An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Higher Agricultural Officer to join the Rural Payments and Inspections Division (Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate) in the Stornoway Area Office. Within the ARE Directorate, the Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) are accountable for the strategic process that regulates and oversees the payment of Agricultural grants and subsidies and related inspection regimes totalling £700m/annum. In the current programme, this is split between direct aid to farmers and crofters totalling £500m and a further £200m under the banner of the Scottish Rural Development Programme. It is also responsible for other regulatory activity and expert technical advice. RPID teams of professional agricultural, customer service and administrative staff are based in a network of 17 offices located around rural Scotland. These teams manage the implementation of agricultural, environmental and rural policies, process applications for funding and provide high quality customer service. As a Higher Agricultural Officer, you will perform a key management role within the RPID Stornoway office, managing, developing and supporting a team of 5 Agricultural Officers. The Agricultural Officer team undertake a wide variety of duties, many of an outdoor nature, including visits to crofts to carry out inspections. Our inspections may involve working in a livestock environment, verifying land eligibility in diverse landscapes and carrying out site visits in relation to crofting matters such as regulatory applications and capital grants. The team also undertake desk-based processing of claims and applications, and engage directly with customers as the primary point of contact for crofters and the rural community in the area. This position is primarily a management role, but it also includes the requirement to undertake some inspections as well, and carrying out site visits to diverse types of agricultural establishments, often over extensive and difficult terrain and in all weather conditions. Experience of crossing this type of land and a willingness to undertake these visits are prerequisites for this post.