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What does a security officer/shift supervisor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

A shift supervisor is the person in charge of ensuring employees do their tasks and ensure smooth operation. They are also in charge of responding to customers' inquiries, feedback, and complaints. A shift supervisor also balances employee accounts at the end of a shift and also reports back to the management on ongoing issues and problems facing the employees.

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Security officer/shift supervisor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real security officer/shift supervisor resumes:

  • Supervise both patrol and gate officers during daily and emergency situations.
  • Render first-aid and/or CPR if need.
  • Conduct patrol rounds of interior and exterior perimeter.
  • Monitor entire facility while using CCTV while simultaneously dispatch duties.
  • Dispatch duties including monitoring CCTV, monitoring fire control systems, assisting/directing officers via radio communications, and telephone communications.
  • Maintain a standard of punctuality and dependability of attendance and retain myself cleanliness, tidiness, neatness and appropriately attire.
  • Provide armed escort for ATM repairpersons

Security officer/shift supervisor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 32% of Security Officer/Shift Supervisors are proficient in Customer Service, Incident Reports, and Patrol. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Good judgment, and Observation skills.

We break down the percentage of Security Officer/Shift Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 32%

    Trained and supervised a dynamic high powered security team effective in securing client properties while delivering exceptional customer service.

  • Incident Reports, 23%

    Monitored CCTV systems Wrote incident reports, kept daily logs Conducted facility patrols Exterior/Interior Assist Police/Fire Department with alarms

  • Patrol, 12%

    Supervised 15 security officers, vehicle patrol of facilities, and investigated accidents and incidents.

  • Security Services, 8%

    Provided security services to other facilities during conferences and other functions.

  • Emergency Situations, 5%

    Handle any escalated security issues or emergency situations appropriately and with discretion.

  • CPR, 2%

    Maintain a Virginia DCJS unarmed and armed security licenses, Secret Clearance, and CPR, AED and First Aid certification.

"customer service," "incident reports," and "patrol" are among the most common skills that security officer/shift supervisors use at work. You can find even more security officer/shift supervisor responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a security officer/shift supervisor to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "security guards and surveillance officers must communicate effectively with others, even in stressful situations." Security officer/shift supervisors often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "respond to all emergency situations during shift and serve as the main point of communication. "

Observation skills. security officer/shift supervisors are also known for observation skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to security officer/shift supervisor responsibilities, because "security guards and surveillance officers must be alert and aware of their surroundings, and be able to quickly recognize anything out of the ordinary." A security officer/shift supervisor resume example shows how observation skills is used in the workplace: "apply strong observation skills to detect unauthorized activities and respond by investigating and neutralizing security breaches. "

All security officer/shift supervisor skills

The three companies that hire the most security officer/shift supervisors are:

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Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume
Security Officer/Shift Supervisor Resume

Compare different security officer/shift supervisors

Security officer/shift supervisor vs. Armed guard

The head of security performs overall company security responsibilities, obligations, and duties, such as maintenance responsibilities, performance responsibilities, strategic development responsibilities, and direction responsibilities. They create protocols and policies needed to secure and protect sensitive information. Besides developing and implementing security procedures and protocols, the head of security also makes logistics to secure and protect copyrights, intellectual property, and many other related risks. Moreover, the head of security hires and recruits a professional talent that can build up the security.

If we compare the average security officer/shift supervisor annual salary with that of an armed guard, we find that armed guards typically earn a $7,509 higher salary than security officer/shift supervisors make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between security officer/shift supervisors and armed guards are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like incident reports, patrol, and security services.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a security officer/shift supervisor are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "vehicle patrols," "loss prevention," and "security issues." On the other hand, a job as an armed guard requires skills like "cash management," "national security," "law enforcement," and "atm." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Armed guards tend to make the most money working in the non profits industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,152. In contrast, security officer/shift supervisors make the biggest average salary, $35,543, in the utilities industry.armed guards tend to reach similar levels of education than security officer/shift supervisors. In fact, armed guards are 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Security officer/shift supervisor vs. Head of security

The primary responsibility of an unarmed security guard is to monitor and protect properties against damage or criminal attack. They must be alert, patrol the premises, and respond to emergencies. They also monitor alarm systems and video surveillance cameras. In cases of security breaches, they are expected to bring in law enforcement agents.

Head of security positions earn higher pay than security officer/shift supervisor roles. They earn a $118,577 higher salary than security officer/shift supervisors per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Security officer/shift supervisors and heads of security both require similar skills like "incident reports," "security services," and "emergency situations" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that security officer/shift supervisor responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "patrol," "cpr," and "foot patrol." But a head of security might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cloud security," "cloud computing," "ids," and "data loss prevention."

Heads of security earn similar levels of education than security officer/shift supervisors in general. They're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Security officer/shift supervisor vs. Unarmed security guard

A Security's main responsibility is to keep people or an establishment safe. This responsibility is carried out by constantly patrolling a designated area and monitoring the activity within the premises. Most of the tasks involved are inspecting buildings and equipment, monitoring entry and exit points, reporting irregularities, responding to customers in distress, and other surveillance activities. The security is basically an establishment's first line of defense, this is why one must have good communication skills, keen observation and judgment, and as well as presence of mind.

On average, unarmed security guards earn lower salaries than security officer/shift supervisors, with a $2,734 difference per year.By looking over several security officer/shift supervisors and unarmed security guards resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "incident reports," "patrol," and "security services." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, security officer/shift supervisors are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "vehicle patrols," "traffic control," and "security operations." But a unarmed security guard is more likely to have skills like "unarmed security," "english language," "law enforcement," and "unarmed guard."

Unarmed security guards earn the best pay in the utilities industry, where they command an average salary of $31,285. Security officer/shift supervisors earn the highest pay from the utilities industry, with an average salary of $35,543.When it comes to education, unarmed security guards tend to earn similar degree levels compared to security officer/shift supervisors. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Security officer/shift supervisor vs. Security

Securities typically earn lower pay than security officer/shift supervisors. On average, securities earn a $3,844 lower salary per year.While both security officer/shift supervisors and securities complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, incident reports, and patrol, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "security services," "vehicle patrols," "security operations," and "security systems" are skills that commonly show up on security officer/shift supervisor resumes. On the other hand, securities use skills like ladders, good judgment, stars, and transport individuals on their resumes.In general, securities earn the most working in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $31,007. The highest-paying industry for a security officer/shift supervisor is the utilities industry.In general, securities hold similar degree levels compared to security officer/shift supervisors. Securities are 1.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of security officer/shift supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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