Description Are you looking for a challenging and varied role where you will be an integral part of a team who are committed to making a positive impact on the agricultural industry? Protecting the environment, public health, plant health, and animal health & welfare is the key purpose of the Inspection and Enforcement Services (Cross Compliance and Livestock) Team. The team undertakes a variety of duties to ensure RPID can deliver statutory requirements, but the primary role of the Higher Agricultural Officer will be to support Cattle Inspections and Enforcement. You may also be required to support wider services within the team if needed. The team are located across Scotland and apply a range of flexible and hybrid working options. Responsibilities Undertake a key leadership role in supporting front line SG staff in Rural Scotland interacting with rural business, stakeholders, including ScotEID and Animal Health and Welfare policy colleagues to ensure consistency inspections and the enforcement of regulations particularly but not solely related to Livestock ID and Traceability. Selection, monitoring, analysis and management of inspection databases to ensure Scottish Government meets its statutory requirement of cattle identification inspections annually. Produce and publish guidance for inspections and enforcement actions. Provide training and support to cattle inspectors. Process enforcement actions, including advising inspectors, reviewing reports and evidence, liaising with partner organisations and making recommendations to senior managers. Contribute to the team's enhanced capability work including the potential to support inspectors in the field during highly complex cases when resources with the right skills and experience are not available locally. Supervising and line managing staff. Qualifications 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: Connections and communication – Practitioner Data and insight – Working Delivery and decision making as speed - Practitioner You can find out more about the skills required here: ODP competency framework Experience: You should have practical experience of inspections or enforcement in the agriculture or rural sectors. Behaviours: Changing and Improving – Level 3 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 provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation Assessments are scheduled for w/c 11 August 2025 however this may be subject to change. In the event of a tied interview/assessment score, merit order will be determined by score in Changing and improving criteria. 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. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. 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.