Senior Investigation Officer : Serious and Violent Crime (Cape Town, ZA) @ University of Cape Town

SENIOR INVESTIGATING OFFICER

SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIME INCIDENTS (Payclass10; Permanent) Risk Services; Investigations Unit PROPERTIES AND SERVICES The purpose of the position is to provide functional leadership and investigative expertise in relation to criminal incidents, student disciplinary matters and staff-related misconduct, while supporting proactive threat detection, intelligence gathering and safety interventions to protect the University community and its assets. The position also plays a strategic role in proactive threat detection and risk management through the identification and analysis of crime trends, intelligence gathering and the development of targeted interventions aimed at mitigating risks to the University community, assets and reputation.

The position operates with a high degree of autonomy and accountability and engages with senior internal stakeholders and external law enforcement agencies. The incumbent is responsible for conducting and leading active criminal investigations and managing high-risk investigation matters relating to all serious and violent incidents, excluding financial crime-related incidents. The role is accountable for the oversight of governance and quality assurance of serious and violent investigations and provides advisory input to executive management as well as governance structures, to mitigate institutional risk and strengthen the control environment . The role has two direct reports who report to the position.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE

Relevant NQF level 5. Successful completion of the Detective Learning Programme / Investigation Course or similar 10 years’ investigative experience in a law enforcement environment, of which at least three (3) years must be related to general crime investigations. Knowledge of investigations in a higher education environment, including student conduct systems and stakeholder coordination with law enforcement and regulatory bodies .

THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS

Experience working in the higher education environment.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS PSIRA

Registration (minimum Grade B) Private investigator registration; Valid Code B / EB / 8 driver’s license.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and conduct investigations and evaluate crime, including, but not limited to: Investigating reported criminal incidents, student misconduct and staff-related cases, including interviewing complainants, witnesses and respondents Gathering, analysing and evaluating evidence in accordance with legal and institutional requirements.
• Compiling detailed investigation reports with findings and recommendations and maintaining complete case files and records.
• Liaising with SAPS, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, National Prosecuting Authority, and Departments of Justice, Health and Home Affairs.
• Case Management and Reporting, including, but not limited to: Managing investigation processes from initiation to closure, taking accountability for their integrity, quality and outcomes.
• Preparing reports for disciplinary processes and management decisions, providing evidence and support at disciplinary hearings where required.
• Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of case information.
• Receiving, managing and concluding missing student and staff cases.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Liaison, including, but not limited to: Engaging authoritatively with senior leadership, directors and audit committees on high-risk investigations, emerging fraud trends and institutional exposure.
• Providing expert advice and decision-support on evidence and appropriate disciplinary, civil or criminal action.
• Engaging with students, staff, Human Resources, Residence Life, Legal Services, SAPS and private security providers.
• Supporting victims and complainants with reporting processes and referrals and participating in safety and security forums and institutional committees.
• Threat Detection and Risk Assessment, including, but not limited to: Identifying crime and misconduct trends, patterns and risks, and assess vulnerabilities across campus environments.
• Recommending risk mitigate measures and supporting proactive safety initiatives and crime prevention strategies.
• Safety Awareness and Prevention, including, but not limited to: Contributing to safety awareness campaigns and initiatives that encourage incident reporting, responsible conduct and a stronger campus safety culture.
• Administrative Responsibilities, including, but not limited to: Maintaining accurate, current, investigation records and system data, and submitting regular reports on case status and trends.
• Ensuring compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Participating in structured standby rotations to maintain investigative readiness for all reported incidents, as determined by operational and executive requirements.
• CCTV, including, but not limited to: Compiling, exporting and securely storing CCTV footage, accurately corroborating timelines for presenting evidence in court and hearings.
• Maintaining the chain of evidence, statement records and data on relevant systems.
• Executive-Level Feedback, including, but not limited to: Providing UCT Executives strategic, evidence-based feedback on investigation outcomes, ensuring findings align with UCT Policies.
• Identifying trends across cases and recommending institutional reforms or policy changes.

Supporting UCT Executive during legal review, media exposure and regulatory oversight. Presenting balanced, substantiated and documented findings on a “balance of probabilities” standard, clearly distinguishing facts, analysis and recommendations. The annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R 661 967 to R 778 783 To apply , please visit the UCT Jobs site ( www.jobs.uct.ac.za ) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application. Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application: Cover letter that speaks to the specific requirements of the position.

Curriculum Vitae (CV). Copy of your PSIRA Registration (minimum Grade B) Copy of Private investigator registration; Copy of a valid Code B / EB / 8 driver’s license. Copy of your ID or passport. Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number. An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement medical assessments.

Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms. Natasha Khan at [email protected] or 021650 3469 Telephone: 021 650 3469 Website: www.hr.uct.ac.za Reference number: 1525 Closing date: 23 November 2026 UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups.

Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/oic/employment-equity When you apply for a position at UCT, we collect your personal information to assess your application, communicate with you, and coordinate interview logistics. Information such as race, gender, nationality, and disability status is used to support our Employment Equity obligations. We also verify your references, qualifications, conduct criminal and, for certain roles, credit checks. For more information about how the University of Cape Town uses personal information and your rights, please email [email protected] . The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.