Security Officer (Guilford County)

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Description

This is unarmed protective service and surveillance work guarding public property and safeguarding citizen access to and use of public facilities.

Distinguishing features of the class include providing protective service and surveillance work for County buildings. Duties include receiving and forwarding telephone or radio reports, centralized monitoring of facilities by video cameras, monitoring entry and exit points, operating detection equipment (e.g. metal detectors, X-ray scanners), verifying identification and serving as a central reporting location for incidents against County property or citizens. A Security Officer provides work assignments and performance is completed by observation, personal conferences, periodic reports, and personal comments from citizens and employees.

Examples of Duties

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Dispatches security officers to routine and emergency tasks.
• Operates security screening equipment including walk-through metal detectors, handheld scanners, and x-ray machines to screen individuals, bags, and packages entering County facilities.
• Verifies credentials of employees, contractors, and visitors seeking access to controlled areas.
• Uses closed circuit video cameras to monitor security and safeguard County buildings; remains alert for breaches in security, unauthorized visitors, or other danger or damage to County property.
• Maintains control over keys and equipment.
• Reports disturbances or suspicious circumstances to superiors or law enforcement agencies.
• May serve as a courier of information from one location to another via telephone or radio.
• Provides information to callers by telephone or radio and gives routine information to the public.
• Permits entrance to authorized people and issues or records entrance authorizations.
• Keeps activity logs and prepares daily shift reports.
• May be required to work various shifts, weekends and holidays.
• Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment standards include knowledge, skills, and abilities such as:

• Knowledge of commonly used rules, procedures, and operations to perform work independently in a variety of fixed posts and patrol assignments within a County installation or building.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to monitor the identification of individuals entering controlled areas.
• Ability to patrol prescribed areas, offices or buildings to prevent breach of peace, theft or damage to County property, equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Ability to do several tasks concurrently including receiving phone calls, using the radio, dispatching and monitoring alarms.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in emergency and routing situations and to adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action.
• Ability to speak clearly, distinctly, and politely.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Ability to multitask and remain alert during long periods of static post duty or repetitive tasks.

Typical Qualifications

Minimum qualifications include graduation from high school or GED equivalency and a minimum of two years of experience in the security industry, military, law enforcement or dispatching.

Necessary special qualifications include no felony or first-degree misdemeanor convictions directly related to responsibilities of the position. A criminal records check is required. All applicants will be required to undergo a security background investigation. Must be available to work first, second, or third shifts. Employees will be required to work any days or shifts Sunday through Saturday, locations are subject to change. Subject to 24-hour emergency call-in. A skills assessment will be administered as part of the interview process.

Supplemental Information

Working conditions include:

1. Environment: Work environment involves some discomforts or unpleasantness such as moderate levels of noise from machines, vibrations, dust and grease; exposure to human/animal waste or body fluids; exposure to cold, heat, rain and snow encountered in working outside; or prescribed quotas from manual or clerical support functions.
2. Hazards: Work involves some risks requiring special procedures, safety precautions, and/or the use of special equipment such as hard hats, safety shoes, shields, ear protectors, respiratory masks, protective clothing, and gloves, or work involving exposure to abusive, aggressive, and unpredictable behavior from clients or the general public in a work location to which the public has unrestricted, open access; or work which requires home visits to provide a service.
3. Physical Demands: Work requires light physical effort such as long periods of standing or sitting in one position; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of objects up to 20 pounds or occasional lifting of objects up to 50 pounds; ongoing production oriented operation of PCs or other VDTs (video display terminals); rapid and sustained use of hands, fingers, or arms to operate equipment or perform work; or precise use of hands and fingers to operate equipment or perform work.

May require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria. If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy.

This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its job functions and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job description with a physical abilities checklist which can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.