Administration Officer (Lerwick)

Are you a good communicator with a great eye for detail, who is looking for the opportunity to support key Scottish Government priorities? You will join the Customer Service Delivery team in Lerwick, who are part of the Rural and Inspections Division (RPID). RPID have around 600 staff in 17 area offices throughout Scotland providing a range of services. These teams manage the implementation of agricultural, environmental and rural policies, conduct inspections, process applications for funding and provide high quality customer service.

The team are looking for an Administration Officer to join them to support in a variety of duties including the delivery of high quality customer service for our farmers and customers, processing subsidies scheme grants and providing effective business support for the office.

• Receipting, data capture, assessment and authorisations of applications and claims under a range of agricultural and environmental schemes.
• 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.
• Using various IT systems, make assessments of information submitted on businesses and their applications, including data capture of information submitted.
• General administrative duties, including filing, acknowledgement and onward processing of mail, compilation of files and maintaining spreadsheet information.
• Reception duty including ensuring efficient back of house services working across enabling functions.
• Providing efficient, effective and proactive support to a team.
• Proactive diary and inbox management including organising and preparing meetings and events, prioritising tasks and coordinating activity.

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

An understanding of IT systems, including Microsoft Office or similar.

• Communicating and influencing – Level 1
• Working together – Level 1
• Managing a quality service – Level 1
• Delivering at pace – Level 1

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 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.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in person interview and short presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 23 February 2026 however this may be subject to change.

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.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. The Lerwick office follows the Scottish Government’s Hybrid Working Policy. However, due to the nature of the role, certain duties cannot be carried out from home and you may be required to attend the office more frequently. For the first 6 months of employment, or until you are fully trained, the expectation is for successful applicants to work 100% of the time in the Lerwick office.

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).

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 organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.