Technical Specialist (Aquaculture)
Soil Association
About our Organisation
Soil Association Certification Ltd exists to accelerate the just transition across food, farming and land use, as a global leader in sustainability certification. We deliver trusted solutions with nature, for people and planet through the certification of high integrity holistic standards. These assurance schemes cover a wide range of sectors including food, forestry, farming, landscape restoration carbon markets, beauty and wellbeing, textiles and catering.
We are recognised and trusted by consumers and businesses around the world, operating in over 60 countries delivering FSC and PEFC certification, and you will also find the Soil Association organic symbol on over 70% of organic products in the UK.
Soil Association Certification is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Soil Association, formed in 1946, which is the only UK charity which works across the spectrum of human health, the environment and animal welfare. That’s because we cannot tackle these issues in isolation.
We campaign for change, we support farming innovation, we serve healthy food in communities, we support and grow the organic market, and we protect forests. We couldn't do any of this without our supporters, partners, donors and dedicated staff. We make a difference in the world where it’s needed the most.
About the Opportunity
We are looking for a passionate, self-motivated individual who has extensive practical knowledge and experience in aquaculture, especially salmon production, to join our Technical Team as a Technical Specialist in Aquaculture.
The role requires the individual to have inspection and auditing experience, be a good communicator and provide excellent customer service to our clients. The role will involve leading on the development of the organic aquaculture certification scheme, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and coordinating feedback for the development of the Soil Association Aquaculture standards. This will include integrating welfare assessments on organic salmon farms into scheme requirements and the review and reporting of data to assess the impact of organic requirements. This role will be supporting the aquaculture sector to meet Soil Association standard requirements. Most of the aquaculture sites are in Scotland so the role will be based there. The role is home based and will involve travel to carry out audits, attend meetings and events when required.
About You
We're looking for an experienced professional with a strong background in aquaculture, ideally with a specialism in salmon production, to join our team. You’ll bring extensive hands-on knowledge of the industry along with significant auditing or inspection experience, particularly in quality assurance (QA) roles. Confidence in working independently, managing your own workload, and taking the lead on projects is essential, as is the ability to deliver high standards of customer service and provide constructive feedback, even in challenging situations.
You should be comfortable communicating with clients and stakeholders in person and through various other channels, and able to work effectively with people from a wide range of communities and backgrounds. Strong IT skills and proficiency in typing are also important.
It would be desirable for you to have an understanding of organic production principles, and ideally some practical experience within the organic or related sectors. Experience with certification schemes, evaluating environmental or social impact, or representing an organisation externally would also be advantageous. This role requires regular travel and occasional overnight stays, so a flexible approach and a full UK driving licence are essential.
Our Benefits
We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:
- 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
- Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service
- Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce
- Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives
- Family friendly policies and flexible working
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce
About Soil Association
The Soil Association is a charity working with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm, and care for our natural world.
We build real solutions from the ground up. For the last 75 years, we've worked with citizens,
farmers, policy makers and businesses, supporting them to explore the vital relationship
between the health of soil, plants, animals and people. Because the only way to solve the
issues we face is to understand that they are all connected - and that food, farming and
forestry are a vital part of the solution.
The Soil Association is a charity working with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm, and care for our natural world. We build real solutions from the ground up. For the last 75 years, we've worked with citizens, farmers, policy makers and businesses, supporting them to explore the vital relationship between the health of soil, plants, animals and people. Because the only way to solve the issues we face is to understand that they are all connected - and that food, farming and forestry are a vital part of the solution.
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