Description
Security managers ensure security for people, such as customers and employees, and company’s assets either fixed, movable, machines, vehicles, and real state. They ensure safety and security by enforcing security policies, keeping track of different events, implementing security protocols, creating emergency response procedures, conducting security evaluations, and supervising security staff members.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to security manager:
security management specialist
private security manager
security specialist
security operations manager
corporate security manager
safety and security manager
chief security guard
surveillance manager
security officer
security systems manager
Minimum qualifications
Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as security manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Security manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.
Security manager career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to security manager.
project manager
programme manager
facilities manager
auction house manager
botanist
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of security manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of security manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of security manager.
Internal risk management policy: The internal risk management policies that identify, assess and prioritise risks in an IT environment. The methods used to minimise, monitor and control the possibility and the impact of disastrous events that affect the reaching of business goals.
Legal use-of-force: The characteristics of the use-of-force, which is a legal doctrine employed by police and army forces, to regulate acts of violence during interventions. Use-of-force is ought to balance security needs with ethical concerns for the rights and well-being of intruders or suspects.
Security threats: Types of threats to public and private security such as unauthorised entry, aggressive behaviour, molestation, robbery, theft, assault, kidnapping, murder and public demonstration.
Corporate social responsibility: The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
Organisational resilience: The strategies, methods and techniques that increase the organisation’s capacity to protect and sustain the services and operations that fulfil the organisational mission and create lasting values by effectively addressing the combined issues of security, preparedness, risk and disaster recovery.
Security regulations: The body of regulations, legal procedures and policies regarding security and safety management.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of security manager.
Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
Investigate security issues: Look out for information and evidence revolving around security and safety issues in order to analyse possible threats, track incidents, and improve security procedures.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Strive for company growth: Develop strategies and plans aiming at achieving a sustained company growth, be the company self-owned or somebody else’s. Strive with actions to increase revenues and positive cash flows.
Oversee planning of security systems: Monitor the selection and installation of security systems such as fire protection and soundproofing equipment and make sure it is sufficiently efficient and compliant with current legislation.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Maintain incident reporting records: Keep a system to record details of unusual events that occur at the facility, such as job-related injuries.
Establish site security routines: Set up security routines on site.
Manage disaster recovery plans: Prepare, test and execute, when necessary, a plan of action to retrieve or compensate lost information system data.
Establish daily priorities: Establish daily priorities for staff personnel. Effectively deal with multi-task workload.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Manage the security team: Plan, organise and schedule work, equipment and procedures to be followed for the security staff under your supervision.
Manage security equipment: Oversee and conduct inventory of security tools and equipment.
Handle surveillance equipment: Monitor surveillance equipment to observe what people are doing in a given area and ensure their safety.
Supervise daily information operations: Direct daily operations of different units. Coordinate program/project activities to assure the respect of costs and time.
Manage logistics: Create logistic framework for transporting goods to customers and for receiving returns, execute and follow up the logistics processes and guidelines.
Write security reports: Compile data on inspections, patrols and security incidents into a report for management purposes.
Plan health and safety procedures: Set up procedures for maintaining and improving health and safety in the workplace.
Ensure equipment maintenance: Ensure that the equipment required for operations is regularly checked for faults, that routine maintenance tasks are performed, and that repairs are scheduled and performed in the case of damage or flaws.
Lead disaster recovery exercises: Head exercises which educate people on what to do in case of an unforeseen disastrous event in the functioning or security of ICT systems, such as on recovery of data, protection of identity and information and which steps to take in order to prevent further problems.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Follow company standards: Lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of security manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Consultation methods: Techniques used to facilitate clear and open communication and the provision of advice between individuals, communities or the government, such as discussion groups or one-on-one interviews.
Cyber security: The methods that protect ICT systems, networks, computers, devices, services, digital information and people against illegal or unauthorised use.
Information confidentiality: The mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with confidential information and the risks of non-compliance.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of security manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Advise on strengthening security: Provide information and guidance to clients on how to prevent security threats and incidents.
Define security policies: Design and execute a written set of rules and policies that have the aim of securing an organisation concerning constraints on behaviour between stakeholders, protective mechanical constraints and data-access constraints.
Perform internal investigations: Seek advice and collaborate with union officials responsible for topics that are relevant to you and your business or your work.
Protect important clients: Keep clients safe who have extraordinary level of risk by organising and providing the relevant security.
Liaise with government officials: Consult and cooperate with government officials who handle matter that is relevant to you or your business.
Inspect government policy compliance: Inspect public and private organisations to ensure proper implementation and compliance with government policies which apply to the organisation.
Maintain facility security systems: Ensure that proper and functional security systems are in place, including alarm systems, fire alarms, sprinklers and emergency exits.
Undertake employee screening: Screen employees by compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual.
Liaise with security authorities: Respond quickly to security incidents and violations by calling the police and keep in touch with other relevant parties involved in the potential prosecution of the offender.
Manage outsourced security: Oversee and regularly review external security provision.
ISCO group and title
1219 – Business services and administration managers not elsewhere classified
References
- Security manager – ESCO