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Job description

The work of the Department touches the daily lives of everyone in Northern Ireland by delivering cross cutting activities that protect and enhance our natural environment, address the challenge of climate change, support sustainable agri-food and fishing sectors, develop our rural communities and improve animal health and welfare in our ambitious drive towards disease eradication. Please see employer website for full job details & person specification.

Responsibilities

• While not an exhaustive or prescriptive list of responsibilities, an indication of the main duties of Inspector Grade I is provided below.
• The emphasis on particular duties will vary depending on the post allocated and may vary over time depending on business priorities and needs. The post holder will manage a Branch within DAERA.
• For the CAFRE Head of Horticulture Branch, the post holder will report to the Head of CAFRE’s Education Service.
• Leading on the provision of professional and technical input/advice to the strategic direction of DAERA, including leading the development of programmes in response to policy and industry needs;
• Leading on the provision of professional and technical input/advice at a strategic level to help shape the development of a range of challenging policy and delivery programmes across DAERA;
• Please see main duties and responsibilities of the successful candidates in the Candidate Information Booklet.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• To be eligible for this role, you must have, by the closing date for applications: At least an Honours degree (minimum 2.2 classification), or an equivalent qualification in Horticulture or Sportsturf Management or a closely related subject.
• AND At least three years’ direct experience at middle management level of successfully using professional and technical knowledge to contribute to significant industry support.
• And / or education programmes and / or amenity / commercial / community initiatives for the benefit of the Horticulture sector that have achieved impact.
• AND At least three years’ experience of effective leadership in an area of strategic significance to your organisation, where you deployed excellent communication skills to achieve successful outcomes in a complex and challenging environment.
• AND Access to a form of transport which will enable you to travel throughout NI, ROI, GB and abroad to fulfil their responsibilities in full.

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview. The Panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the information provided by candidates.
• This will be completed on a scored basis and only the highest scoring applicants will proceed to interview. The Panel will complete this assessment against the information provided by applicants in the application form only.

Further Information

Location: CAFRE, Greenmount Campus. NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 5th December 2025 at 12 noon. Applications from males, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. DAERA has responsibility for food, farming, environment, fisheries, forestry, sustainability policy and the development of the rural sector in NI. The department is structured into seven groups including one Executive Agency (the NI Environment Agency) and is also accountable for one Public Corporation (Forest Service) and all groups and agencies work together to support the delivery of DAERA’s strategic objectives.