Crown Agent and Chief Executive Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service

Applications are invited from solicitors or advocates qualified to practise in Scotland.  You will hold a practising certificate which is free from conditions which are inconsistent with performing the role and free from any conditions imposed by the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal or the Court.  

This role provides a unique opportunity to combine extensive prosecution and legal experience and expertise with a track record of organisational leadership in a challenging, focussed and fast paced environment. The post of Crown Agent and Chief Executive is held by a lawyer qualified to practise in Scotland with extensive experience and expertise in prosecution policy and practice. The Crown Agent and Chief Executive is the permanent Civil Service Head of COPFS acting in three distinct capacities – as principal adviser on all prosecution and death investigation matters to the Lord Advocate, as Civil Service Head and Chief Executive of COPFS and as the Head of Profession for the lawyers within COPFS.  

The Crown Agent is the Accountable Officer for COPFS and is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the budget of COPFS. In addition, the Crown Agent also holds office ex officio as the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, overseeing the claiming of Bona Vacantia and the operation of the Treasure Trove system in Scotland.

 The Crown Agent is Accountable Officer for the total budget of around £196.6m that is allocated by the Scottish Parliament to cover every aspect of prosecutorial investigation, prosecutorial decision making and action, and investigation in respect of fatalities which require further explanation.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Act as principal legal advisor to the Lord Advocate.
• Deliver COPFS’ business objectives in line with all published performance measures and in accordance with its values.
• Be accountable for ensuring COPFS operates within the budget allocated by the Scottish Parliament and meets all necessary financial and audit standards.
• Produce Annual Accounts of COPFS to be laid before the Scottish Parliament.
• As a member of the Justice Board for Scotland, contribute to the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Justice Strategy for Scotland and work collaboratively to deliver cross-cutting, criminal justice-wide reforms.

Legal and professional expertise

The successful candidate must be a solicitor or advocate qualified to practise in Scotland and hold a practising certificate which is free from conditions which are inconsistent with performing the role and free from any conditions imposed by the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal or the Court.

 The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate evidence of:

• Extensive experience and expertise in delivery of Scottish public prosecution policy and casework
• Knowledge of the justice system in Scotland with Board level experience.
• Operating with authority and credibility in the Scottish and International criminal justice sector and having an appreciation of the standing of the role of the Lord Advocate and the COPFS. 

• Leadership at Board level – You should have experience of successfully leading the direction and development of organisational strategy, achieving tangible and measurable outcomes in a large and complex organisation. You will have a highly developed strategic ability to gain an in-depth insight surrounding the wider issues impacting COPFS. You will be able to demonstrate a track record of delivering through effective partnerships and working across boundaries with a variety of stakeholders. Experience of delivering strategy at pace and showing resilience to sustain the strategy often through high levels of ambiguity and organisational change will be key to your success. 

• Delivering results – You will have strong self-awareness and demonstrate significant experience in using your own initiative to take forward actions and achieve organisational goals. You will have strong evidence of leading and delivering against challenging commitments, responding quickly to changing situations and approaching challenges with flexibility, responsiveness and creativity. You should be able to bring a fresh perspective to a situation while recognising other views. 

• Leading others – As an experienced leader you will have proven experience in the development of organisations and people. You will be highly driven and motivate others to deliver at pace. You will be an advocate for change. You are someone who remains positive and inspiring, leading others through change. You communicate confidently, create and share a clear vision for the future through challenge and influence. You can build wider organisational capacity and capability within a positive, values-based culture. 

• Relationship Management and Influence – You will have a track record of securing the confidence of senior colleagues and stakeholders across an organisation and wider stakeholder landscape. You work in collaboration, building and maintaining positive, trusted and effective partnerships through persuasion, advocacy and challenge. You will also have the ability to develop meaningful coalitions with stakeholders and other partners.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : SCSHR@gov.scot
• Email : SCSHR@gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : SCSHR@gov.scot