Security Manager job description.
A Security Manager plans, implements, and oversees an organization's physical security operations, protecting people, property, and assets from theft, damage, and unauthorized access. They lead security staff, manage access control and surveillance systems, respond to incidents, and ensure the organization complies with relevant safety and security regulations. The role requires strong judgment under pressure and the ability to coordinate closely with facilities, HR, and law enforcement when needed.
The Security Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Security Manager Reports to: Director of Operations or VP of Facilities
A Security Manager plans, implements, and oversees an organization's physical security operations, protecting people, property, and assets from theft, damage, and unauthorized access. They lead security staff, manage access control and surveillance systems, respond to incidents, and ensure the organization complies with relevant safety and security regulations. The role requires strong judgment under pressure and the ability to coordinate closely with facilities, HR, and law enforcement when needed.
- Develop and implement site security policies and procedures
- Oversee security staff, including scheduling, training, and performance
- Conduct regular risk assessments and physical security audits
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Director of Operations or VP of Facilities
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop and implement site security policies and procedures
- Oversee security staff, including scheduling, training, and performance
- Conduct regular risk assessments and physical security audits
- Manage access control, CCTV, and alarm systems
- Lead incident response, investigations, and after-action reporting
- Liaise with local law enforcement and emergency services as needed
- Manage the security department budget and vendor contracts
- Ensure compliance with applicable safety and security regulations
- Train staff on emergency procedures and workplace safety protocols
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, security management, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of security operations experience
- Experience managing or supervising a security team
- Working knowledge of access control, CCTV, and alarm systems
- Strong crisis management and decision-making skills
- Security certification such as CPP or PSP
- Prior law enforcement or military background
- Experience with enterprise risk management software
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Security Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Security Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Director of Operations or VP of Facilities) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Does this role require law enforcement experience?
- Not necessarily — many effective Security Managers come from corporate security, military, or facilities backgrounds, though prior law enforcement experience can be a plus for certain environments.
- Should the Security Manager be on-call outside business hours?
- Most organizations expect some after-hours availability for incident response, so it's worth clarifying on-call expectations and compensation upfront in the job posting.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Safety Manager
A Safety Manager develops and oversees workplace safety programs to prevent injuries and ensure regulatory compliance.
Loss Prevention Specialist
A Loss Prevention Specialist works to reduce theft, fraud, and inventory shrinkage within a retail or commercial environment.
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager identifies, evaluates, and mitigates operational, financial, and compliance risks across an organization.
This Security Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.