Job Description

Looking to lead a high-impact national meat field operation and shape the future of Official Controls delivery across Scotland.

The Head of Field Operations (HOFO) provides operational leadership to approximately 100 field-based staff delivering meat Official Controls within Food Standards Scotland (FSS), as part of the Meat Operations branch in the Operational Delivery Division. The team’s mission is to ensure effective, consistent delivery of Official Controls across slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments throughout Scotland.

You will focus on leading geographically dispersed operational teams, strengthening management capability, setting performance objectives, and overseeing delivery through a performance management framework aligned to the FSS 2026–2031 Strategy. The main objective is to drive high-performing teams, ensuring a consistent standard of service nationwide while supporting continuous development and growth of staff and operational capability.

Responsibilities

• Build meaningful strategic stakeholder relationships across the meat sector in Scotland and in approved slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments to maintain support for FSS policies in relation to the delivery of Official Controls.
• Provide direction, support and definitive advice to colleagues and stakeholders as required, line manage 3 Operations Managers with around 100 staff in over 30 locations and hold overall responsibility for 3 cost centres.
• Ensure learning and development activities are delivered so that staff have the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform their duties effectively.
• Lead the performance management system across teams, ensuring KPIs are met.
• Provide interpretation of management information and briefing in area of responsibility as required.
• Maintain own professional knowledge and ensure staff are updated in a timely basis of any changes to corporate processes relevant to their roles.
• Provide operational input into FSS policy development, particularly the development and application of charging systems.
• Represent FSS in key stakeholder groups such as the Partnership Working Group and Scottish Meat Industry Forum and engage with Senior meat industry representatives.
• Develop and deliver a sustainable resourcing model to ensure that FSS has access to a supply of staff to meet future demand.
• Lead the Field Operations management team to ensure effective communication systems are operated for field staff across Scotland.
• Drive the field-related operational delivery Health and Safety initiatives.

Success Profile

Technical / Professional Skills

The following essential capabilities will be assessed part of your written application for the role:

1. Connections and communication with stakeholders – Practitioner level
2. Operational leadership and management - Practitioner level
3. Data and insight – Practitioner level

You can find out more about the skills required, here: ODP Competency Framework

Behaviours:

As part of the interview process, the following key behaviours will be assessed:

• Seeing the big picture (Level 4)
• Leadership (Level 4)
• Making effective decisions (Level 4)
• Managing a quality service (Level 4)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 1000 words which should evidence how you meet the technical/professional skills 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.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an assessment of the Behaviours above, via an interview and a presentation, details of which will be shared with the relevant candidates in due course.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 15th of June 2026, however this may be subject to change.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has a wide and diverse remit which covers all aspects of the food chain which can impact on public health – aiming to protect consumers from food safety risks and promote healthy eating. Our mission is to be Scotland’s leading authority on food safety, standards and healthy eating; using data and evidence to provide assurance and advice that inspires consumer confidence and improves public health.

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 offer

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules

Working 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. This post is a full-time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns and proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post.

Location

This post is home-based anywhere in Scotland and will require travel to different FSS-approved establishments and the FSS and other Scottish Government offices, with likelihood of overnight accommodation needed at times.

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).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

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.

Apply before 23:59 hours, 01 June 2026.