Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Security Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Security Analyst is responsible for protecting physical assets, people, and inventory across one or more warehouse or distribution sites. This role blends loss-prevention investigations, physical security operations, CCTV and access control management, incident response, and data-driven reporting to reduce inventory shrink, improve safety compliance, and mitigate supply chain risk. The ideal candidate uses investigative experience and technical know-how to design and implement practical security controls, partner with operations leadership, and deliver actionable intelligence that reduces financial loss and improves operational resilience.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Loss Prevention Associate / Loss Prevention Specialist
Security Officer or Security Supervisor (site-based)
Warehouse Operations or Inventory Control Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Warehouse Security Analyst / Senior Loss Prevention Analyst
Loss Prevention Manager / Asset Protection Manager
Regional Security Manager or Director of Asset Protection
Physical Security Engineer or Security Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Safety & Compliance Manager
Inventory Control Manager
Supply Chain Risk Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and conduct detailed investigations into inventory shrink, theft, fraud, employee misconduct, and vendor irregularities within warehouse and distribution centers, producing written investigative reports with clear findings and recommended corrective actions.
Operate, administrate and troubleshoot CCTV, IP-camera systems and Video Management Systems (VMS) to capture, preserve, and analyze video evidence for incident verification and root-cause analysis.
Monitor live security feeds and alarm systems for multiple warehouse sites during assigned shifts to identify suspicious activity and coordinate rapid on-site or remote response in coordination with operations and security staff.
Manage access control systems including onboarding/offboarding of employee credentials, visitor management, audit of access logs, and implementation of role-based access to secure areas to prevent unauthorized entry.
Execute daily, weekly, and monthly security audits and site inspections for perimeter security, dock security, storage controls, and loading/unloading processes to ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory standards.
Develop and maintain security standard operating procedures (SOPs), incident response plans, chain-of-custody processes for evidence, and loss prevention playbooks tailored to warehouse operations and high-risk processes.
Collaborate with warehouse operations, logistics, procurement and HR to design and implement inventory protection controls such as secured cage areas, controlled access to high-value product zones, and enhanced receiving/shipping verification procedures.
Analyze shrinkage and incident trends using warehouse management system (WMS) data, ERP logs, cycle-count results and CCTV findings to identify systemic weaknesses and recommend process or technology improvements.
Coordinate internal and external investigations, working with HR, legal, and local law enforcement as necessary to secure evidence, provide witness statements, and support prosecution when appropriate.
Conduct root cause analysis on repeat loss events and design corrective action plans, including changes to physical layout, staffing, technology deployment, and standard procedures to close identified vulnerabilities.
Lead security incident debriefs and after-action reviews to capture lessons learned, update training content and revise SOPs to prevent recurrence of similar events.
Maintain and manage evidence handling, digital and physical, ensuring proper chain of custody, secure storage of media, and lawful disclosure procedures for internal and external stakeholders.
Design, deliver and document training for warehouse staff and supervisors on loss prevention best practices, emergency response, incident reporting procedures, and site security awareness.
Coordinate with IT and network teams to ensure CCTV, access control, and alarm systems are patched, backed up, and meet enterprise security configurations; escalate issues to vendors for firmware and hardware remediation.
Implement and manage exception reporting — building custom queries and dashboards (Excel, Power BI, or SQL) to detect anomalies in inventory movement, receiving counts, and shipment volumes that may indicate fraud or operational errors.
Maintain vendor relationships for third-party security services (guards, remote monitoring, alarm response) and manage scope-of-work, performance metrics, and contract compliance tied to service-level agreements.
Participate in site layout and new-build security design reviews to ensure early inclusion of secure receiving areas, controlled egress points, and CCTV coverage that supports both safety and loss prevention objectives.
Support compliance programs related to OSHA, fire code, hazardous materials handling and building access as they intersect with physical security responsibilities in warehouse environments.
Prepare and present concise, data-backed security performance reports to site leadership and corporate stakeholders highlighting shrink metrics, incident rates, and ROI for security initiatives.
Conduct periodic background checks and support hiring processes for security personnel and contractors, ensuring appropriate credentials and compliance with company vetting standards.
Respond to and investigate product diversion schemes, cargo theft incidents, and vendor-related losses, liaising with carrier companies and law enforcement for recovery and prosecution efforts.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc incident data requests and provide exploratory analysis of loss trends using WMS, ERP and security system logs.
Contribute to the broader company's security strategy and roadmap by proposing technology upgrades (e.g., AI video analytics, LPR, RFID) and piloting proof-of-concept deployments at warehouse sites.
Collaborate with cross-functional business units to translate operational security needs into technical and engineering requirements for new tools and integrations.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies when working on digital security tooling or analytics projects with central IT or data teams.
Provide support for emergency preparedness drills, including evacuation, active assailant simulations and fire response, and document drill outcomes with recommendations for improvement.
Assist procurement and facilities teams with the technical evaluation of security hardware purchases and vendor qualification documentation.
Maintain inventory and lifecycle tracking for site security assets (cameras, access readers, alarm panels) and coordinate replacements or upgrades as part of CAPEX planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Experienced with CCTV/IP camera systems and Video Management Systems (e.g., Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon), including camera placement, export of evidence, and basic forensic video analysis.
Proficient in access control systems administration (HID, Lenel, Honeywell, or equivalent), including credential lifecycle management and access event audits.
Strong investigative skills: interviewing techniques, evidence documentation, chain-of-custody management and report writing suitable for internal discipline or law enforcement processes.
Practical knowledge of warehouse operations and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as Manhattan, Blue Yonder (JDA), or Oracle Logistics to correlate inventory transactions with security events.
Familiarity with alarm systems, intrusion panels, environmental sensors, and remote alarm monitoring workflows.
Data analysis and reporting skills: advanced Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP), SQL query basics, and experience building dashboards in Power BI or Tableau to surface shrink and incident trends.
Experience with incident management systems, ticketing tools, and creating incident timelines and evidence packages.
Understanding of supply chain and cargo theft risks, transportation security practices, and preventive controls for inbound/outbound shipments.
Knowledge of regulatory compliance and standards impacting warehouses: OSHA, DOT, NFPA, and awareness of data protection requirements for security video and personal data.
Proven ability to configure and troubleshoot networked security devices and a working understanding of TCP/IP, PoE, VLANs for cameras and access control systems.
Experience integrating and evaluating security technologies such as RFID, barcode scanners, license plate recognition (LPR), AI video analytics and loss prevention sensors.
Contract and vendor management skills for engaging third-party security vendors, remote monitoring firms and private investigation providers.

Soft Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills for clear investigative reporting and concise executive briefings.
Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and the ability to synthesize multiple data sources into actionable recommendations.
High ethical standards, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information discreetly.
Effective stakeholder management and collaboration skills to partner with operations, HR, legal, IT and external law enforcement.
Problem-solving orientation with the ability to design pragmatic controls that balance security with operational throughput.
Training and coaching ability to raise security awareness among warehouse employees and supervisors.
Time management and prioritization skills to handle simultaneous incidents, investigations, and project deliverables.
Resilience and composure under pressure when responding to emergencies, theft incidents or escalations requiring rapid decisions.
Customer-service mindset to work constructively with internal business partners while enforcing policy and compliance.
Continuous improvement focus with the ability to champion pilot programs, measure outcomes and scale successful security initiatives.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED, with relevant security, law enforcement, or supply chain certifications (e.g., CPP, LPC, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) preferred).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Information Security, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Criminal Justice / Criminology
Security Management / Loss Prevention
Supply Chain / Logistics / Operations Management
Information Technology / Cyber-Physical Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–6 years of experience in loss prevention, physical security, investigations, or warehouse operations; includes hands-on CCTV/access control experience.

Preferred:

5+ years of combined security and warehouse experience with documented success reducing shrink or improving security KPIs.
Prior experience working with enterprise WMS/ERP systems, and demonstrated ability to use data analytics to drive security outcomes.
Certifications such as Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Loss Prevention Certification (LPC), or relevant technical vendor certifications for VMS or access control systems.