Description Job Description Are you looking for a role where you can lead a vital part of Marine Directorate’s science base in Aberdeen, driving innovation and service delivery across aquaculture, biosecurity, and fish health? You will be a member of the Science and Engineering profession and bring an expertise in Scottish and UK statute applying to aquaculture, combined with strong experience of the services, science and skills underpinning aquaculture and fish health. Utilising your leadership skills to inspire and steer fellow scientists to deliver In the Service of Scotland. Providing policy makers and Ministers with relevant independent scientific advice and guiding the Scottish aquaculture sector in the interests of improving animal welfare and safe and sustainable aquaculture. This is a permanent post, providing Senior Delivery Leadership for the Aquaculture, Fish Health and Biosecurity and Fish Health remit across the Marine Directorate. The post is based in the Aberdeen Marine Laboratory site and is one of eight delivery areas within the Science, Evidence, Data and Digital (SEDD) Portfolio within the Marine Directorate. The Directorate has undergone a significant period of transformation through organisational redesign which has resulted in a portfolio management approach that incorporates colleagues from science, compliance and policy working together to deliver on key strategic outcomes. Responsibilities Provide scientific leadership and advice in relation to the Aquaculture, Fish Health and Biosecurity (AFHB ) deliverables, and be responsible for all outcomes and outputs (including papers, reports etc). Manage the appropriate budgets, capital and running cost resources covering the delivery area, based around the identified agreed scientific priorities, and specifically relating to infrastructure on the MarLab site. Provide line management, staff development and health and safety leadership for the staff in the AFHB area. Managing staff resources and budgets to deliver to the Marine Directorate priorities as set out in the Annual Delivery Plan. Give strategic direction and oversight for appropriate stakeholder engagement, nationally and internationally. Provide support to senior policy colleagues and Ministers on specialist topics within AFHB remit, including leading on the effective and proactive communication of science matters. Contribute to the strategic leadership and overall operation of the Science, Evidence Data and Digital (SEDD) Portfolio, contributing as required on elements of innovation and improvement initiatives. Participation and engagement in SEDD Management Group, and supporting SDL activities. Lead as delivery partner to the UK Office Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and lead on scientific requirements for the Aquatic Animal Health Policy Group, including planning for national response. Engagement with Marine Directorate Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB) activity, ensuring aquaculture research and aquaria activity meets Home Office regulations. Provide leadership for the provision of the Marine Laboratory Aquarium, delivering appropriate facilities that meet internal and external needs and requirements. Also to design and deliver an approach for maximising the opportunities to raise external revenue from these assets, and contribute to the balancing of the Marine Directorate budget. Responsibilities 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 Technical oversight and management: Champions good practice, openness to scrutiny, promotes integrity, collaboration, and manages risk effectively - Level 4 Developing science and engineering capability: Considers science and engineering capability needs within their organisation and develops processes to meet these needs, ensuring a people-centric approach - Level 4 Communicating science and engineering for government: Represents their organisation externally in a positive and effective manner. communicating complex, technical ideas such as risk and uncertainty clearly to wide range of expert and inexpert stakeholders - Level 4 You can find out more about the skills required here: TECHNICAL SKILLS TO INCLUDE IN JOB TEMPLATES (AS OF JUNE 2025) details - Objective Experience Expert working knowledge of science relating to the aquaculture sector, including expertise in statute relating to biosecurity and fish health, and the national and international contexts in which this is relevant to fish health in Scotland. Significant experience leading, managing and utilising emerging research, technologies and services in this sector, including the management of aquaria and laboratories. Behaviours Leadership - Level 4 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here 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 interview and Presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 15 September 2025 however this may be subject to change. Qualifications 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 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). 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 on 10th September. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only