Job Description
Help shape the future of Scottish agriculture and horticulture by leading nationally important seed, variety testing and trial support services, while overseeing SASA’s 150-hectare farmland estate.
As Head of Seeds, Varieties and Trial Support at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), you will lead three specialist teams spanning Seed Certification and Variety Testing, Scotland’s Official Seed Testing Station, and Farm & Horticulture. Working within a multidisciplinary organisation of around 180 scientists, inspectors, policy professionals and support staff, you will help deliver high-quality statutory, commercial and advisory services that support Scotland’s agriculture, horticulture, environmental protection and food safety objectives.
You will provide strategic leadership for 43 staff, overseeing seed certification, variety testing, trial support operations and estate management across SASA’s 150-hectare farmland holding. The role’s primary objective is to ensure the effective delivery of nationally important testing, certification and inspection services, while providing expert advice to Ministers, policy colleagues and stakeholders, leading Scotland’s GM Inspectorate, and contributing to the wider leadership and direction of SASA as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the senior leadership and decision making of SASA with overall responsibility for leadership and delivery of the Seeds, Varieties and Trial Support areas (43 staff). These teams directly deliver a range of certification and testing services as well as providing support to many other SASA operational delivery teams. Much of the work is statutory and undertaken on a cost recovery basis, alongside commercial variety and seed testing services.
- Provision of advice and representation. Provision of technical advice to Ministers, policy colleagues and wider stakeholders. Representing Scottish Government interests and expertise on UK groups, engaging with UK government, Devolved authorities, governance committees and other testing providers on seeds and variety testing issues.
- Primary lead on Estate Management functions across SASA’s land holding, including leading on implementation of mitigation measures resulting from planned development on SASA’s boundary, and negotiating with developers and other third parties.
- Budget responsibility including for the work of the SVT teams, including responsibility for annual review of charges for delivery of statutory work and management of externally contracted trials work.
- Lead the Scottish Government’s GM (Genetic Modification) Inspectorate, which is responsible for responding to suspected GM incidents, monitoring of at-risk seed imports, GM testing, provision of technical advice on GM and New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and assessment of Contained Use applications.
Qualifications:
A degree and/or postgraduate qualification in a relevant field (e.g. agriculture, horticulture, plant science), or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a comparable level of knowledge and expertise, typically gained through substantial experience working in a relevant field.
Important: If you are uncertain whether your qualification is directly relevant to the role, or whether your experience meets the required criteria, we encourage you to contact
Jackie.hughes@sasa.gov.uk for advice before submitting your application. Please note that applications are assessed against the information provided, and failure to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential qualification and/or experience may result in your application not progressing further.
Success profile:
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Technical / Professional Skills:
Experience:
- Extensive knowledge and experience in the operational delivery of Seed Certification, Variety Testing, Seed Testing or other aligned arable agricultural services.
- Experience of leading multi-functional teams.
Behaviours:
- Leadership – Level 4
- Changing and Improving – Level 4
- Making Effective Decisions – Level 4
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our
candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 17 August 2026 however this may be subject to change.
Apply before 23:59 on 26 July 2026. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).
About us:
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the
UK Civil Service, observing the
Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about
what we offerWorking pattern:
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. The post-holder will be expected to work in-person at HQ a minimum of 40% of the time. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security checks:
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Applications are encouraged from all regardless or ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, religion, age, neurotype, disability status, caring responsibilities or socio-economic background.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our
Careers Website Read our
Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
