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Do you have an interest in agricultural botany or agronomy?

If so, we are looking for an individual with excellent attention to detail as well as an aptitude for data collection to join our Team.

The Seed Certification Branch and is responsible for ensuring all aspects of the schemes are adhered to and carried out in accordance with the legislation.

Seed Certification Schemes exist to protect farmers and their customers by ensuring that the certified seed they buy meets certain quality standards for varietal identity and purity, germination and freedom from weed seeds.

The sale of most agricultural and horticultural seeds is controlled through a series of seeds regulations which are part of an UK-wide framework which states that all growing crops must meet the standard in the directives.

As the Technical Officer, you will be a key member of the Seed Certification team showing a high degree of accuracy when checking information received in terms of validity, accuracy and completeness for crop inspection entries and crop inspection findings and interpreting data returned to SASA on crop inspection cards. You will also be required to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the taxonomy of cereal varieties in order to carry out detailed botanical descriptive work in preparing herbarium cards for new cereal varieties to aid the preparation of variety descriptions, and will assist in the preparation of these descriptions.

A key element of the Technical Officer role is to be able to distinguish varietal impurities in both crops and control plots, therefore working to a high standard of accuracy will be essential.

In order to carry out your role effectively, you will be required to attend, and pass, the following courses:

• Initial Crop Inspectors Training Course (theory)
• Intensive Crop Inspectors Training Course (with examination)
• Grain Identification Course
• Seed Samplers training Course (theory and examination)

Support and guidance will be provided by the members of your team at every stage.

Some of the work carried out by the team is sometimes in inclement weather conditions therefore, an adaptable and flexible approach is required, especially during times of competing priorities, to ensure that blocks of work are completed when required (e.g., sowing cereal plots, sample processing and recording plots)

• general duties including reception, preparation for sowing and sowing of seed lots entered in the certification scheme, sowing of plots for training crop inspectors, preparing seed for testing and ensure seed is stored securely
• Carry out varietal identity and purity assessment of control plots and crops entered for certification. This will include harvesting material and prepare it for use on training courses in varietal taxonomy / identification
• Assist with crop inspections and seed sampling / enforcement activities in support of the seed certification scheme.
• Carry out varietal identity and purity assessments on seeds of cereals, using a range of chemical and visual methods, some of which will require the use of a microscope.
• Perform visual examinations of cereal plots for varietal purity and identity examinations sown for certification and record all findings in the correct manner.
• Order seed of varieties used for certification and training purposes.
• Sowing and harvesting of material required for training both internal and external stakeholders and testing of crop inspectors.

• An ability to work as part of a team, sharing information, communicating and negotiating both with immediate colleagues and others across various branches and divisions.
• Competent using a variety of IT systems, and use this technology to query, store and retrieve information for samples in the certification scheme.
• Possess good organisational and planning skills, including the ability to balance competing priorities and work to strict deadlines whilst maintaining focus and accuracy.
• Ability to collate and analyse information from a wide range of sources and report findings accurately.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

Name :
Bob Sunter
Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team

Email :
[email protected]