SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER
Senior Security Officer sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
The requirements come down to a high school diploma, 2 years of relevant experience, and a valid NJ driver's license. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $50,059 to $72,550, and state payroll currently lists about 21 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 5 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 5 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Senior Security Officer appears on the State payroll at 5 departments, most of them at Department of Law & Public Safety.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 13 |
| Department of Health | 4 |
| Department of Corrections | 2 |
| Department of Education | 1 |
| Department of Human Services | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 21 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $69,010. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (13)
- Health and Senior Services (4)
- Corrections (2)
- Education (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a supervisor in a state department, institution, college or agency, supervises Security Officers engaged in providing assistance and protection to persons and property in and about state owned and leased buildings and offices, in maintaining orderly conditions, in taking the measures required to assure observance of the law, and in apprehending and arresting law breakers; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Plans, organizes, and develops appropriate security regulations and activities; analyses security problems peculiar to the department, and develops appropriate work schedules, methods and procedures.
- Determines the number of Security Officers required and devises appropriate work schedules and programs.
- Prepares rules and regulations for specific security functions, including traffic control, the security of property, and the maintenance of general order; establishes procedures and performance standards for installation security programs and the safeguarding of facilities.
- Supervises the use of radio and other communications in the total security program.
- Gives appropriate assignments, instructions and supervision to Security Officers.
- Establishes work priorities; maintains a follow up system in order to insure adherence to schedules and work standards.
- Supervises the operation of traffic and personnel circulation control systems and the enforcement of appropriate standards of conduct and appearance of Security Officers.
- Makes unscheduled checks of security patrol tours; makes inspections and evaluations of the work of individual Security Officers, including factors of alertness, appearance and proper conduct while on duty; sees that standard operating procedures are complied with; sees that equipment allocated to Security Officers if properly used, safeguarded, and maintained in good working condition.
- Sees that the required reports are made by telephone, punch clock, or otherwise in order to prevent unauthorized persons from entering grounds and buildings and to prevent fire, theft, vandalism and disorder and/or damage or loss to state property and equipment.
- Takes the measures required to ensure that assistance is given when accidents or illness occur, that first aid is provided, and in emergencies, physicians, ambulances and/or fire and police departments are summoned.
- Makes periodic inspections to see that newspapers and other litter are removed, that callers are properly directed, and that order and decorum are maintained.
- Sees that offenders are escorted or removed from premises with a minimum of disturbance.
- Sees that vehicular traffic is properly controlled in and around buildings and in parking areas.
- Personally apprehends or directs the apprehension of persons who are disorderly or who break the law.
- Sees that appropriate action is taken as to suspicious persons and conditions and that significant actions, occurrences and conditions are reported.
- Assists in the work involved in locating and returning inmates and patients who have escaped.
- Prepares recommendations concerning the management of large members of people and the avoidance or alleviation of crowded and/or unsafe conditions.
- Investigates and supervises the investigation of complaints involving misconduct procedures; makes investigations to determine the facts and sees that proper remedial actions are taken.
- When complaints are made as to lack of order or non-observance of prescribed procedures, makes investigations to determine the facts and sees that proper remedial actions are taken; notes and reports dangers and hazards.
- Acquaints office staff and other employees with security procedures.
- Obtains, records and properly uses needed equipment, materials and supplies.
- Prepares simple but clear, accurate, informative and legible reports.
- Keeps simple records.
- May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from high school or vocational school or possession of an approved high school equivalent certificate.
Experience
Two (2) years of full time paid experience in work involving the safeguarding of property and persons.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the problems which arise in safeguarding buildings and grounds covering a considerable area and the procedures used in dealing with such problems.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the problems which arise in safeguarding state property and equipment of varied types.
- Knowledge of the problems which arise in safeguarding buildings and grounds covering a considerable area.
- Knowledge of the methods likely to be effective in dealing with varied types of persons; of the behavior of people, individually and in groups; and of the motives which govern them when they depart markedly from the conventions.
- Knowledge of the difficulties encountered in following closely prescribed procedures of the type embodied in police rules and regulations.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the methods used in maintaining order in the buildings and on the grounds among visitors and employees and in controlling and regulating vehicular traffic in designated areas in order to assure safety, reasonably rapid movement of traffic, and a minimum of interference.
- Ability to organize assigned supervisory work in the field of security, analyze specific department security problems, and devise appropriate procedures, methods, programs and work schedules.
- Ability to give appropriate assignments and instructions to Security Officers and supervise the performance of their work.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and apply to specific situations, laws, local ordinances, and police rules and regulations.
- Ability to deal courteously but effectively with varied types of persons, individually and in groups, in varied situations.
- Ability to note significant and potentially dangerous facts and conditions by observation.
- Ability to remain cool and decisive in emergency situations.
- Ability to perform repetitive operations, including the answering of inquiries, without loss of equanimity, patience, or courtesy.
- Ability to take and supervise the actions necessary to prevent fire, theft, vandalism, disorder and or damage or loss to property and equipment and to prevent harm to employees and visitors.
- Ability to work harmoniously with associates, superior officers, and individuals of varied types, ages, and social and economic status.
- Ability to take and maintain a firm and correct stand when controversies arise and to escort offenders from premises with a minimum of disturbance.
- Ability to apprehend and take into custody those persons who are breaking the law or disturbing the peace.
- Ability to conform to official and unofficial requirements as to dress, conduct and behavior, and supervise the conformance of department Security Officer therewith.
- Ability to write simple factual reports accurately and legibly.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.