Skip to content

General Information

Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
Edinburgh
Region
Scotland
Closing Date
15-Jul-2026
Post Type
Expression of Interest
Civil Service Grade
SCS 1
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
18769

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Deputy Chief Executive - Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Prisons - Expression of Interest

Please note that this role is being advertised on behalf of Scottish Prisons. The successful candidate will be joining Scottish Prisons on a temporary basis.

This is a rare opportunity with Scottish Prisons, to take on an executive leadership role of an entire national prison system and co-own, the overall strategic direction of the organisation, beyond the functional responsibilities of the post.

The Deputy Chief Executive – COO role offers a significantly broad span, authority and strategic influence as the postholder has responsibility for the whole prison system in Scotland, including population management, operational policy, public protection, prison maintenance, private contracts and major capital investment including new prison builds.  

This is a whole-system leadership role, requiring the postholder to integrate operational delivery, policy, and corporate leadership to shape both the immediate performance and the long-term future of the prison system.

This role demands a high level of political awareness, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while maintaining operational integrity.

This role requires a leader who places values at the heart of how leadership responsibility is exercised, not just what is delivered. Values are not something separate from this role, but the foundation for how decisions are made, particularly where operational pressures and human impact are most acute.
 
The successful candidate will champion a learning and supportive culture, where continuous improvement is driven through reflection, evidence and shared accountability. They will invest in people, model the behaviours they expect of others, and ensure that challenge and support go hand in hand. In doing so, they will build trust, resilience and capability across the organisation, enabling sustainable improvement over the long term.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Executive – COO will have line management responsibility for the Directors of Operations, Director of Policy and Head of Estates Function. Duties will include:

1. Maintain safe, secure and suitable prison environments
2. Support health, wellbeing and care within prisons, embedding trauma informed and person centred approaches
3. Provide rehabilitation, learning and opportunities – supporting people on individualised pathways
4. Lead people and promote cultural change to a values based, learning culture
5. Maintain and modernise the prison estate
6. Improve performance – corporate delivery plans, inspections, audits and assurance

For more information on the Key Responsibilities please see the attached candidate information pack.

Please note that the successful candidate will be based in Edinburgh and frequent travel through Scotland will be required.
Additional Information
This role is being offered on a temporary loan basis to Scottish Prisons.

The loan is for a period of 12 months with the possibility of extension (if agreed by all parties) but will not exceed 23 months.

To apply for the role please send a copy of your CV and Statement of Suitability to SPSSeniorAssignments@prisons.gov.scot no later than 23:55 15th July.

Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.
Allowance
If successful you will need to be based four days of the week in Scotland. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed, however travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed.
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard
Security Clearance (SC)