Security Officer Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the security officer job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the security officer role by most recruiters/employers.

What Does a Security Officer Do?

A security officer usually provides services, such as monitoring to property owners in a bid to provide safe surrounding and prevent violence on their property.

The security officer job description primarily entails preventing crime, though he/she may be involved in other duties.

In the process of carrying out his/her duties, the security officer moves around (both inside and outside the company building) the environment where he/she works.

After work-hours, he/she checks the company’s windows, doors, and gates to make sure that they are all properly locked.

In some cases also, the security officer might be given the responsibility of taking any phone call that comes in after normal working hours and monitoring the heating and/or cooling system of the building he/she is protecting/guarding.

If an alarm goes off, the officer is usually the first person on the scene. He/she is then expected to make phone calls to inform the police of any form of emergency and/or disturbance that must have led to the triggering of the alarm.

In some scenarios, the officer may be stationed at a spot while observing activities that are going on in the environment on a number of TV monitors.

Alternatively, he/she may be positioned at the entrance of the building checking identification cards of all entrants.

Sometimes, the job of a security officer can be one that requires a 24-hour presence hence the need for shifts.

That is to say that, the security officer work description may involve working at odd times in order to accommodate, or in some cases cover for other officers’ lapses.

It is also important to note that the work schedule of officers in charge of security is one that is not fixed on a permanent basis, but can be altered at any given point in time.

Security Officer Job Description Example/Template

Security officers perform various functions to keep company property and environment safe and crime free.

The duties, tasks, and responsibilities commonly performed by officers in charge of security in organizations are shown in the job description example below:

• Protect and/or watch over company assets and spaces
• Watch security cameras to detect any form of suspicious activity within the environment
• Set alarm to provide alert in case there is any form of disturbance or emergency within the environment
• Sound alarm or place necessary calls to the appropriate authorities (police or fire service) in case of any emergency
• Secure spaces and ensure the safety of those within company environment
• Control and supervise the entrance of both individuals and vehicles in the office area
• Capture and detain offenders in case further investigation is required
• Warn people of consequences of breaking certain rules like loitering and trespassing
• Monitor the exit of all employees to avoid theft of company properties
• Maintain written logs
• Provide assistance to both employees and company customers in a friendly and polite manner
• Carry out investigations and prepare reports on incidents or any form of suspicious activity that takes/took place.

Download job description template.

Requirements – Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities – for Security Officer Role

If you are interested in working as a security officer, the requirements and qualifications you need to have to access the role with most employers include:

• Ability to communicate (possess good communication skills) effectively at all times
• Must be an individual that has an eye for little details. That is to say that the security officer must be observant at all times
• Must have good interpersonal skills, i.e., he/she must be a people person
• Must be proactive in nature. He/she must be someone that acts fast whenever necessary
• Must be able to work effectively as part of a team or lead a team if need be
• The security officer must be customer-friendly
• Must have the ability to evaluate and assess any given situation properly. In other words, he/she must possess good analytical skills
• Must also be good at decision-making
• Must be able to operate radio or telephone equipment as this is important in dispatching his/her duties efficiently
• An Associate’s degree in any discipline or field of study will suffice
• At least one year of verifiable experience in a similar role
• Service in any military or para-military role would be an added advantage
• Evidence of self defense training(s) of any sort (which may include firearm training, depending on the nature of the job).

Conclusion

If you are an employer looking to hire a security officer, you can apply the sample job description provided in this post in making a suitable one for recruiting for the role.

The security officer duties and responsibilities highlighted in this article can assist you in creating a detailed description for the position in your organization, which can increase your chances of getting the best people for the job.

This post is also helpful to people looking to get into the security career; they will be able to increase their knowledge of the security officer job.