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Security Managers

People classed as Security Managers direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities. Its interest code is ECI. Enterprising leads at 5.6 out of 7, so expect leading, persuading and making business decisions, with Conventional next at 5.4. The preparation level is considerable preparation, typically a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. O*NET’s skill data points to critical thinking, reading comprehension, and judgment and decision making as the ones to build. The job can ask you to develop budgets for security operations. One core duty is to identify, investigate, or resolve security breaches. If you want leading, persuading and making business decisions, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

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

Main tasks

  • 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.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.3 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ECI takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Corporate Physical Security Supervisor
  • Corporate Security Manager
  • Judicial Office Security Director
  • Physical Security Manager
  • Physical Security Systems Manager

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.