First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Facilities Operations

Level 5567 of 1200 points

Job description

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Job purpose

To supervise and coordinate security guards and other security workers, to deploy them across posts and patrols and to investigate disturbances, control access and document what occurs, so that people, property and order on the premises are protected and the security operation runs to procedure.

Skills

Command of security practice, its equipment, policies and procedures, with the law that bounds what security staff may do, the personnel principles needed to recruit, deploy and train a team, the psychological understanding required to handle the public and detainees, and competence with closed-circuit television, detection equipment and written reporting. Entrants hold a spread of qualifications, most commonly a two-year degree, a school-leaving qualification or some college study, with up to a year of on-the-job training.
Advises employees on handling problems and resolving complaints from customers, tenants and detainees, explains company policy to staff, and trains personnel in protective procedures, first aid and fire safety. Deals directly with the public, including people who are unpleasant, angry or discourteous, authorises the entry of employees and visitors, and calls the police or fire service when an emergency requires it.
Investigates disturbances on the premises — alarms, altercations and suspicious activity — deciding what response is required, up to apprehending or evicting trespassers. Distinguishes a genuine threat from a false alarm and judges whether events comply with law and procedure. Procedure exists, but the decision is the postholder's at the time, and error carries consequences for safety and for the organisation's legal position.
Assigns security personnel to posts and patrols and schedules their work, develops and documents the security procedures and standards they operate under, and schedules training and drills for fires, bombs and other threats. The site and its hours of operation set the framework; within it decisions are made frequently and under time pressure.
Patrols the premises on foot and in vehicles, secures entrances and exits, screens individuals and their belongings using walkthrough detectors, wands and bag searches, and inspects and adjusts equipment. Apprehending or evicting a person may require physical intervention; common protective equipment is worn.

Responsibilities

Directly supervises a body of security guards and workers, assigning them to posts and patrols, monitoring their behaviour against quality standards, training and coaching them, and recruiting, interviewing and hiring. Carries direct responsibility for their health and safety.
Writes and presents the department's budget to upper management, and orders supplies such as keys, uniforms and badges. Preparing the budget is not holding it: expenditure is committed within limits approved above, and the wider financial consequence lies in the loss or liability a security failure produces.
Holds charge of the security equipment and systems — closed-circuit television, detection equipment, alarms and vehicles — inspecting and adjusting them to confirm they are operational and free of tampering, and of the premises, their entrances, exits and keys. Logs items issued such as keys and key cards, and controls entry to the site.
Writes the reports documenting observations made on patrol and the record of each incident investigated. Exactness matters: these records are the account of what occurred, and the logs of keys and key cards issued show who holds access to the site.

Effort required

Sustained watchfulness across a site and a dispersed team: monitoring cameras, alarms, entry points and the movement of people while keeping the deployment of guards in view; taking command when an incident occurs. Decisions are frequent and often immediate, with impact on colleagues and results, and exactness is required in access control, screening and written records.
Conflict situations are a routine feature of the work: refusing entry, screening people who object, evicting or apprehending trespassers and dealing with individuals who are unpleasant, angry or discourteous, while remaining measured and within the law. Carries responsibility for the safety of the officers deployed.
Patrolling the premises and time spent in enclosed vehicles, in close physical proximity to others. No standing, walking or lifting demand is recorded in the survey data.

Working conditions

Work moves between environmentally controlled interiors and outdoor patrolling exposed to all weather and to very hot and cold temperatures, with time in enclosed vehicles. Contaminants and distracting noise are encountered and common protective equipment is worn. Psychosocial exposure comes from conflict situations, angry or discourteous people, and incidents whose outcome affects others' safety.
Two-thirds of incumbents work a regular established schedule and the remaining third an irregular one, and three-quarters work beyond forty hours a week. Duties repeat, decisions are frequent and time-pressured, and error is consequential for others. Determines tasks, priorities and goals with considerable freedom inside company policy, the law and the procedures the postholder writes.

Skills

40% · 231 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 4 of 8
72 of 144 points
Factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work. The job requires a range of thinking and practical knowledge to find solutions to specific problems in the job or study area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Effective communication and interpersonal relationships. The job holder is required to adapt communication to different audiences and foster trust, cooperation and positive working relationships.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Variable problems. The job involves dealing with different kinds of problems that require careful thinking, research into different options or adjusting existing ways of doing things. Guidance and resources may be limited.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate organisational skills required. The job requires the organising and prioritising of multiple tasks, with some level of adjustment to plans on the basis of changing circumstances or deadlines.
Physical skillsLevel 0 of 5
0 of 72 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any particular physical skills (although there is likely to be some physical activity).

Responsibility

35% · 193 points▾

PeopleLevel 3 of 5
86 of 144 points
Moderate responsibility for people. The job includes overseeing or coordinating the work and well-being of others. This may involve supervising, providing regular support, managing conflicts, responding to an individual's needs and ensuring the personal and professional development of individuals.
Goods and equipmentLevel 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Moderate responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the regular use and maintenance of more valuable equipment or materials. It may include managing resources or ensuring equipment stays in good condition.
InformationLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Limited responsibility for information. The job requires the individual to gather, process or share information in a controlled way, following guidelines or predefined procedures.
Financial resourcesLevel 1 of 5
19 of 96 points
Very limited responsibility for financial resources. The job involves handling small amounts of cash or processing simple transactions, such as recording expenses or maintaining basic financial records.

Effort

15% · 86 points▾

Mental effortLevel 2 of 5
24 of 60 points
Moderate mental effort. The job involves tasks that require focus, such as analysing straightforward information or performing repetitive tasks that require attention to detail.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires the regular management of emotional responses, such as dealing with sensitive or challenging individuals or situations.
Physical effortLevel 2 of 5
19 of 48 points
Low physical effort. The job involves moderate physical effort, such as standing for long periods, occasional lifting, or repetitive or monotonous movements.

Working Conditions

10% · 57 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 3 of 5
50 of 84 points
Regular exposure to hazards or stress. The job requires regular exposure to physical hazards (e.g. exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes or minor risk of injury) or moderate psychological risks (e.g. isolation, repetitive tasks or occasional threats of violence). It may occur monthly or as a build-up of milder hazards.
Organisational environmentLevel 1 of 5
7 of 36 points
Minimal organisational demands. The job requires standard working hours with no night shifts or irregular schedules. There is little or no need for travel or digital connectivity beyond typical working hours.