Director-General Communities
Current role holder: Paul Johnston
Paul Johnston took up his role as Director-General for Education, Communities and Justice in July 2017. This role became Director-General Communities in March 2021.
Responsibilities
The Director General for Communities is responsible for:
- social security
- housing
- social justice
- equalities
- human rights
- local government and public service reform
The Director-General Communities is a member of the Scottish Government's Corporate Governance Board.
Biography
Prior to this role, Paul was Director-General for Learning and Justice from June 2015. He was Director for Safer Communities from January 2013 to June 2015, with responsibility for police, fire, resilience, defence, security, drugs policy and community safety.
He was appointed to the Senior Civil Service in October 2007, carrying out a number of roles before being appointed to Director level as Head of the Advocate General's Office in April 2011.
Paul is a qualified lawyer and joined the Scottish Government Legal Directorate in May 2000.