Technical and Standards Manager

About us

Scottish salmon is Scotland and the UK’s no.1 food export with a global reputation for quality and provenance. The sector is an important contributor to the UK economy, supporting over 10,000 jobs in Scotland and across the UK supply chain. Salmon Scotland is the sectors trade body, with a membership spanning 100% of Scottish Salmon farmers, as well as feed producers and supply chain businesses.

The organisation has a small but efficient team based in Edinburgh. Salmon Scotland’s role is to create the conditions for the long-term sustainable growth of the Scottish Salmon sector and to maintain its position as Scotland and the UK's leading food product.

The Role

This post bridges two of Salmon Scotland’s key workstreams: Technical and Standards support, with time divided between the two activities. Although this role bridges two workstreams, both work in close association, being underpinned by a shared need for technical expertise.

Within Technical, the post holder will focus on key activities that support our members in the areas of fish health, environment, production, consenting, and regulatory reform.

Within Standards, the post holder will focus on relevant salmon farming standards, both mandatory and voluntary. These include Scottish Quality Salmon Label Rouge, the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, the Scottish Technical Standard and RSPCA Assured, though an understanding of other schemes and standards will be important.

Due to the nature of this role the post holder will report to the Head of Technical and the Head of Standards, who already work in close collaboration across the organisations technical responsibilities.

This role will require physical presence in the Edinburgh office a minimum of 3 days per week (Tue-Thur).

Duties

Salmon Scotland delivers value to its members by enabling change and progress, problem solving, networking, horizon scanning and by providing a single voice for the sector. All duties of the Technical and Standards Manager fall within these value offerings.

The postholder will:

• Lead on defined activities within technical support, with a focus on fish health, production and cleanerfish, environmental interactions, farm consenting and regulatory reform.
• Draw together varying technical information and expertise to deliver tasks and workstreams identified by Salmon Scotland’s key working groups.
• Be responsible for understanding and supporting our members with the sector’s third party and mandatory standards.
• Ensure that the high standards set by the Scottish Salmon farming sector are maintained and improved.
• Work closely with relevant regulatory bodies and standards providers to help ensure compliance for our members.
• Maintain strong networks across our membership, regulators, standards providers, and other stakeholders.
• Arrange, attend, and chair sector working group meetings, as well as meetings with regulators and relevant stakeholders.
• Support the delivery of consultation responses, briefing papers, policy documents and technical reports.

Experience, skills and qualities

• A degree or equivalent in biological science, environmental science, marine or freshwater biology or an aquaculture related discipline.
• A knowledge of fish farming and ideally the salmon farming sector.
• Passion and drive to support Scotland’s salmon farming sector.
• Knowledge of certification schemes would be a considerable advantage as would an understanding of the audit process by which performance is measured.
• Technical report writing experience, including an ability to summarise complex technical information for a range of audiences.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to draw together varied and complex information to deliver projects and activities.
• Diligent, with a keen eye for detail and persistence to ensure the highest standards are met.
• The ability to build a good network and relationships.
• Exceptional communication skills – clear, confident speaker and professional writing style. Comfortable communicating within and beyond the team and at external meetings and events
• Willing to lead in the absence of peers.
• An ability to work independently and proactively.
• Willing to diversify their role as the needs of the sector and organisation shift.
• Strong work ethic, self-motivation and a desire to succeed.
• A good team worker, with a flexible approach.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is required for travel to members sites and other facilities.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Wellness programme
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (required)

Experience:

• Quality assurance: 1 year (preferred)
• Certification Scheme: 3 years (required)
• Fish farming/Aquaculture: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 05/05/2023