Security Manager Job Description, Skills and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a security manager. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a security manager.
Who is a Security Manager?
In our world today, there are a lot of things that happen and the environment is no longer safe for people to live in, the only way for people to feel secure is with the close watch of a security manager. A Security Manager is someone who supervises the security operations or activities of an organization. They develop strategies, execute security operations and oversee security guards and officers. The job responsibility of a security manager is to create a safe environment for people and also react to an emergency situation if they occur. Security managers in the course of their careers may handle dangerous and unauthorized people; these managers may also handle medical emergencies and evacuate people if a fire outbreak occurs.
They are also responsible for creating security policies and procedures, controlling budgets for security operations, and coordinating the entire security staff. They assign different duties to security staff, such as shifts. Security staff can be working on regular shifts; some staff can work in the morning to evening while others work through the night. Security managers can also construct a roaster that the staff will follow so that each staff will know when he or she is on duty.
A security manager that wants to be successful in the course of discharging his or her duty, must possess extensive knowledge of surveillance techniques and experience in a similar role. A security manager is a top-notch role and he or she must possess expertise that results in keeping an environment safe.
The work environment of a security manager is in a corporate or retail setting to maintain the safety of properties and employees and also to protect the store from theft and other serious crimes. The work schedule of a security manager can be 40 hours per week or more. This is a security job and they can be called upon at any hour of the day to handle a situation. Security managers are always on alert and they make sure they have accessible communication tools that people can always reach out to them.
Security Manager Job Description
Below are the security manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a security manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following are the duties and responsibilities of a security manager:
- Develop Safety and Security Policies
It is the sole responsibility of a security manager to develop safety policies and procedures in the organization he or she is working in. This is achieved through the creation of manuals or safety guides and other training resources to ensure that employees have the perfect knowledge of safety policies in an organization. He or She will ensure that all security staff or guards are also trained in these policies. The safety guides or manuals can be distributed to the employees of that organization.
- Control Safety Activities
Security managers are responsible for ensuring that all employees are trained and equipped to respond to emergency situations appropriately. Security managers formulate training sessions to achieve that, the training sessions can be; how to run drills, how to use a fire extinguisher at an outbreak of a fire and it can also be how to use a gun in order to defend oneself. The security manager may also formulate and supervise the activities of a safety committee.
- Assess Physical Security and Safety Risks
Security managers attempt to reduce and eliminate security mishaps by assessing risks and developing programs to counterfeit these risks. They do this by first reviewing the kind of environment they are working in and also ensuring that the Federal, State and Local laws comply with the safety standards in the environment.
Other responsibilities of a Security Manager are:
- Write or review security-related documents such as incidents, proposals, reports, or strategic initiatives
- Develop budgets for security activities and operations
- Review financial reports to ensure the efficiency and quality of security operations
- Order security-related supplies and equipment as needed
- Attend meetings, conferences, and professional seminars to keep up with the trend in executive legislative directives or new technologies impacting security operations
- Respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, intrusion alarms, or fire alarms following the stipulated procedure for emergency response
- Prepare reports or make presentations on an internal investigation, losses, or violations of regulations, policies, and procedures
- Monitor security policies programs to ensure compliance with internal security policies, licensing requirements, or applicable government security requirements, policies, and directives
- Conduct physical examinations of property to ensure compliance with security policies and regulations
- Supervise subordinate security professionals, performing activities such as hiring, training, evaluating performance, assisting work, or disciplining
- Recommend security procedures for call centers, domains, asset classification system, system development, system acquisition, access control, system maintenance, reporting tools, and program models.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a high school diploma
- The state accepted security training registration and licensing
- A valid driver’s license
- At least two years of proven experience as a security
- Extensive experience in preventing illegal activity and performing access control
- Broad knowledge of security industry regulations
- In-depth knowledge of security procedures and surveillance equipment
- Availability to respond to security alerts outside of working hours
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
- Advanced ability to coordinate responses to security breaches and threat
- Excellent leadership and organizational abilities
- Ability to evaluate safety plans for effectiveness
- Ability to conduct risk audits and assessment
- The ability to build and manage an emergency response team
Essential Skills
A security manager must possess the following skills and competencies to have a successful career and they are:
- Leadership Skills: A security manager is a top-notch role and he or she is a leader of other security staff. It is therefore highly requisite for a security manager to possess leadership skills in order to ensure that the security staff carries out the task assigned to them and this task complies with the federal, state, and local safety standards. They must also ensure that their team responds rapidly in an emergency situation such as a fire outbreak.
- Organizational Skills: Security managers must be highly organized in order to carry out their responsibility successfully. They are responsible for giving out reports of strategic situations, documenting such reports, and also drafting the security budget. They need to also be highly organized in order to manage a team. For instance, if there is a fire outbreak; a security manager must be highly organized to ensure that the team of security personnel that is managing such a situation should be highly organized.
- Knowledge of the Environment and Security procedures: a security manager must be highly observant to study the environment he or she is working. He must comprehend if the environment is peaceful or troublesome. The nature of the environment will help the security manager to be very conscious.
A security manager must have extensive knowledge of all the security procedures and how to use the essential equipment at his disposal. He must know how to integrate safety and security policies with business operations.
- Analytical and Problem-solving Skills: A security manager must have an analytical mindset in order to investigate a situation thoroughly. He must be able to think critically in order to discover secrets or hidden circumstances that are causing security threats.
In addition, a security manager must possess problem-solving skills in order to resolve issues or challenges in society. A security manager must also know the best way to approach these challenges if they spring up.
- Emergency Preparation: a security manager is often responsible for the organization’s safety in response to natural disasters or emergencies; so it is very paramount for them to have knowledge about a variety of potential scenarios.
- Bilingual Skills: This may not be mandatory but it is highly essential that a security manager should be proficient in more than one language in order to carry out his responsibilities successfully. He or she should be proficient in the language of the environment he is protecting and also in other languages that are prominent in that society. To achieve this, he can enroll in a class or a language course in other to possess bilingual skills.
- Computer Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication Skills
How to Become a Security Manager
- Pursue a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree
To become a security manager does not mandate a bachelor’s degree because you can the job with just a high school diploma. Most companies employ security guards with just a high school diploma but for the role of a manager, some employers may mandate that you possess a bachelor’s degree. You can acquire a degree in criminology, criminal justice, peace and conflict studies or security management, or any similar field. Some potential employers may prefer candidates with a police force or military training. A master’s degree will also make you stand out among potential candidates and also build your career opportunities.
- Enroll for a Security Guard Training:
Having a degree is not enough for you to become a security manager; you will not be employed at any security organization without formal training. Most states have formal training they organize for those that want to be security guards. The training cover aspects such as: how to use security equipment, emergency preparedness, security procedures, and self-defense. They will also educate you on the Federal, State, and Local safety policies and procedures.
- Get Security Guard Licensure
After you have completed your guard training, you will need to get your state security guard license in order to practice legally. Although this license may vary state by state; know your state license for security personnel and acquire it. You will be mandated to submit to fingerprinting and background checks when you apply for a license. If you want to work as an armed guard, you will need to show evidence that you have completed the necessary firearms training. In most states, you will need to complete firearms training annually to maintain your status as a licensed security guard.
- Gain Relevant Working Experience
After you have acquired a bachelor’s degree, you need to get relevant working experience. A security manager is a top-notch role and so it may not be given to a new-entry employee. You will need to get experience by starting off as a security guard. This will expose you to the field of the job and help you to build a professional network. It is also a good way to start from the bottom before you get to the top. It is only an experienced security guard that can be a security manager.
- Apply for a Security Manager Open position
After you have gained the relevant experience, the experience as a security guard should be for a minimum of 3-5 years. You can start applying for managerial roles in your locality. You have to be very confident because you may not land your dream job immediately. Consider applying for the position of a manager in companies, schools, and other establishments that need the services of a security manager. Some potential employers may not employ you directly as a security manager but they may want you to start off as an assistant or junior manager. If such is the scenario you find yourself in, use it to learn from the senior management and work out your way right to the top.
- Join a Professional Network
There are professional organizations such as the American Society for Industrial Security International (ASIS International) that provides members with educational resource and other relevant certifications to help them build their career. Joining a professional organization is highly beneficial; it can give you the platform to meet different people, and attend conferences and other relevant events that will grow your professional network.
Where can a Security Manager Work?
A Security manager can work in various settings such as:
- Businesses
- Warehouses
- Companies
- Residential Developments
- Academic Institutions
- Government Institutions
Security Manager Salary Scale
- In the United States, the average salary of a Security Manager is $74,453 annually which is equivalent to $6,204 monthly. The salary may vary based on the location and experience of the security manager.
- In Nigeria, the average salary of a security manager is 442,000 NGN monthly and 4 million NGN per year. The salary varies based on the experience and location of the security manager
- In the United Kingdom, the average salary of a security manager is 40,072 pounds per year which is equivalent to 3,339 pounds per month. The salary includes other benefits such as housing, transportation, and others.