Security Officer Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, compliant Security Officer advert that sets expectations on licence requirements, shift patterns and core duties. Keep the advert practical to attract experienced, reliable candidates.
What does a Security Officer professional do?
A Security Officer maintains site safety by monitoring premises, controlling access, responding to incidents and producing accurate reports while providing a professional frontline presence.
Security Officer job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Security Officer
About the role
[Employer] is recruiting a Security Officer to join our team at [Location]. You will provide visible security patrols, manage access control, monitor CCTV where required and respond to incidents across assigned shifts. This role is [full-time/part-time] with shift patterns of [shift details] and an hourly rate of [£X - £Y] (or salary [£X]). Applicants must hold an SIA licence where the role involves licensable guarding duties.
Key responsibilities
- Provide a visible security presence to deter incidents and reassure staff, visitors and customers
- Control site access and check credentials for visitors, contractors and deliveries
- Carry out regular foot or vehicle patrols of buildings, grounds and perimeter
- Monitor CCTV and alarm systems, escalating or responding to incidents as required
- Respond promptly to alarms, disturbances and medical or safety incidents and coordinate emergency services when necessary
- Record and submit clear, factual incident and daily activity reports
- Conduct basic searches and inspections in line with company policy and legal requirements
- Check and maintain basic security equipment, reporting faults or defects
Essential skills and experience
- SIA Front Line Licence (required for roles involving licensable guarding duties)
- Right to work in the UK
- Good written and verbal communication skills for reports and handovers
- Ability to work shifts, including evenings, nights and weekends as required
- Basic numeracy and literacy and the ability to complete incident logs accurately
- Physical fitness sufficient for patrols and basic emergency response
Desirable
- Previous experience in a security, retail loss prevention, hospitality or facilities role
- First aid, fire marshal or conflict management training
- Experience of CCTV monitoring and radio/incident reporting systems
- Customer-service experience and a calm, professional manner
- Willingness to undergo DBS check if role requires working with vulnerable people
What we offer
- [Competitive hourly rate or salary]
- [Pension scheme]
- [Holiday entitlement: X days per year]
- [Uniform and personal protective equipment provided]
- [Overtime and weekend enhancements where applicable]
- [Training and development opportunities including relevant certifications]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Security Officer role?
A Security Officer is responsible for protecting people, property and assets at a site by providing a visible presence, controlling access, carrying out patrols, monitoring CCTV and responding to incidents. The role requires reliable record-keeping, clear communication with colleagues and emergency services, and working to site-specific procedures and legal requirements. Shift work and some unsocial hours are common.
Core duties
Patrols, access control, incident response, CCTV and reporting.
Shifts
Roles commonly include early, late, night and weekend shifts; flexibility is often required.
Typical sites
Retail, offices, logistics sites, events, healthcare or residential estates depending on employer.
Typical Security Officer responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Provide a visible security presence
Provide a visible security presence to deter incidents and reassure staff, visitors and customers
Control site access
Control site access and check credentials for visitors, contractors and deliveries
Carry out regular foot or
Carry out regular foot or vehicle patrols of buildings, grounds and perimeter
Monitor CCTV
Monitor CCTV and alarm systems, escalating or responding to incidents as required
Respond promptly
Respond promptly to alarms, disturbances and medical or safety incidents and coordinate emergency services when necessary
Record
Record and submit clear, factual incident and daily activity reports
Conduct basic searches
Conduct basic searches and inspections in line with company policy and legal requirements
Check
Check and maintain basic security equipment, reporting faults or defects
Security Officer skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- SIA Front Line Licence (required for roles involving licensable guarding duties)
- Right to work in the UK
- Good written and verbal communication skills for reports and handovers
- Ability to work shifts, including evenings, nights and weekends as required
- Basic numeracy and literacy and the ability to complete incident logs accurately
- Physical fitness sufficient for patrols and basic emergency response
Useful where relevant
- Previous experience in a security, retail loss prevention, hospitality or facilities role
- First aid, fire marshal or conflict management training
- Experience of CCTV monitoring and radio/incident reporting systems
- Customer-service experience and a calm, professional manner
- Willingness to undergo DBS check if role requires working with vulnerable people
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Security Officer job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be clear about licence requirements
State explicitly if an SIA Front Line Licence is mandatory for the vacancy and whether any specific licence categories are needed.
Specify shift patterns and hours
List typical shifts, guaranteed minimum hours (if any) and weekend/night expectations so candidates self-select appropriately.
Outline core duties, not every task
Focus on the main operational responsibilities — patrols, access control, incident handling and reporting — rather than exhaustive lists.
Include safety and PPE information
Tell candidates whether uniform/PPE is provided and any fitness or mobility expectations for patrol work.
Security Officer salary considerations
Pay for Security Officers varies by location, employer and the nature of the post. Rather than a fixed market figure, consider the main factors below when setting hourly or salaried rates.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Security Officer candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the exact shift patterns and expected hours?
Candidates will want to know roster details, minimum guaranteed hours and any requirement for overtime or on-call.
Is an SIA licence mandatory for this role?
Clarify whether the post involves licensable guarding duties that legally require an SIA Front Line Licence.
What personal protective equipment and uniform are provided?
Candidates need to know whether the employer supplies uniform, radios, body-worn cameras or other PPE.
Is training provided or supported?
Experienced applicants will want to know if first aid, incident reporting and ongoing development are available.
Will background checks be required?
State whether DBS or other vetting is necessary and at what stage of recruitment.
Where to post a Security Officer job
Security Officer roles attract candidates from a variety of channels. Use broad UK job boards for scale, sector-specific sites and security trade forums for licence-holders, and local community channels or hospitality/retail boards for site-based vacancies. Consider LinkedIn for supervisory roles and targeted advertising in the evening/night-shift job communities to reach candidates seeking shift work.
Related security & frontline defence job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Security Officer job description FAQs
Do Security Officers in the UK need an SIA licence?
If the role involves licensable guarding activities such as manned guarding, door supervision, or close protection, an SIA Front Line Licence is required. For non-licensable site security tasks an SIA licence may not be necessary; state the requirement clearly in the advert.
What background checks should employers carry out?
Standard checks include right-to-work confirmation, identity verification and reference checks. A DBS check is required only where the role involves regulated activity with vulnerable people; otherwise it may be requested at the employer's discretion.
How should employers screen applicants for frontline security roles?
Screen for valid licences, relevant experience, shift availability and communication skills. A short telephone or video screening can confirm licence validity and suitability before inviting candidates to a face-to-face assessment.
What training is recommended for new Security Officers?
Core training often includes site induction, incident reporting, conflict management, basic first aid and fire safety. Employers should provide site-specific briefings and any required refresher courses.
Use this template to create your advert
Copy and personalise the advert paragraph and checklist above, add your specific location, shift pattern and pay details, and publish the vacancy on the channels recommended to reach licensed and experienced candidates.
