What Do Security Management Specialists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Security Management Specialists conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security, personnel security, and information security. May work in fields such as health care, banking, gaming, security engineering, or manufacturing. They also engineer, install, maintain, or repair security systems, programmable logic controls, or other security-related electronic systems.

Other tasks include:

• Recommend improvements in security systems or procedures.
• Perform risk analyses so that appropriate countermeasures can be developed.
• Conduct security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities related to physical security, staff safety, or asset protection.
• Provide system design and integration recommendations.
• Design security policies, programs, or practices to ensure adequate security relating to asset protection, alarm response, access card use, and other security needs.
• Assess the nature and level of threats so that the scope of the problem can be determined.

We asked Security Management Specialists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Security Management Specialists recommend improvements in security systems or procedures. They assess the nature and level of threats so that the scope of the problem can be determined.

• Engineer, install, maintain, or repair security systems, programmable logic controls, or other security-related electronic systems.
• Prepare, maintain, or update security procedures, security system drawings, or related documentation.
• Train personnel in security procedures or use of security equipment.
• Design security policies, programs, or practices to ensure adequate security relating to asset protection, alarm response, access card use, and other security needs.
• Inspect fire, intruder detection, or other security systems.

We asked some Security Management Specialists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	92% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	54% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	69% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	38% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	27% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Security Management Specialists also conduct security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities related to physical security, staff safety, or asset protection. They may also perform risk analyses so that appropriate countermeasures can be developed.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Security Management Specialists Inspect security design features, installations, or programs to ensure compliance with applicable standards or regulations. They might also Determine the value loss impact and criticality of assets.

In addition, they Test security measures for final acceptance and implement or provide procedures for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the measures.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Review design drawings or technical documents for completeness, correctness, or appropriateness.

To some Security Management Specialists, it is also their responsibility to Design security policies, programs, or practices to ensure adequate security relating to asset protection, alarm response, access card use, and other security needs.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Security Management Specialist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2006/summer/art01.pdf

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/security-guards.htm