Security Managers

What the job really is

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

At a glance

• Sector: Management
• O*NET-SOC code: 11-3013
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Develop budgets for security operations.
• Identify, investigate, or resolve security breaches.
• Plan, direct, or coordinate security activities to safeguard company employees, guests, or others on company property.
• Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning.
• Respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency response procedures.
• Analyze and evaluate security operations to identify risks or opportunities for improvement through auditing, review, or assessment.
• Create or implement security standards, policies, and procedures.
• Assess risks to mitigate potential consequences of incidents and develop a plan to respond to incidents.
• Supervise or provide leadership to subordinate security professionals, performing activities such as hiring, investigating applicants' backgrounds, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, or disciplining.
• Develop, implement, manage, or evaluate policies and methods to protect personnel against harassment, threats, or violence.
• Develop, recommend, or manage security procedures for operations or processes, such as security call centers, access control, and reporting tools.
• Plan security for special and high-risk events.

Tools and technology

Amazon Web Services AWS software, Facebook, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Azure software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Word, Oracle PeopleSoft

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Security Management Specialists
• First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
• Compliance Managers
• Security Guards
• Emergency Management Directors
• Management Analysts
• Business Continuity Planners
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Security Managers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.