Private Secretary

This is a unique opportunity to work directly with the Crown Agent and Chief Executive or one of our Legal Directors, providing high-quality support and advice within a fast-paced and influential Private Office environment. As a Private Secretary, you will operate at the centre of COPFS, helping to ensure that senior leaders are focused on the right priorities, equipped with the right information and supported to make effective decisions on issues that matter across Scotland's prosecution service.

Every day will be different. You will work across a broad portfolio of business, manging competing priorities, coordinating complex activity and engaging with colleagues and stakeholders from across COPFS and the wider justice system. You will gain unique insight into how organisational priorities are shaped, how decisions are made, and how major change and improvement programmes are delivered across a national public service.

We are looking for individuals who are curious, proactive and motivated by working i a fast-moving environment. You may come from an operational, policy, project delivery, executive support or stakeholder engagement background. What matters most is your ability to build strong relationships, quickly understand complex issues, exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality work while managing multiple priorities. Previous Private Office experience is not essential; we are looking for people with transferable skills, strong potential and a desire to learn.

In return, you will have the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, develop a broad understanding of the organisation and build networks across COPFS and beyond. The role offers exceptional exposure to strategic decision-making, corporate leadership and organisational delivery, making it an excellent development opportunity for ambitious individuals looking to broaden their experience and prepare for future leadership roles

General Responsibilities

Executive Support and Coordination

• Provide high-quality Private Secretary support, ensuring the effective management of priorities, commitments and emerging
issues.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings and engagements, ensuring the effective use of senior leaders' time and prompt resolution
of scheduling conflicts.
• Coordinate business on behalf of senior leaders, ensuring actions, decisions and commitments are tracked and progressed.
• Act as a key point of contact, managing enquiries and ensuring matters are directed appropriately and handled efficiently.

Briefing, Governance and Decision Support


• Coordinate, prepare and quality assure briefing materials, correspondence, submissions and other documentation.
• Ensure senior leaders are equipped with accurate and timely information to support decision-making and stakeholder
engagement.
• Monitor and highlight risks, issues and dependencies, exercising sound judgement when escalating matters requiring attention.
• Maintain oversight of key actions and deadlines, ensuring commitments are delivered within agreed timescales.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across COPFS and key internal and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation to gather information, coordinate activity and resolve issues.
• Support engagement with senior leaders, justice partners and other stakeholders, ensuring interactions are professionally
managed and well coordinated.
• Represent the Private Office in meetings and discussions as required, fostering positive and productive working relationships.

Organisational Awareness and Corporate Delivery

• Develop a broad understanding of organisational priorities and support activity that contributes to the delivery of strategic
objectives.
• Identify emerging issues, trends or pressures which may impact delivery and bring these to the attention of senior leaders.
• Support the planning and coordination of corporate activity, ensuring priorities remain aligned and delivery focused.
• Contribute to a culture of professionalism, flexibility and high performance within the Private Office.
Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, systems and ways of working within the Private Office.
• Support the implementation of service improvements and changes that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Share learning and good practice across the team, contributing to continuous improvement and excellent customer service.
• Demonstrate adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change rapidly.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list and other duties will be required of the post holder.

We are seeking an individual who is curious, adaptable and motivated by the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders at the heart of COPFS. You will be comfortable dealing with ambiguity, able to quickly understand complex issues and confident building effective relationships across organisational boundaries. You will bring sound judgement, discretion and the confidence to challenge constructively where this supports better decision-making and outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have excellent organisational and communication skills, enjoy building relationships across a wide range of teams and be confident managing multiple priorities simultaneously. They will be able to exercise discretion, demonstrate sound judgement and take ownership of delivering work to a consistently high standard in a fast-moving environment. Previous Private Office experience would be advantageous; however, we also welcome applications from individuals with strong transferable skills and the potential to succeed in a Private Office environment.

We offer an excellent range of benefits which include:

• • 25 days paid holiday + 11.5 public and privilege holidays (rising to 30 days paid holiday after 2 years).
  • Generous Civil Service Pension employer contribution, on average over 28.97% of your pay
  • Flexible working hours and family friendly approach to work.
  • Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loans.
  • Employee Wellbeing Support with Mental Health First Aiders and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

Job contact :

• Name : Rahul Singh
• Email : Rahul.Singh@copfs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@copfs.gov.uk

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