Ops Manager: Investigations Jobs

Job Purpose

To supervise the investigations carried out by team members and ensure the team meets its production targets within quality, turnaround time, and productivity standards.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Investigations or Policing, plus 5-7 years’ experience in Enforcement, Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Investigation, or Policing, including 1 year at a supervisory level.

OR

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4), plus 10 years’ related experience in Enforcement, Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Investigation, or Policing, including 1 year at a supervisory level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

Job Outputs:

Process

• Assign and monitor investigation cases to ensure fair distribution, timely completion, and high-quality standards for each investigator level, based on case complexity (e.g., Level 1: simple cases; Level 5: highly complex syndicated cases).
• Work with leadership to create and apply functional and operational strategies that support investigative goals across all levels, promoting growth and skill development from Level 1 to Level 5.
• Guide investigators on collecting, preserving, and documenting evidence, following chain of custody rules, and adjust advice to match the complexity of cases at each level.
• Review and approve investigation reports for accuracy, clarity, and compliance with legal and organizational standards, considering the growing complexity and requirements from Level 1 to Level 5.
• Lead and oversee complex criminal investigations (especially Levels 4 and 5), report results, and identify ways to improve across all levels.
• Suggest and apply improvements to processes, systems, policies, and procedures to encourage innovation and ongoing enhancement at every level.
• Plan and organize multiple work outputs, set priorities, and regularly review team goals to ensure assignments match the complexity and skills of each investigator level.
• Gather information to report on work progress, support decision-making, and spot opportunities for improvement.
• Use judgment to identify problems, their causes, and effects, and make decisions to solve issues and provide solutions.
• Apply discretion and judgment in decisions to overcome challenges and achieve set goals.
• Allocate resources effectively, anticipate and fix problems to meet tactical targets on time and to standard.
• Ensure team understands and follows procedures, policies, and mandates.
• Develop, align, and implement end-to-end processes in your area for continuous improvement.
• Report regularly on unit or team progress against objectives and standards, with accurate facts.
• Manage change by explaining its impact, details, and new requirements to your team.
• Implement resource plans to meet delivery and performance goals, within budget and in collaboration with specialist areas.
• Connect unit objectives to the overall mandate, schedule and prioritize activities, and assign work to achieve outputs.
• Manage a work function or unit to deliver set objectives within time frames, costs, and standards.
• Plan and organize multiple outputs by setting priorities and reviewing objectives regularly.
• Contribute to tactical strategy development and create and implement a supporting operational strategy.
• Develop and carry out tactical criminal investigation strategies that align with national goals and plans, tailored to support and oversee all five investigator levels (Entrant, Junior, Investigator, Senior, Principal).

Governance

• Ensure accurate and complete data in the national Case Management System (CMS) for all criminal investigations, with regular checks for compliance with SARS policies at each level.
• Report often on investigation progress against goals and standards, offering tailored feedback and support based on investigator level.
• Use governance and compliance procedures to spot and manage risks and uncover hidden issues.
• Apply risk management, governance, and compliance policies to handle risks and liabilities.
• Understand and follow governance controls and role separation in your area.

People

• Use judgment to diagnose issues, solve problems, and provide solutions, helping investigators at all levels escalate and resolve challenges suitable to their experience.
• Set up and assess performance programs for each investigator level, suggest updates to meet laws and organizational needs, and support career growth from Entrant to Principal Investigator.
• Lead change efforts, clearly explaining impacts, requirements, and steps for all levels.
• Build strong relationships by guiding and leading others with positive expectations.
• Promote teamwork by encouraging collaboration and commitment to goals.
• Plan people capacity to meet delivery and efficiency targets, within budget and with specialist partners.
• Monitor and manage team performance to hit objectives, targets, deadlines, and quality standards.

Finance

• Manage resources and budgets to achieve performance targets and results across all levels.
• Create a budget tied to operational plans, track and report on differences.
• Ensure team follows policies, standards, and procedures to avoid waste and reduce financial risks, and report any issues.
• Set, manage, and report on cost-saving goals, and address any shortfalls.

Client

• Make ongoing improvements and faster turnaround times to meet Service Level Agreements with stakeholders.
• Handle dependencies to ensure smooth flow between teams, divisions, and external partners.
• Work with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), especially Special Tax Units, following agreements, and support investigators at all levels for external meetings.
• Build processes for excellent client service and motivate others to deliver outstanding support.

Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust
• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
• Inspires others to Positive Action
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Stewardship and Service Orientation
• Strong Results Orientation
• Values and Manages Diversity

Technical Competencies

• Business Acumen
• Change Management
• Criminal Investigation
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Investigative Skills
• Managerial Budgeting
• Planning and Organising
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• SARS Systems Products
• Search and Seizure
• Tax Knowledge