health legislation.

4.  Evidence of effective oral and written communication within a team

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Sonia Duguid
• Email : Sonia.duguid@gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot