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- Tasks: Lead the Scottish Prison Service, ensuring effective delivery of prison services and public safety.
- Company: Scottish Government's Executive Agency focused on prison services across Scotland.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible working, and tailored learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public safety and rehabilitation while leading transformative change.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in complex organisations, with strong financial and operational management skills.
- Other info: Join a dynamic environment committed to diversity, inclusion, and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
The Chief Executive Officer will lead the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for the delivery of prison services across Scotland. The postholder will ensure that sentences of the courts are carried out effectively, the public is protected, reoffending is reduced, and those in custody are treated safely, decently, and lawfully. The post holder will support the effectiveness and safety of all those who work within and visit Scotland’s prisons. SPS operates within a complex, high-profile environment, accountable to Ministers, Parliament, and the public.
The Chief Executive will lead an organisation of approximately 5,200 staff, with an annual revenue budget of c.£480m. The organisation is currently undergoing a period of significant change and challenge, requiring strong and visible leadership to deliver transformation programmes, modernise services, and embed a positive culture. The postholder will ensure the organisation continues to deliver high-quality services while adapting to changing demands, government priorities, and fiscal constraints.
The Chief Executive is the organisation’s most senior executive, reporting directly to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and drawing on the advice of the SPS Advisory Board. The post holder will provide visible, accountable leadership for the organisation, ensuring it delivers its statutory duties and public service obligations effectively, efficiently, and with integrity whilst driving forward a bold programme of strategic transformation, major capital investment and cultural change to ensure the organisation is modern, inclusive, and supports long-term improvements in safety, decency and public protection.
The Chief Executive ensures effective working with the NHS, third sector and other partners and works collaboratively with other justice organisations as a member of the Justice Board and Criminal Justice Board for Scotland.
Key Priorities- Addressing prison capacity pressures and working with partners to help reduce overcrowding.
- Delivering strategic workforce reform and addressing recruitment and retention challenges.
- Ensuring the successful delivery of major capital and estate programmes, including the £1bn HMP Glasgow investment and future estate modernisation.
- Maintaining operational safety, staff morale, and public confidence during a period of reform and scrutiny.
- Set strategic direction and deliver government priorities for prisons and align strategy to long term goals for safety, rehabilitation and public protection.
- Lead transformation across SPS, embedding cultural change and modernised operations driving workforce reform to build capability and resilience.
- Maintain public confidence through transparent performance reporting whilst ensuring safe, effective prison operations and robust contingency planning.
- Act as Accounting Officer ensuring governance, assurance, and value for money in capital delivery.
- Promote diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and professional development.
- Lead workforce planning, talent development, and succession planning.
- Represent SPS with Ministers, Parliament, regulators, and partners.
- Build strong relationships across justice, health, and community sectors, collaborating with Justice bodies through national boards.
- Oversee performance of private and third-sector providers.
It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role. In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the professional experience and skills you will also be expected to evidence behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role.
Experience:- Proven track record of leading large, complex organisations through strategic transformation and cultural change, delivering measurable improvements in performance and outcomes.
- Experience of working in or with the Justice system is beneficial but not essential to this role. You must be able to demonstrate how your skills can apply in leadership of complex custodial settings.
- Significant experience of operational delivery, overseeing major capital and infrastructure programmes with a deep understanding of governance, accountability, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
- Exceptional financial and commercial acumen, ensuring effective stewardship of significant budgets and resources.
- High personal resilience to operate in a highly scrutinised and high-profile environment.
- Highly effective influencing skills, communication and political awareness with the personal credibility to gain the trust of a diverse range of senior stakeholders within and outside of government.
You are expected to provide evidence of the following behaviours at Level 6.
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Alongside your salary of £111,916, Scottish Government contributes £32,422 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Prison Service employer: Scottish Government
Contact Detail:
Scottish Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Prison Service
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the justice sector. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Scottish Prison Service and its current challenges. Show that you understand their priorities, like addressing prison capacity and workforce reform. Tailor your responses to demonstrate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've led transformation and cultural change in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged. So, get your application in and show us what you’ve got!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Prison Service
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in leading large organisations. We want to see how you've driven transformation and cultural change in your previous roles. Use specific examples to demonstrate your impact!
Align with Our Values: Make sure your application reflects the values of the Scottish Prison Service. We’re all about safety, rehabilitation, and public protection, so weave these themes into your narrative. Show us how you can contribute to our mission!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on delivering your message effectively. Remember, we want to understand your qualifications without sifting through fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Government
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the Scottish Prison Service's current challenges and priorities. Familiarise yourself with their recent initiatives, especially around transformation and cultural change. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but also invested in the organisation's mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully led large teams through complex changes. Highlight your experience in managing significant budgets and delivering on strategic goals. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to inspire and drive a culture of safety and decency.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would build relationships with various stakeholders, including government officials and community partners. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and how you would maintain public confidence during periods of reform. This shows you understand the importance of communication and influence in this role.
✨Emphasise Resilience and Adaptability
Given the high-profile nature of the role, it’s crucial to convey your personal resilience. Share experiences where you’ve navigated scrutiny or managed crises effectively. This will reassure the interviewers that you can handle the pressures of leading an organisation like the SPS.
