| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Security |
| Level | Senior management |
| Reports to | Chief Security Officer |
| Direct reports | Security Manager, Security Officer, Vigilance Officer |
| Experience | 10+ years in security with 4 or more years leading multi-site operations |
Head of Security job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Head of Security
Department: Security
Reports to: Chief Security Officer
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Head of Security runs the security function across a company's sites and offices. The person turns strategy into operations: guarding deployment, access control, surveillance, investigations and vendor management. In a large Indian organization this role sets standard operating procedures, manages the guard force and agencies, controls the security budget for operations, and answers for incidents. A good head of security keeps every site covered to standard, responds fast to incidents, and delivers reliable protection within cost across the whole estate.
Key responsibilities
- Translate security strategy into standard operating procedures for guarding, access and surveillance.
- Plan and oversee guard deployment across all sites so coverage meets the required standard.
- Manage security agencies and vendors on service levels, manpower quality and contracts.
- Oversee access control, visitor management and CCTV operations across the estate.
- Lead investigations into theft, fraud and breaches and drive corrective action.
- Control the operational security budget for manpower, systems and consumables.
- Review incident reports across sites, spot patterns and close gaps.
- Set training standards for guards and supervisors and check they are met.
- Coordinate with site heads, HR and admin on security needs and staffing.
- Report security performance, incidents and risks to the chief security officer.
Requirements
- Graduate degree in any stream
- Background in forces, police or corporate security
- Security management certification an advantage
- 10+ years in security with 4 or more years leading multi-site operations
KRAs and KPIs for a Head of Security
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Site coverage | All sites staffed to the required guard strength with deployment gaps below the target |
| Incident response | Incidents across sites responded to and closed within the defined standard |
| Agency SLA | Security vendors meet manpower and service levels on every monthly review |
| Investigations | Security investigations closed with action within the agreed timeline |
| Cost per site | Security cost per site kept within the approved operating budget |
| Training compliance | Guards and supervisors complete required training on the planned cycle |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Access control systems, CCTV and VMS platforms, Guard management and patrol apps, Visitor management systems, Incident reporting tools.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Chief Security Officer, Group Security Head, Director Corporate Security
Interview questions for a Head of Security
- How do you ensure consistent security coverage across many sites at once?
- How do you hold a security agency to its service levels?
- Walk me through how you would investigate a theft at a warehouse.
- How do you cut security cost without weakening protection?
- How do you standardise SOPs across sites that have very different risks?
- Tell me about a serious incident you managed and what you changed afterwards.
Managing a Head of Security in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your security team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a head of security do?
A head of security runs the security function across a company's sites. They turn strategy into operations: guard deployment, access control, surveillance, investigations and vendor management. They set standard operating procedures, control the operational budget, manage agencies and answer for incidents, keeping every site covered to standard and responding quickly when something goes wrong.
What is the difference between a head of security and a security manager?
A head of security owns the whole function across all sites, setting SOPs, budgets and vendor strategy. A security manager runs security at one site or region, executing those standards through guards and daily operations. The head of security sets the framework, while the security manager delivers it on a specific site.
Who does a head of security report to?
In a large organization a head of security usually reports to the chief security officer, or to a vice president of administration or corporate affairs where there is no CSO. They in turn oversee security managers, officers and, where present, the vigilance team across the company's sites and offices.