Senior Private Investigator & SIU Team Lead (Central Ohio)

OhioPSI; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

OhioPSI is seeking an experienced Senior Private Investigator to lead the Special Investigations Unit in Central Ohio. You will manage your own caseload while recruiting, training, and supervising investigators, setting standards for quality and legality across engagements for corporate, legal, insurance, and private clients.

This leadership role requires building a high-performing team, developing training programs, coordinating complex investigations, and ensuring compliance with Ohio laws and

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional investigative experience.
• Must meet the State of Ohio PISGS standards and hold or be eligible to obtain a PISGS registration.
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug screening.
• Prior experience supervising, training, or leading investigators or officers.
• Proven skill in covert surveillance, interviewing, skip tracing, and open-source/database research.
• Excellent written communication with court-ready reports.
• Working knowledge of Ohio surveillance, privacy, evidence handling, and civil/criminal procedure.
• Proficient with surveillance cameras, video equipment, GPS, and case-management software.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving history, and reliable transportation.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of investigators; prioritize cases by complexity and deadlines.
• Recruit, interview, onboard new personnel, and develop field and report-writing training.
• Plan and conduct complex investigations including surveillance and fraud cases.
• Review files, surveillance video, and reports for accuracy and admissibility.
• Serve as primary contact for clients and attorneys; draft plans and cost estimates.
• Ensure compliance with Ohio law, PISGS regulations, and PSI policies and ethics.
• Testify in depositions and court; prepare team for testimony.
• Track case status, budgets, and team performance; suggest process and tech improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by PSI management.

Skills

Leadership

Surveillance

Interviewing

Skip tracing

Report writing

Client communication

Team mentoring

Education

Criminal Justice degree

Tools

Video equipment

GPS

Case management software

Office software

Job description

PSI’s Private Security and Investigations is seeking an experienced Senior Private Investigator to develop, lead, and grow our Special Investigations Unit (SIU) team in Central Ohio. This is a hands-on leadership role: you will carry your own caseload while recruiting, training, and supervising investigation personnel, setting the standard for the quality, legality, and professionalism of every investigation PSI delivers to our corporate, legal, insurance, and private clients.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES :

Examples of duties include, but are not limited to:

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of investigators; assign and prioritize cases based on complexity, skill set, and client deadlines.
• Recruit, interview, and onboard new investigation personnel, and develop ongoing field and report-writing training programs.
• Plan and conduct complex investigations, including surveillance, insurance fraud, workplace violence, corporate employee checks, infidelity, child custody, missing persons/locates, and online scam cases.
• Review investigator case files, surveillance video, and written reports for accuracy, completeness, and court admissibility before delivery to clients.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients and attorneys; conduct case intake consultations and develop custom investigation plans and cost estimates.
• Ensure all investigative activity complies with Ohio law, PISGS regulations, and PSI policies and code of ethics.
• Testify in depositions and court proceedings as needed, and prepare team members to do the same.
• Track case status, budgets, and team performance; recommend process, equipment, and technology improvements to the SIU.
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned by PSI management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional investigative experience (private investigation, law enforcement, military investigations, or insurance/corporate investigations).
• Must meet the State of Ohio Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS) standards and hold, or be eligible to obtain, a current PISGS private investigator registration.
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug screening.
• Prior experience supervising, training, or leading a team of investigators or officers.
• Proven skill in covert surveillance, interviewing, skip tracing, and open-source/database research.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, detailed, court-ready reports.
• Working knowledge of Ohio laws governing surveillance, privacy, evidence handling, and civil/criminal procedure.
• Proficient with surveillance cameras, video equipment, GPS, and standard office and case-management software.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving history, be insurable, and have access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays as case needs require.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a related field.
• Law enforcement or military investigative background.
• Prior experience testifying in court.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CFE, PCI, or similar).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENT :

• Indoor and outdoor exposure, including extended mobile surveillance in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to remain alert and aware of surroundings for long periods while driving or on stationary surveillance.
• Physical efforts to carry out job duties: driving, standing, walking, sitting for extended periods, and carrying camera equipment.

Columbus Ohio
Dispatch: [phone]
Sales and Requests: [phone]
General Email: [e-mail]