Private Secretary

Job Description

Are you well organised, with an eye for detail and good people skills?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a busy and friendly team in the Private Office of the Chief Medical Officer, supporting clinicians in their unique role of providing clinical advice to Ministers and operating as senior leaders of the medical profession.

The focus of the role will be to provide daily support to the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. This will involve leading on co-ordinating their inbox and diary, working closely with the wider CMO Private Office team, directorate business management unit, and internal and external stakeholders.

You will report directly to the Deputy Private Secretary in the CMO Private Office. 

Responsibilities

• Proactive support to DCMOs in all aspects of official business, running their diaries and inboxes and working with policy and ministerial PO colleagues in order to ensure that the DCMOs have information they need to meet deadlines to provide clinical advice. 
• Work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including policy colleagues, communications colleagues and special advisers. 
• Provide support for the DCMO when they attend press briefings, working proactively with both policy and communications colleagues to ensure up-to-date data, briefing and media lines are provided. 
• Work across both the CMO and DCMO mailboxes flexibly, in accordance with demand across the office. 
• Coordinate correspondence received by the C/DCMOs, liaising with the appropriate policy teams to ensure responses are developed and issued within the required timescales.
• General ‘trouble shooter’ for any problems that DCMO and the team may need help with.

Success Profile

Experience:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
• Making Effective Decisions - Level 3 
• Working Together - Level 3

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

Location

St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh or Atlantic Quay, Glasgow with hybrid working in line with current policies

How to apply

Closing Wednesday 09 July 2025

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. 

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week.  We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for,  please contact us.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.  

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.