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SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICES (SARS)
 


​MANAGER: TARIFF AMENDMENTS (10881)
Position Reports to: Sen. Manager: Customs Legislative Policy
Division: Strategy Enab & Modernisation
Location: Head Office (Pretoria)
Advert Closing Date:  19 February 2026
 
About the Position
SARS is looking for a strong, focused, and experienced person to lead the end-to-end tariff amendments function within the Tariff Amendments Division. You will translate policy intent into precise, implementable legislative instruments and ensure amendments to the Customs & Excise tariff are legally sound, stakeholder-aligned, operationally implementable, and fiscally responsible. The role demands strong legislative drafting, statutory interpretation, stakeholder leadership (across SARS, the dtic/ITAC and other organs of state), and the ability to manage multiple, concurrent amendment workstreams from initiation through publication and post-implementation monitoring.
 
Job Purpose
To monitor, manage and control all functions dealing with the tariff amendments and updates to the Schedules of the relevant Acts; to maintain the SARS Tariff systems, to perform legal and technical research and to provide authoritative advice on tariff amendments to SARS and relevant stakeholders.
 
Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in International Trade, Economics, Commerce, Business or Law (An LLB is advantageous) AND 8 - 10 years’ experience in legislative/regulatory or policy environment (e.g., legislative drafting, statutory interpretation, tariff/customs law), of which 3 - 4 years is at a junior management level.
ALTERNATIVE#
Senior Certificate (NQF 4) in addition to relevant internal SARS courses plus 15 years in a legislative/regulatory or policy environment (e.g., legislative drafting, statutory interpretation, tariff/customs law), of which 3 - 4 years is at a junior management level.
 
 Technical / Functional Expertise:
  • Legislative drafting & statutory interpretation: Proven ability to translate policy intent into clear, defensible legal text and schedules.
  • Tariff & HS mastery: Advanced knowledge of Customs & Excise Act, Harmonized System (HS) structure, Section/Chapter/Heading Notes, GRIs (1–6), and SARS classification principles.
  • Research & analysis: Ability to conduct legal research, analyse utilisation/impact data, and prepare high-quality recommendations and publications.
  • Governance & publication: Experience navigating SARS governance, public-comment processes and Government Gazette publication.
  • Stakeholder leadership: Skilled at coordinating inputs across internal experts and external bodies (e.g., dtic, ITAC, National Treasury).
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce persuasive, accurate drafting notes and briefs.
 
Job Outputs:
Key Outputs
  • Lead the tariff amendments lifecycle: scope, draft, review, quality-assure and finalise amendment instruments and supporting documents.
  • Run governance & publication: manage approvals, public comment, consideration of submissions, and publication in the Government Gazette.
  • Implement policy directives: give effect to HS updates; trade agreements/policy directives (dtic/ITAC); and indirect tax policy matters (National Treasury).
  • Quality assurance & risk: implement structured reviews; identify and mitigate legal, operational and fiscal risks before implementation.
  • Monitoring & insights: track utilisation/impact post-implementation; recommend improvements to drafting methods, templates and processes.
  • Stakeholder management: build strong relationships and SLAs with internal and external stakeholders; represent SARS in technical fora.
  • People & capability: coach the team and contribute to skills transfer, including collaboration with SACU counterparts.
 
Process
  • Act as the bottom-line drivers of tactical implementation within the context of business unit excellence and performance improvement. (I)
  • Direct, control, coordinate and optimise budgeted resources to meet specific objectives and deliver agreed results and productivity requirements. (I)
  • Ensure the development and implementation of a practice in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks. (I)
  • Implement tactical strategy and delivery plans through the development of operational activities, ensuring the achievement of operational targets. (I)
  • Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities and specify priorities, standards and procedures to ensure tactical implementation. (I)
  • Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately. (I)
  • Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and execute the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation. (I)
  • Timeously communicate top-down policy modification, objective achievement progress and critical success factors to impacted stakeholders. (I)
  • Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success and realign tactical strategy implementation objectives appropriately. (I)
  • Apply the necessary discretion and judgment in making decisions and overcoming obstacles in order to attain set goals and objectives.
  • Deploy resources appropriately and anticipate and resolve problems to ensure that tactical targets are achieved within agreed deadlines and standards. (I)
  • Interact with internal and external stakeholders for the purpose of providing more complex information relating to the amended legislation published history or origin of the structure of the Schedules of the Customs and Excise Act.
  • Develop and update internal standard operating procedures and external guides on processes undertaken by the division.
  • Draft legislation, publication of comment, considering and reviewing of comment and publication in the Government Gazette.
  • Implementation of requests initiated by the International Trade Administration Commission in respect of trade remedies, increase and reduction of customs duties.
  • Monitor and control the quality of all processes and tasks performed within the Tariff Amendments division.
  • Implement Budget proposals announced by the Minister of Finance during his Budget speech.
  • Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
 
Governance

  • Implement governance, risk and compliance policy in own practice area to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability. (I)
  • Manage and or advise on the translation and application of policy in a specific functional area. (I)
 
People
  • Develop and implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery and efficiency targets, on budget and in partnership with specialised area. (I)
  • Plan and implement enhanced organisational efficiency by identifying and addressing development requirements and providing tools for people resources. (I)
  • Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives. (I)
  • Capacity building and transfer of skills to the Tariff amendments team and the Southern African Customs Union counterparts.
 
Finance
  • Draw up a budget aligned to tactical delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency. (I)
  • Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability. (I)
 
Client
  • Build strong relationships and implement service level agreements that promote SARS with internal and external stakeholders. (I)
  • Develop and ensure implementation of practices which builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional client service. (I)
  • Manage an integrated service excellence culture, which builds rewarding relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service. (I)
 
Behavioural Competencies
  • Accountability (V) - The acknowledgement and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies within the scope of the role or employment position.
  • Fairness and Transparency (V) - Build diverse and inclusive workplaces where decisions, practices, processes and transactions are transparent and fair.
  • Honesty and Integrity (V) - The quality of being upright, truthful, sincere and freedom from deceit or fraud (H). Guided by values, ability to demonstrate moral judgement and doing the right thing consistently (I).
  • Problem Solving and Analysis Level 3 - Must be able to systematically identify, analyse and resolve existing and anticipated problems in order to reach optimum solutions in a timely manner
  • Respect (V) - Ability to be considerate for self and others.
  • Trust (V) - Firm belief in the reliability, truth or ability of someone or something.
 
Leadership Competencies
  • Ability to translate strategy into execution -Execution leadership means having a strategic mind-set and the leadership skills to perform a function, implement a process or execute a project.
  • Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others - The ability to influence a wide range of diverse individuals and groups positively.
  • Develops teams and nurtures interdependency - Leverage collaborative relationships. The ability to apply the right technology to the right process at the right time with the right people.
  • Inspires others to Positive Action - Inspirational leadership is about energising and creating a sense of direction and purpose for employees and excitement and momentum for change. It involves energising individuals to strive towards a compelling vision of the future by embracing and embodying SARS’s values in all aspects of their work. It includes offering clarity around goals and objectives and ensuring that those who are led work collaboratively towards a shared purpose.
  • Nurtures Future Talent - Develops the technical skills and leadership abilities of SARS personnel to create sustainable delivery capability. The drive to further the development and learning of others.
  • Stewardship and Service Orientation - Steward leaders have a sense of purpose, which helps them to align their actions to the organisation’s vision, goals, and values. Regard leadership as an inordinate privilege without a sense of entitlement. Capture the collective aspirations of those that they lead, foster a sense of commitment, and place the interest of others ahead of their own.
  • Strong Results Orientation - Consistently delivers required business results; sets and achieves achievable, yet aggressive, goals; consistently complies with quality standards and meets deadlines; maintains focus on organisational goals.
  • Values and Manages Diversity Level - Understands and respects the customs and norms of others and modifies own behaviour. Contributes actively to a working environment that recognises, responds to and acknowledges the value proposition of SARS, acts as a catalyst for promoting SARS values and influences others to translate vision into action.
 
Technical Competencies
  • Business Acumen - Understands main business drivers in order to impact on decision making and get things done
  • Change Management - Transforming individuals, teams and organisations to a desired new state
  • Customs Knowledge - Activities, tasks and practices associated with obtaining and using high level of knowledge in business areas, functions and services
  • Decisiveness - The confidence and ability to take timely and appropriate decisions
  • Data Analysis- The ability to calculate the financial implications of tariff amendment
  • Effective Business Communication - Must be able to communicate information and ideas in a clear and concise manner appropriate for the audience in order to explain, persuade, convince and influence others to achieve the desired outcomes.
  • Functional Policies and Procedures - The knowledge and interpretation of the functional policies and procedures, including monitoring their consistent application internally within SARS.
  • Legal Advisory and Interpretation - Advises on the development of policies and strategies on governance through legislative analysis and interpretation.
  • Legal Compliance - Complies with relevant legislation, regulatory and professional standards
  • Legal Knowledge and knowledge of ethics - Knowledge of applicable legislation and the legal policies and procedures pertaining to the local, regional and relevant international laws as well as relevant Codes.
  • Managerial Budgeting - Must be able to plan the work unit budget and manage income and expenditure, through responsible implementation of policies, practices and decisions, in order to achieve unit objectives effectively and efficiently.
  • Planning and Organising - Ability to organise, prioritise and, where applicable, delegate work activities to efficiently accomplish tasks and meet
  • Planning, Management and Measurement - Plans, Manages and Measures objectives
  • Problem Analysis and Judgement - Identifies problems, analyses the problem in a logical way, defining the root cause and formulating the correct solution or line of action.
  • Tariff and Classification (CUSTOMS EU FRAMEWORK) - All activities that Customs professionals deal with regarding the aspects of tariff and classification of goods from application, validation and usage of online databases, rules and regulations relating to use and application of measures.
 
Compliance Competency
GOC Confidential
 
Employment Equity
The Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.
 
PLEASE APPLY HERE












​CONSULTANT: LEGAL (CENTRALISED LITIGATION UNIT)
Position Reports to: Manager: Legal - Centralised Litigation        
Division: Taxpayer Engagement         
Location: Head Office - Pretoria
Advert Closing Date: 18 February 2026
 
About the Position
SARS is looking for an experienced, dynamic individual, competent, self-driven, with a high level of integrity and discretion who is result driven and risk vigilant lawyer.  He/she should possess good legal research, facilitation of the dispute process, negotiation and drafting skills and must thrive in a busy and demanding working environment. The applicant will be sitting in corporate governance committees and should be able to take objective decisions. He/she must be a team player with good listening skills, respect ideas and aim to improve the product or process at hand.  He/she must also be capable of executing his/her duties with enthusiasm and a good comprehension of the law as well as a capability within SARS to achieve its strategic intent of Voluntary Compliance by making it easy for compliant taxpayers and traders, hard & costly for non-compliant taxpayers & traders.
 
Job Purpose
To provide legal advice and support to SARS operations divisions, to engage in litigation, under supervision, in support of SARS tax collections initiatives. To provide the full suite of in-house counsel support to SARS operational arms inclusive of and where required appear in court

Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7), BProc or LLB Degree (NQF 7) AND 5-7 years Legal, SARS Tax, Litigation administration and or Administration experience at a Junior Legal Consultant level.
Admitted Attorney
#Alternatively
Senior Certificate (NQF4) AND 2-3 years Legal, SARS Tax, Litigation administration and or Administration experience at a Junior Legal Consultant level.
Completion of Practical Legal Training.
Successful completion of Attorneys Admission Exams preferable. Some experience or exposure in a Legal and Tax environment.   
 
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
  • LLB or BProc Degree (NQF 7)
  • 5-7 years Legal, SARS Tax, Litigation administration and or Administration
  • Alternatively, 2-3 Legal, SARS Tax, Litigation administration and or Administration experience as a Junior Legal Consultant level.
  • Completion of Practical Legal Training. Successful completion of Attorneys Admission Exams preferable.
  • Some experience or exposure in a Legal and Tax environment. 
 
Minimum Functional Requirements
  • Basic Project Management Skills
  • Basic people management skills
  • Understanding of SARS operations
  • Understanding of court processes
  • Ability to prepare a matter for court
  • Experienced presentation skills
  • Basic experience with tax law
 
Job Outputs:
  • Legal Drafting
  • Legal Research and the provision of opinions
  • Preparation of cases for court
  • Representation of cases in court
  • Preparation and presentation of matters to various SARS committees
  • Legal report writing
  • Briefing and managing external attorneys and counsel
  • Litigation planning
 
Process
  • Finalise legal matters by identifying facts, accessing relevant sources, analysis, application, advice and implementation of the course of action.
  • Perform operations in a specialised area to technical specifications and contribute to operational result delivery within predefined standards.
  • Provide reports with recommendations applicable to area of specialisation.
  • Accumulate information to review work progress that provides input to reporting, decision making and the identification of improvement opportunities.
  • Apply practical and applied knowledge and act authoritatively on methods, systems and procedures to identify trends and potential risks.
  • Communication of situational interpretation and judgement of work outputs and queries in area of specialisation.
  • Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
  • Draw on own knowledge and experience to diagnose symptoms, causes and possible effects in order to solve emerging problems.
  • Initiate process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements as a result of the change.
 
Governance
  • Implement and provide input into the development of governance, compliance, integrity and ethics processes within area of specialisation.
  • Ensure that completed work adhere to relevant policies, procedures, governance and legislative requirements and report on deviations & discrepancies
 
People
  • Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and team members to achieve predefined objectives.
  • Search for, integrate and share new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
 
Finance
  • Adhere to organisational policies and procedures to ensure cost effectiveness and reduction of financial costs.
 
Client
  • Contribute to a culture of service excellence, which builds positive relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.
  • Provide authoritative, specialist services, expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
 
Behavioural competencies
  • Accountability
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning
  • Conceptual Ability
  • Customer Service
  • Expertise in Context
  • Fairness and Transparency
  • Honesty and Integrity
  • Organisational Awareness
  • Problem Solving and Analysis
  • Respect
  • Trust
 
Technical competencies
  • Business Knowledge
  • Data Collection and Analysis
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Effective Business Communication
  • Efficiency Improvement
  • Functional Policies and Procedures
  • General Advisory and Litigation
  • Legal Advisory and Interpretation
  • Legal Knowledge and knowledge of ethics
  • Reporting
 
Compliance Competency
  • GOC Confidential
 
 
Employment Equity
The Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.
 
PLEASE APPLY HERE