Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions

About Us

The Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS) was established in 1990 as the first statutorily based independent prosecution service in Canada. The Public Prosecution Service is responsible for all prosecutions and appeals within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General. 
 
With the guiding mission of providing fair and equal treatment in the prosecution of offences, the PPS prosecutes charges laid under the Criminal Code and under Nova Scotia statutes such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  The Head Office is in Halifax and there are regional offices located throughout the province. 
 
The core functions of the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service are to:

• Represent the Crown in the conduct of criminal trials and quasi criminal appeals before all levels of courts. 
• Participate in the development of criminal law and criminal prosecutions policy. 
• Provide advice to police in respect of prosecutions generally or in respect of specific investigations 

  
For more information on the Public Prosecution Service please visit the following link: https://novascotia.ca/pps/  

About Our Opportunity

Primary Accountabilities

As Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions, you will: 

• Provide senior legal and policy advice to the Director, Chief Crown Attorneys, and Crown Attorneys on complex, sensitive, and high-impact prosecution matters.  
• Make or support significant prosecution decisions involving prosecutorial discretion, public interest, legal risk, and the fair administration of justice.  
• Support the Director with operational and administrative matters affecting the Public Prosecution Service, including human resources, budget, premises, service capacity, and organizational priorities.  
• Promote fair, consistent, and effective prosecution practices through policy guidance, compliance review, training, professional development, and performance support.  
• Provide legal advice to police on specific and often high-profile criminal investigations, including helping resolve complex issues between Crown Attorneys and investigators.  
• Represent or support the Public Prosecution Service on justice-sector committees and initiatives, including work related to criminal justice policy, extradition, case management, technology, operations, and service improvement. 
• Carry out the responsibilities of the Director of Public Prosecutions when required. 

Qualifications and Experience

As the successful candidate, you bring senior legal expertise, sound judgment, and proven leadership in a complex justice or public sector environment. You have: 

• A minimum of ten years as a barrister.  
• Membership in good standing with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, or eligibility for membership at the time of appointment.  
• Significant background in criminal law, prosecution, or litigation under provincial statutes.  
• Strong knowledge of prosecutorial discretion, Crown independence, disclosure obligations, Charter issues, criminal procedure, and the public-interest role of Crown counsel.  
• Proven ability to make sound legal decisions in complex, sensitive, or high-impact matters.  
• Experience advising senior decision-makers, legal professionals, police, justice partners, or public sector leaders.  
• Leadership experience in a legal, justice, or public sector environment, including responsibility for operations, policy, financial, human resource, performance, or administrative matters. 
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to legal and non-legal audiences.  
• Demonstrated cultural competency and a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and fairness in the justice system.  
• Ability to build credible working relationships with Crown Attorneys, police, courts, government partners, community partners, and justice-system stakeholders.  
• Knowledge of the mandate of the Public Prosecution Service and the roles of the Director and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions. 

Assets

The following experience would be considered an asset: 

• Serving as Crown counsel.  
• Senior prosecution decision-making.  
• Advising police on complex or high-profile investigations.  
• Extradition, interjurisdictional, or federal/provincial/territorial justice matters.  
• Prosecution policy, directives, standards, training, or quality assurance.  
• Coaching, mentoring, performance assessment, or professional development of legal professionals.  
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, or cultural competency initiatives.  
• Working relationships across the justice system, including with police, courts, victims’ services, correctional services, Legal Aid, federal/provincial/territorial justice partners, or professional associations. 

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Additional Information

This is a five-year term Governer in Council appointment, with the possibility of extension for an additional five years. 

Following interviews, the successful candidate may be put forward for the Governor in Council's approval.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules