Delivery Lead Fish Health Inspectorate
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- United Kingdom
- Work type
- Hybrid
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Job description
Help protect the health of Scotland’s aquaculture sector by leading a nationally important inspectorate that safeguards fish health, supports sustainable growth and underpins Scotland’s international disease-free status.
The Marine Directorate is seeking a Head of the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) to lead a specialist team of 21 staff based in Aberdeen. The FHI plays a vital role in protecting Scotland’s aquaculture industry through disease surveillance, prevention, control and eradication activities, helping to maintain confidence in Scotland’s aquatic animal health standards and support the country’s approved disease-free status.
As Head of the FHI, you will provide leadership across a complex regulatory and scientific landscape, ensuring that fish health legislation is effectively delivered and that robust evidence is available to support operational and policy decisions. The primary objective of the role is to oversee the delivery of Scotland’s fish health controls while providing expert advice, building confidence among Ministers and stakeholders, and ensuring decisions are informed by the best available scientific evidence.
Responsibilities
- Manage, motivate and develop the FHI management team to ensure that all required activities are completed efficiently and effectively through discussions, meetings, and clear, concise instructions and guidance where appropriate.
- Provide the strategic leadership of the Fish Health Inspectorate, liaising with the Senior Delivery Lead for Aquaculture, Fish Health and Biosecurity.
- Communicate clearly and regularly with the FHI, ensuring that all team members understand how their objectives contribute to the delivery of Marine Directorate and Scottish Government objectives and key policy drivers.
- Manage the implementation of regulations to ensure that the work of the FHI complies with both the requirements and the spirit of Scottish Government policy and legislation.
- Provide advice to the Scottish Government, the aquaculture industry and stakeholders on fish health and aquaculture issues.
- Prepare and manage the FHI budget to ensure it accurately reflects operational requirements. Support the reprofiling of the budget to reflect current and future spending patterns while recognising wider budgetary pressures across the Scottish Government.
- Lead people and delivery management activities across the Fish Health Inspectorate.
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
Technical / Professional Skills:
- Building and applying knowledge
- Technical oversight and management
You can find out more about the skills required, here
Experience
- Expert knowledge of the Scottish aquaculture sector, with substantial experience applying fish health and aquaculture legislation, statutory requirements and regulatory frameworks within Scotland.
Behaviours:
- Making effective decisions – Level 4
- Communicating and influencing – Level 4
- Leadership – Level 4
- Seeing the big picture – Level 4
Find out more about Success Profiles.
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
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.
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 23rd November however this may be subject to change.
Apply before 23:59 on 16th November 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).
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.
Apply before 23:59 on 16th November 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).
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
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.
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 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. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim 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, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
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.
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.
