Assistant Laboratory Technician

The Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Scotland is seeking a team player to support soil sample processing in a laboratory that focuses on potato health. Responsibilities include maintaining laboratory equipment, assisting with virus testing, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Ideal candidates will have experience operating machinery and the ability to follow detailed instructions. The role demands in-person attendance due to its hands-on nature.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive working environment

Various employee benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in a high through-put, quality assured workplace is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Carry out processing of soil samples.
• Carry out annual maintenance on the machine.
• Support testing of new potato varieties.
• Support potato virus testing.
• Ensure compliance with quality management and safety procedures.
• Perform general laboratory duties.

Skills

Building and applying knowledge

Communicating science and engineering for government

Technical oversight and management

Experience in operating machinery

Leadership

Delivering at pace

Job description

Overview

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 18,000 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.

Responsibilities

• Carry out processing of soil samples. 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.
• 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.

Success profiles and Skills

• 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.
• Behaviours
  • Leadership – Level 1
  • Delivering at pace – Level 1

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: 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.

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.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in person interview and job simulation.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 19 January 2026 however this may be subject to change.

In the event of a tied interview/assessment score, merit order will be determined by score in Behaviours criteria.

In the event of a high volume of applications, candidates will have their applications initially assessed against the Experience criteria above. Candidates who pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against all 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 and 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. 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, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

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.