Assistant Laboratory Technician - The Scottish Government
Company: The Scottish Government
Salary: £25,235 per annum
Location: Edinburgh
Date posted: 6 November 2025
Apply before: 26 November 2025
The Job:
Are you an excellent team player who would like to play a key role in supporting the production of healthy potatoes in Scotland?
An opportunity has arisen to join the Virology & Zoology (V&Z) branch within the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) division of Scottish Government. The core function of the branch is to carry out diagnostic testing on a range of samples to meet the Scottish Government’s commitments in relation to Seed Potato Classification and Plant Health Regulations.
Working in the Nematology laboratory, which is the single official testing centre for potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in Scotland and is responsible for processing up to 18000 soil samples each year from land that is intended for growing seed potatoes, you will be responsible for sample receipt and processing and maintaining a clean laboratory environment.
For more information about this vacancy contact: mairi.carnegie@sasa.gov.scot
- Location: Scotland, Edinburgh & The Lothians
- Industry: Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, Horticulture
- Job type: Full-time, Permanent
Assistant Laboratory Technician - The Scottish Government
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The Company:
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.
Job description:
This is a physical, production line-type job which involves routinely receiving and handling crates of soil samples, preparing samples for extraction and operating an automated machine which is used to extract PCN from soil samples.
Responsibilities include:
- Carry out processing of soil samples
- Carry out annual maintenance on the machine and assist with the preparation for the next testing season
- Support testing of new potato varieties for PCN resistance by assisting with the maintenance of pot trials and carrying out a manual method of PCN extraction
- Support potato virus testing as part of the Scottish Seed Potato Classification Scheme by preparing leaf and tuber samples for analysis
- Ensure that duties are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the Quality Management system ISO 9001:2015 and health & safety procedures
- Work in other areas of SASA, as required
- General Laboratory duties.
The Candidate:
Technical/Professional Skills:
- Building and applying knowledge - Understands the importance of safe operation and maintenance of equipment relevant to their work
- Communicating science and engineering for government - Explains clearly tasks they have undertaken by record keeping or verbally, and volunteers’ information where failures have occurred
- Technical oversight and management - Ability to follow a SOP / written instructions and reports results in a timely manner.
Experience:
Experience in operating machinery, preferably within a high through-put, quality assured workplace.
The Package:
- Our standard hours are 35 hours per week
- We offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role
- Due to the practical nature of this role, the post holder will be required to attend SASA in person each working day.
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