Are you looking for a varied and rewarding role where you can be an integral part of the team that helps to support Scottish farmers, crofters and land managers farm in a sustainable way?
RPID teams manage the implementation of agricultural, environmental and rural policies, process applications for funding and provide high quality customer service. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Agricultural Officer to join the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) in the Benbecula area office.
Agricultural Officers perform a key role in the work of the Division and are often a key point of contact for farmers, crofters and the rural community. They undertake a wide variety of duties, many of an outdoor nature, including visits to farms and crofts to carry out inspections. The team also undertake desk-based processing of claims and applications, and engage directly with customers as the primary point of contact for the rural community in the area.
Due to the nature of this role, a considerable amount of driving is involved therefore a valid driving licence that enables the candidate to drive in the UK is mandatory.
Responsibilities
* Visit crofts and farms to inspect and measure land using GPS enabled laptops.
* Inspect cattle and sheep and associated records to confirm traceability and cross compliance requirements.
* Office based processing of claims under the Single Application Form (SAF). This will include interpreting mapping data and other forms of evidence to check eligibility of claims.
* Assess applications from land managers under our Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).
* Complete reports in relation to Croft Regulatory requirements on behalf of the Crofting Commission.
* Assess applications from crofters under our capital grant schemes.
* Provide customer support and engage with customers to enable them to understand changes to support of Scottish agriculture.
Qualifications
Valid driving licence which enables you to drive in the UK. Please confirm in your CV or Personal Statement that you hold this qualification.
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
* Delivery and decision making at speed - Working Level
You can find out more about the skills required Here
Experience
* Previous practical experience of working within UK agricultural or rural sector and the ability to demonstrate an understanding of wider farming practices in Scotland including crofting.
* Demonstrate a knowledge of the schemes and support that RPID have available to help the farming sector, including those which assist the Scottish Government meet its Net Zero target.
Behaviours
* Communicating and influencing – Level 2
* Working together - Level 2
You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
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.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in person interview and presentation in the Benbecula office.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 19 January 2026 however this may be subject to change.
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, 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. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact Ross Dunsmore (ross.dunsmore@gov.scot) or David Cormack (David.cormack@gov.scot).
Due to the nature of the role, certain duties cannot be carried out from home and will require you to attend the office at specific times. For the initial part of employment/until fully trained, the expectation is for successful applicants to work 100% of the time in the Benbecula office
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.