Administrative Officer

Overview:
Would you like to work for a large, operational and delivery focussed Directorate at the forefront of key SG priorities?

Are you looking a role where you can utilise your organisational skills and build effective relationships

If the answers to the above are yes, then the Rural Payments and Inspections Division may be the place for you.

Rural Payments and Services is delivered by the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), with delivery partners. RPID is the accredited paying agency in Scotland.

We have around 600 staff in 17 area offices throughout Scotland providing a range of services - some in the office covering administration and developing policy, others out in the field updating maps or conducting inspections.

Our key responsibilities are:

- payment of Common Agricultural Policy scheme grants and subsidies. This is around £650m per annum
- inspection of agricultural land and livestock to ensure compliance with regulations

The Customer Service Branch in Perth is made up of a network of 17 local Area Offices that perform a key role in the work of the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division (SGRPID). The Area Offices are the main contact with farmers, crofters and other interested parties, being responsible for the delivery of grants, subsidies and other Government policies to the rural community. Area Office staff contribute their knowledge and experience towards the development and implementation of policy and systems for new schemes, as well as the on-going maintenance of existing schemes.

As the Perth Office Administrative Officer, you will be responsible for delivering a high quality customer service through accurate administration and inspection of subsidy claims, which result in £700 million of direct aid into the Scottish rural economy.

**Responsibilities**:

- Dealing with telephone, written and face to face enquiries from both internal and external customers including assisting with registration and navigation of RPID's online systems.
- General administrative duties, including filing, acknowledgement and onward processing of mail, compilation of or inspection files and maintaining spreadsheet information.
- Producing Phytosanitary Certificates and Plant Passports
- Reception Duty
- Supporting Bee Inspections (National)
- Support Point of Destination Inspections(National)

**Competencies**:
Self Awareness

Team Work

Customer Service

Communication and EngagemenT

Essential Criteria & Qualifications:
**Essential Criteria**:
1. Strong interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication, to have confidence in dealing with a range of customers and stakeholders at all levels, to maintain and improve standards of customer service.

2. Good administration, organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise competing tasks and workloads.

3. A proven team player who is able to work well with others but also carry out individual tasks as required, with the minimum of supervision.

4. Good IT skills, with a good working knowledge of a variety of IT systems, including Microsoft Office Products - Word, Excel and Outlook.

**Location**:Strathearn House, Perth, PH1 1RX

This post is based in Perth, with virtual and hybrid working being the current arrangement.

**Interview and Assessment**:Dates to be confirmed

**Minimum time in post**:
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

**HOW TO APPLY & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**:
**How to apply**:
**Additional information**:
For further information, please download and review the “Person Specification” which you will find below.

**Person_Specification_Band_B_Updated_9.9.22_PDF**

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

**Important Information Regarding Interviews**:
In recognition of ongoing measures and guidance in response to Covid-19, a decision has been taken that all interviews will be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.

All applicants must ensure that they have a suitable space to complete the virtual interview via MS Teams and ensure that Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds to undertake the interview.

**As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.**

**Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.