Meat Technical Inspectors

The Rural Payments Agency

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Grade: HEO

Salary: £29,179 - £32,160

Location: North West, South East, Yorkshire and the Humber

Ensuring fair and transparent trade in meat

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of Defra, responsible for land management initiatives and other rural programmes. Each year we deliver over £2 billion through payments and grants to farmers, traders and landowners. We are also the regulator for livestock identification and meat technical practices within the food and farming sector.

This is an opportunity to use your knowledge of the meat and livestock trade in a broader context, helping to ensure compliance with regulations and support an industry that leads the world.  Working as part of a team at a variety of premises including abattoirs, meat cutting and processing plants and cold stores, you’ll monitor carcass classification and grading, report on dead weight pricing and check labelling.  This is a customer-facing role, which involves offering support, advice and guidance as well as carrying out enforcement actions.  You will aim to identify risks early and help businesses improve and reach the required standard.  You’ll also play a key role in helping them understand changes in regulations.

While comprehensive training is available, you’ll ideally have the ability to recognise meat cuts, species, and breeds.  Experience of carcass classification is desirable, as is a classification licence.   We look for people who are ready to work independently, and who are flexible, decisive and resilient. Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate clearly are both essential.  Along with good levels of numeracy and literacy, you will need a sound grasp of basic Microsoft packages including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.

Frequent travel and overnight stays may be required, along with out-of-hours working, early starts or late finishes to meet the needs of our customers. A full valid driving licence (car) is essential to meet the travel requirements of the role.

Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You will have access to learning and development from quality providers and support from mentors and coaches. We offer flexible working alongside a range of other policies and schemes to support your physical and emotional wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits offer includes generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, volunteering days, childcare vouchers and other salary sacrifice options, and an employee discount scheme.

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