6 free templates for physical security across corporate, hotel, retail, warehouse, and site settings, with the FLSA and salary guidance generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A security manager leads the program and the team that protects an organization's people, property, and assets: developing policies, supervising officers and guards, overseeing surveillance and access control, and coordinating emergency response. The title covers everything from a salaried corporate manager to a working supervisor who runs a shift and patrols alongside the team, and the level you hire for changes the duties, the pay, and whether the role earns overtime.
At FirstHR, we build hiring and onboarding tools for smaller employers, including the property-management firms, hotels, retailers, and venues that hire a working security manager or supervisor and handle it themselves. These six templates cover physical security across settings: corporate, supervisor, hotel, retail, warehouse, and site or venue. Each is ready to use, with the FLSA and salary guidance generic templates leave out.
TL;DR
A security manager leads physical security: policies, officers and guards, surveillance, access control, and emergency response. The role spans a salaried corporate manager (usually exempt) to a working supervisor who patrols (usually non-exempt and owed overtime). The closest federal occupation reports a mean wage near $59,900, median in the mid $50,000s. This is physical security, not cybersecurity. Download six templates as DOCX, by setting.
What a Security Manager Does
A security manager runs an organization's physical security: developing and implementing security policies, recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising officers and guards, overseeing surveillance, CCTV, and access control, coordinating emergency and incident response, conducting investigations, managing the budget, and liaising with law enforcement. In smaller organizations the role is often a working supervisor who also performs guard and patrol duties.
The closest federal occupation is first-line supervisors of security workers, which covers the supervisory and management side of physical security. The exact shape of the role depends heavily on the setting, which is why this page gives you several typed versions rather than one generic template, plus the physical-versus-cyber clarification and the compliance content competitors skip.
Physical Security, Not Cybersecurity
Before you write the posting, be clear which security manager you mean, because two very different roles share the title. The templates here are for physical security: protecting people, property, and physical assets through guards, surveillance, access control, and emergency response.
Two Different Roles, One Title
Physical security protects people and property with guards, CCTV, and access control, and is the role these templates cover. Information security or cybersecurity management protects data, networks, and systems, and is a separate occupation with different qualifications and much higher pay. If you are hiring to run your information security program, use an information security manager job description instead. The two roles share a word but almost nothing else.
The salary, qualifications, and duties differ so much between the two that mixing them in one posting confuses applicants and wastes everyone's time. This page, and the templates below, are for the physical security role.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by setting and level. The core structure is the same across all six, but each emphasizes the duties, classification, and language that fit a specific kind of physical security role. Use this guide to choose.
Corporate / Standard
The core version
The baseline physical security manager: develop policies, supervise officers and guards, oversee surveillance and access control, and coordinate emergency response.
Security Supervisor / Shift Lead
Hourly, often non-exempt
A working supervisor who leads a shift and also patrols. The accessible level and often non-exempt, the clearest fit for a smaller team's first security lead.
Hotel Security Manager
Hospitality
Balances security with the guest experience: discreet incident handling, guest-area patrols, and coordination with the front desk and management.
Retail / Loss-Prevention
Stores and shrink
Protects merchandise and reduces shrink: surveillance, theft and fraud investigation, lawful detention practices, and loss-prevention training.
Warehouse / Distribution
Logistics facilities
Secures a high-volume facility: gate and dock access control, visitor and vehicle screening, and inventory-loss investigation.
Construction / Event Venue
Sites and venues
For fast-moving or project-based settings: site or venue access control, equipment protection, and crowd or perimeter management.
Match the Template to the Role
A standard corporate or facility role: Corporate / Standard. A smaller team's hands-on, hourly lead: Security Supervisor. A hotel: Hotel Security Manager. A store or chain focused on shrink: Retail / Loss-Prevention. A distribution center: Warehouse. A construction site or event: Construction / Event Venue. For a small team, the Security Supervisor version is usually the honest fit, since the role is hourly and hands-on rather than a corporate management layer.
6 Free Security Manager Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, classification and pay, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Corporate, supervisor, hotel, retail, warehouse, and construction or event. All in one DOCX.
The baseline: develop policies, supervise officers and guards, oversee surveillance and access control, and coordinate emergency response. Use it for a standard corporate or facility role.
FLSA status: Exempt if primary duty is managing (confirm by duties and salary)
Compensation range: $_____ to $_____ per year
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your company, your facility, and the security team
the manager will lead.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Security Manager to lead our physical security program
and the team that protects our people, property, and assets. You will develop
security policies, supervise officers and guards, oversee surveillance and access
control, coordinate emergency response, and ensure compliance with security
regulations. This is a management role responsible for keeping the site safe and
the security team effective.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Develop and implement physical security policies and procedures
•Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise security officers and guards
•Oversee surveillance, CCTV, alarms, and access control
•Coordinate emergency, alarm, and incident response
•Conduct investigations and maintain incident reports
•Manage the security budget and vendor relationships
•Liaise with local law enforcement and emergency services
•Ensure compliance with security regulations and licensing
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Experience as a security manager, supervisor, or senior officer
•Knowledge of surveillance, access control, and emergency planning
•Strong leadership, scheduling, and reporting skills
•High school diploma or GED required
•[State security/guard license where required]
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or security management
•CPP or PSP certification
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation range: $_____ to $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Security Supervisor / Shift Lead
A working supervisor who leads a shift and also patrols. The accessible level and often non-exempt, the clearest fit for a smaller team's first security lead.
Security Supervisor / Shift Lead Job Description
SECURITY SUPERVISOR / SHIFT LEAD JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: Security Manager / Operations
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly; overtime over 40 hours/week) if primarily on patrol
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Security Supervisor to lead a shift of security officers
while also working the floor. You will run the shift, post and direct officers,
respond to incidents, and keep the site secure, often performing guard and patrol
duties yourself. This is a working supervisor role for a dependable officer ready
to lead a team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead and direct security officers on shift
•Set posts, breaks, and patrol routes
•Respond to incidents, alarms, and escalations
•Perform guard, patrol, and access-control duties
•Complete incident reports and shift logs
•Enforce post orders and security procedures
•Train and support officers on the team
•Report issues to the security manager
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Security officer or guard experience, ideally with lead duties
•Reliable, alert, and strong under pressure
•Good communication and reporting skills
•[State security/guard license where required]
•Able to stand, walk, and patrol for full shifts
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Prior supervisor or shift-lead experience
•First aid / CPR certification
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Growth: clear path to Security Manager
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
FLSA status: Confirm by duties and salary (see note)
Pay: $_____ per hour OR $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Security Manager for our [construction site / event
venue] to protect people, equipment, and the location. You will lead security
staff, control site or venue access, monitor for theft and trespassing, manage
crowd or perimeter safety, and coordinate emergency response. This role suits a
fast-moving, sometimes temporary or project-based environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead and schedule security staff for the site or venue
•Control access points, perimeters, and credentials
•Monitor for theft, trespassing, and safety risks
•Manage crowd flow or site perimeter as applicable
•Coordinate emergency and incident response
•Protect equipment, materials, or event assets
•Maintain incident reports and access logs
•Coordinate with site management and local authorities
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Security experience, ideally on sites or at events
•Comfort with access control and crowd or perimeter management
•Strong leadership in a fast-moving environment
•Reliable and adaptable to changing schedules
•[State security/guard license where required]
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Construction-site or event-security background
•Crowd-management or first aid certification
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_____ (state hourly or annual)
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Security Manager Duties and Responsibilities
Security manager duties cluster into four areas: program and policy, team, operations and monitoring, and coordination and compliance. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match the setting rather than listing every possible task.
Program and policy
Develop and implement security policies
Manage the security budget and vendors
Ensure compliance with security regulations
Team
Recruit, train, and schedule officers and guards
Supervise shifts and post assignments
Coach and support the security team
Operations and monitoring
Oversee surveillance, CCTV, and access control
Coordinate emergency and incident response
Conduct investigations and incident reports
Coordination and compliance
Liaise with law enforcement and emergency services
Maintain licensing and certifications
Enforce post orders and procedures
For a working supervisor, the team and operations duties dominate; for a corporate manager, program, budget, and compliance carry more weight.
What to Include in the Job Description
Every strong security manager job description includes the same core sections, but two moves matter most: clarifying physical versus cyber, and writing specific duties instead of vague ones.
Weak bullet
Strong bullet
Handle security
Develop and implement physical security policies and procedures
Manage the team
Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise officers and guards
Watch cameras
Oversee surveillance, CCTV, alarms, and access control
Deal with incidents
Coordinate emergency response and maintain incident reports
Security experience
Experience as a security manager, supervisor, or senior officer
Specific duties attract qualified candidates and set clear expectations. Keep the language neutral and inclusive too, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on protected characteristics, and the SHRM job description tools cover the standard sections of a job description.
FLSA: Is a Security Manager Exempt or Non-Exempt?
Security classification depends on the level and the actual duties, and it lands on both sides of the overtime line, which most templates ignore. Getting it right matters because misclassifying an hourly working supervisor as exempt creates wage-and-hour risk.
Manager Usually Exempt; Working Supervisor Usually Not
A salaried manager whose primary duty is managing a security department, who directs two or more full-time staff with hiring authority and is paid above the federal threshold, is typically exempt under the executive exemption. A supervisor or shift lead who mostly patrols and stands posts is generally non-exempt and owed overtime, despite the title, and guards are almost always non-exempt. The Department of Labor states exemption turns on the real primary duties and salary, not the title. This is general information, not legal advice.
The practical rule: treat a salaried department manager as exempt but confirm against the duties test, and treat an hourly working supervisor or guard as non-exempt unless you have confirmed otherwise. For the underlying rules, the exempt versus non-exempt guide and the Fair Labor Standards Act overview explain how the tests work, and the Department of Labor FLSA page is the primary source.
Requirements and Licensing
Security manager requirements scale with the level, and licensing often applies. For a working supervisor, the foundation is security officer or guard experience, reliability, and strong judgment under pressure. For a corporate manager, the role adds leadership, policy, budget, and investigation experience, with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or security management commonly preferred.
Many states require security personnel to hold a state security or guard license or registration, and armed roles carry additional requirements, so confirm your state's rules with the relevant regulatory agency. Professional certifications such as the Certified Protection Professional or Physical Security Professional are commonly preferred for management roles and signal expertise, though they are usually not legally required. State the license requirement clearly in the posting based on the role's duties, since it determines who is eligible to apply.
Security Manager Pay
Security manager pay varies widely because the title spans hourly working supervisors to corporate managers, so anchor your range to the specific level and setting. Government data sets the baseline.
Mean Near $59,900 (BLS)
The closest federal occupation, first-line supervisors of security workers, reported a mean wage of about $59,900 a year, with the median in the mid $50,000s, based on the most recent national data (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Industry job-posting sources put the average closer to $80,000, reflecting more senior corporate roles. Hourly supervisors often run lower, salaried corporate managers higher.
In practice, hourly security supervisors commonly run in the $40,000s to $50,000s, while salaried corporate security managers reach into the $70,000s to $90,000s and higher in large organizations. Cyber and information security managers are a separate occupation that pays far more. Set your range to the specific level and setting, anchored to government data and your local market, and publish it where required.
Hiring for a Smaller Team
A large hotel, mall, or distribution center hires a security manager through an established team. A property-management firm, a boutique hotel, a multi-site retailer, a construction operation, or an event venue faces a different reality: the hire is usually a working supervisor who leads a small team and also stands posts. Getting the level and the classification right matters more here than the wording.
Most smaller employers hire a working supervisor, not a corporate manager
The title security manager covers a wide range. At a large hotel, mall, or distribution center, it is a salaried management role running a whole department. At a property-management firm, a boutique hotel, a multi-site retailer, a construction site, or an event venue, the real hire is usually a working security supervisor: someone who leads a small team and also stands posts, patrols, and handles incidents themselves. If your team is small, the security supervisor template here is likely the honest fit, not the corporate manager version. Decide which you are actually hiring before you post, because the level sets the pay, the candidate, and the overtime classification.
A manager is usually exempt, but a working supervisor or guard often is not
This is the single biggest thing generic security templates skip. A salaried security manager whose primary duty is managing a department, directing two or more full-time staff, with real hiring authority and pay above the federal salary threshold, is typically exempt from overtime under the executive exemption. A security supervisor or shift lead who spends most of the time on patrol and guard duties rather than managing is generally non-exempt and owed overtime for hours over 40 in a week, even with a supervisor title. Security officers and guards are almost always non-exempt and hourly. The classification follows the actual primary duties and pay, not the title, so confirm it for the specific role you are filling. This is general information, not legal advice.
A security hire comes with policies, licensing, and an hourly team to onboard
Security roles carry paperwork that a small employer needs to handle from day one: signed post orders, a weapons or use-of-force policy where it applies, confidentiality acknowledgments, and proof of any state guard or security license. The new manager or supervisor will often run a team of hourly officers who each need the same onboarding. FirstHR fits this people side for a smaller employer: e-signature for offers, post orders, and policy acknowledgments, training modules for security procedures and safety, task workflows for onboarding each officer, and document management for licenses, certifications, and renewals. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a guard-scheduling, alarm, or surveillance system, and it does not run payroll, so pair it with those tools. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a structured onboarding, which matters in security because the new manager will run a team of officers who each need consistent, documented onboarding of their own.
Confirm the offer in writing, collect the new hire paperwork, verify any required license, and get signatures on post orders and security policies, then run a first-weeks plan covering your systems, procedures, and team. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures on post orders and policies, and onboarding workflow in one place, plus document management for licenses and certifications, so a smaller employer can manage the full process directly. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a guard-scheduling or surveillance tool, and it does not run payroll, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
Key Takeaways
A security manager leads physical security: policies, officers and guards, surveillance, access control, and emergency response.
This is physical security, not cybersecurity; information security management is a separate, higher-paid role with a different job description.
Use the template that matches the setting: corporate, supervisor, hotel, retail, warehouse, or site and venue.
A salaried manager is usually exempt; a working supervisor or guard who mostly patrols is usually non-exempt and owed overtime.
The closest federal occupation reports a mean wage near $59,900, with job-posting sources nearer $80,000 for senior corporate roles.
Many states require a security or guard license; certifications like CPP or PSP are commonly preferred for management roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a security manager do?
A physical security manager leads the program and the team that protects an organization's people, property, and assets. Core duties include developing and implementing security policies, recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising security officers and guards, overseeing surveillance, CCTV, alarms, and access control, coordinating emergency and incident response, conducting investigations and maintaining incident reports, managing the security budget, and liaising with local law enforcement. The exact mix depends on the setting: a hotel security manager balances security with the guest experience, a retail or loss-prevention manager focuses on shrink and theft, and a warehouse manager focuses on access control and inventory loss. In a smaller organization, the role is often a working supervisor who leads a shift and also performs guard and patrol duties rather than purely managing.
Is this about physical security or cybersecurity?
This page covers physical security: protecting people, property, and physical assets through guards, surveillance, access control, and emergency response. That is what the search term security manager job description overwhelmingly refers to, and what these templates are built for. Cybersecurity or information security management is a completely different role, focused on protecting data, networks, and systems, with different duties, different qualifications, and much higher pay. If you are hiring someone to run your information security program, an information security manager or IT security manager job description is the right document, not these physical-security templates. The two roles share a word but almost nothing else, so it is worth being clear which one you mean before you post.
Is a security manager exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
It depends on the level and the actual duties. A salaried security manager whose primary duty is managing a recognized security department, who regularly directs two or more full-time employees and has genuine hiring authority, and who is paid above the federal salary threshold, is typically exempt from overtime under the executive exemption. A security supervisor or shift lead who spends most of their time on patrol and guard duties rather than managing is generally non-exempt and owed overtime for hours over 40 in a week, despite a supervisor title. Security officers and guards are almost always non-exempt and hourly. The Department of Labor is clear that exemption turns on the real primary duties and salary, not the job title. Confirm the classification for the specific role you are filling. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a security manager job description include?
A strong security manager job description states the setting up front, corporate, hotel, retail, warehouse, or site, and clarifies that the role is physical security rather than cybersecurity. Include a short company summary, a job summary, and responsibilities grouped into program and policy, team, operations and monitoring, and coordination and compliance. Add required and preferred qualifications, the reporting line, the FLSA classification, and a realistic pay range. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the physical-versus-cyber clarification, an honest FLSA exempt-versus-non-exempt note (manager usually exempt, working supervisor and guards usually not), inline salary benchmarking, and any state security or guard licensing and certifications such as CPP or PSP. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a security manager make?
Pay varies widely because the title spans hourly working supervisors to corporate managers. The closest federal occupation, first-line supervisors of security workers, reported a mean wage of about $59,900 a year, with the median in the mid $50,000s, based on the most recent national data. Industry job-posting sources place the average for a security manager closer to $80,000, reflecting more senior corporate roles. In practice, hourly security supervisors often run in the $40,000s to $50,000s, while salaried corporate security managers reach into the $70,000s to $90,000s and higher in large organizations. Cyber and information security managers are a different occupation entirely and pay far more. For a posting, anchor your range to the specific level and setting, using government data plus your local market. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a security manager and a security supervisor?
A security manager owns the security program: policies, budget, the whole team, and coordination with law enforcement, and is typically salaried and exempt. A security supervisor or shift lead runs a single shift, directs officers on the floor, and usually performs guard and patrol duties themselves, often paid hourly and non-exempt. The manager role is more strategic and administrative, while the supervisor role is hands-on and operational. In a large organization both levels exist, with supervisors reporting to a manager. In a smaller organization, the working supervisor is frequently the only security leadership, and there is no separate manager. For a job posting, the distinction matters because it sets the pay, the overtime classification, and the kind of candidate you are looking for.
Does a security manager need a license or certification?
Often yes, and it depends on the state and the duties. Many states require security personnel, including managers who perform security duties, to hold a state security or guard license or registration, and armed roles carry additional requirements. Because licensing rules and the specific license types vary by state, confirm your state's requirements with the relevant regulatory agency. Beyond state licensing, professional certifications such as the Certified Protection Professional or Physical Security Professional are commonly preferred for management roles and signal expertise, though they are usually not legally required. For the job description, state clearly which license is required versus preferred, based on the role's duties and your state's rules, so candidates know what they need before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do small businesses need a dedicated security manager?
Not always, and the honest answer depends on size and risk. Many small businesses use contract security guards or a single working security supervisor rather than a dedicated manager. A dedicated security manager makes sense when an organization has a security team large enough to need consistent leadership, a facility or guest environment with real security risk, or compliance obligations that require a responsible owner on site. Property-management firms, boutique hotels, multi-site retailers, construction operations, and event venues often sit at exactly the size where a working security manager or supervisor becomes the right hire. Below that, the role is usually filled by a shift supervisor or a contracted service. The security supervisor template here is written for that first-leadership-hire moment. This is general information, not legal advice.
