Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions

The Government of Nova Scotia • Halifax, NS

1d • CA$219,338 - CA$242,324 • Onsite

About The Position

As Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions, you support the Director of Public Prosecutions in the leadership, administration, and effective operation of Nova Scotia’s independent prosecution service. This role carries significant legal authority and public interest responsibility. You provide senior advice on complex prosecution matters, support consistent prosecution practices across the province, and help ensure Crown Attorneys have the guidance, tools, and support required to carry out their work fairly and effectively. The role requires sound judgment, discretion, independence, and credibility across the justice system.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• Health
• Dental
• Life Insurance
• Pension
• General Illness (Short and Long Term)
• Vacation
• Employee and Family Assistance Programs
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed