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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Security Coordinator

💰 $ - $

SecurityLogisticsOperations

🎯 Role Definition

A Warehouse Security Coordinator is responsible for protecting people, property, inventory, and information within distribution centers and warehouse facilities. This role oversees daily security operations — including CCTV and access control monitoring, physical patrols, incident investigation, emergency response, vendor and contractor screening, and loss prevention initiatives — while ensuring compliance with OSHA, company policy, and local regulations. The coordinator serves as the single point of contact for security incidents, leads security-related training, and partners with operations, HR, and law enforcement to reduce shrinkage, minimize risk, and maintain a safe working environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Security Officer / Patrol Officer
  • Loss Prevention Associate / Specialist
  • Warehouse Associate or Shipping & Receiving Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Security Manager / Security Operations Manager
  • Loss Prevention Manager / Regional Loss Prevention Lead
  • Director of Security or Corporate Security Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Safety & Compliance Coordinator
  • Operations Supervisor / Shift Manager
  • Facilities Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct continuous CCTV monitoring and video surveillance analysis across warehouse zones, proactively identifying suspicious behavior, safety hazards, or operational breaches and coordinating immediate response to minimize loss and ensure employee safety.
  • Manage and administer access control systems, including issuance and deactivation of badges, programming door schedules, maintaining electronic logs, and enforcing access policies for associates, vendors, and third-party carriers.
  • Lead physical perimeter and interior security patrols, documenting rounds, identifying vulnerabilities (fencing, lighting, door hardware), and coordinating corrective actions with facilities and operations to close security gaps.
  • Respond to all security incidents and alarms (intrusion, fire, environmental, medical) as primary onsite coordinator; perform incident triage, secure scenes, communicate with emergency services, and oversee incident resolution until formally closed.
  • Investigate allegations of theft, inventory shrinkage, vendor fraud, employee misconduct, and safety violations; collect evidence, interview witnesses, prepare detailed investigative reports, and recommend disciplinary or legal actions in partnership with HR and legal.
  • Develop, maintain, and test emergency response plans and business continuity procedures for the warehouse, including evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in-place, and active shooter scenarios; conduct drills and document corrective actions.
  • Supervise and schedule security staff and contract security partners, including hiring recommendations, performance management, training delivery, timekeeping oversight, and ensuring adherence to corporate security standards and local laws.
  • Implement and manage loss prevention strategies to reduce shrinkage and theft, including point-of-entry controls, transaction reconciliation procedures, inventory audits, and targeted surveillance in high-risk areas.
  • Serve as primary liaison with law enforcement, fire department, OSHA inspectors, and third-party investigators; coordinate evidence transfer, support investigations, and follow through on legal or regulatory matters.
  • Maintain and audit key control systems, secure key storage, manage distribution logs, and ensure strict chain-of-custody procedures for keys, access cards, and secure containers.
  • Oversee alarm systems, panic buttons, environmental sensors, and perimeter detection units; manage vendor relationships for service contracts, schedule preventative maintenance, and verify system integrity through routine testing.
  • Prepare clear, timely, and professional incident reports, daily security logs, shift handover notes, and KPI dashboards for senior leadership that summarize incidents, trends, and recommendations for risk mitigation.
  • Conduct risk assessments and security surveys for inbound/outbound shipping, staging areas, high-value storage zones, and cross-dock points; prioritize remediation actions and collaborate with operations to implement controls.
  • Manage visitor and contractor credentials, enforce ID verification, escort procedures, and ensure compliance with site-specific safety orientation requirements before access is granted to secure areas.
  • Coordinate background checks, screening, and onboarding security clearances for warehouse employees and contingent workforce in partnership with HR, ensuring compliance with company policy and applicable laws.
  • Deliver security and safety training programs for warehouse staff covering topics such as theft prevention, de-escalation, workplace violence prevention, emergency procedures, and proper reporting protocols.
  • Maintain chain-of-custody and evidence storage procedures for recovered property and seized items, ensuring secure documentation and compliance with legal and company retention policies.
  • Monitor and analyze security data and shrinkage metrics (DOR, inventory variance, incident frequency), leverage findings to implement targeted loss prevention campaigns, and report ROI on security investments to stakeholders.
  • Enforce DOT, OSHA, NFPA and company safety regulations within security operations, supporting safety inspections and partnering with the safety team to remediate hazards and track corrective actions.
  • Advise on and support procurement and deployment of security technology (CCTV cameras, video management systems like Avigilon or Milestone, access control platforms such as Lenel or Honeywell, alarm panels), ensuring solutions meet operational requirements and budget constraints.
  • Coordinate security support for high-risk deliveries, high-value shipments, or promotional events, including escorts, staging plans, and chain-of-custody safeguards to reduce exposure to theft or diversion.
  • Maintain accurate inventory of security equipment (radios, cameras, keys, badges), manage replacement cycles, and propose capital improvements based on lifecycle planning and security risk priorities.
  • Implement and enforce policies around prohibited items, warehouse entry/exit screening, and mobile device or camera restrictions to prevent intellectual property loss and safeguard operations.
  • Facilitate post-incident root cause analyses and debriefs with operations, HR, and stakeholders to revise policies, update training content, and reduce recurrence of security incidents.

Secondary Functions

  • Support weekly and monthly security KPI reporting, providing data inputs and narrative context for leadership review and budget planning.
  • Assist in vendor selection and manage contracts for guard services, technology maintenance, and alarm monitoring vendors, ensuring SLAs are met and cost-effectiveness is tracked.
  • Participate in cross-functional safety and operations meetings to align security initiatives with productivity goals and inventory control processes.
  • Support ad-hoc audits and inventory investigations requested by loss prevention or operations teams and provide subject matter expertise on security controls.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by piloting new security technologies, testing access control configurations, and documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local crime trends, supply chain security threats, and regulatory changes that could impact warehouse operations and recommend adjustments to security posture.
  • Provide secondary coverage for other warehouse shifts as needed, ensuring consistent security presence and continuity across all operating hours.
  • Assist in small facilities maintenance requests related to security (lighting repairs, lock replacements) and coordinate with Facilities to schedule repairs to minimize downtime.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • CCTV and video management systems expertise (live monitoring, footage retrieval, redaction, evidence export).
  • Access control administration (badge issuance, tailgating prevention, door schedule configuration).
  • Incident management and formal investigative techniques (interviewing witnesses, evidence handling, report writing).
  • Knowledge of OSHA, DOT, NFPA safety regulations and how they apply within warehouse operations.
  • Familiarity with loss prevention methodologies and inventory control practices to reduce shrinkage.
  • Alarm systems, perimeter detection, and emergency communications systems troubleshooting.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel for KPI tracking, Word for reports, PowerPoint for presentations) and basic familiarity with reporting/BI tools (Power BI / Tableau) for metrics.
  • Experience working with security vendors and managing service level agreements (SLAs).
  • Basic network and IT awareness relating to IP cameras, VMS, and access control integrations.
  • Radio communications and incident dispatch procedures; ability to use two-way radio systems and log communications accurately.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication for clear incident reporting and stakeholder briefings.
  • Excellent situational awareness and sound judgment under pressure to make rapid decisions during emergencies.
  • Leadership and team coordination skills to supervise security personnel and direct contractors.
  • Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills to manage confrontations professionally and safely.
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for maintaining logs, evidence chain-of-custody, and audit readiness.
  • Problem-solving mindset with the ability to recommend pragmatic, cost-effective security improvements.
  • Customer-service orientation to interact professionally with warehouse staff, drivers, and vendors while enforcing policy.
  • Confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive investigations and personnel matters.
  • Adaptability and flexibility to work variable shifts, including nights, weekends, and holiday coverage.
  • Collaborative approach for partnering with operations, HR, safety, and law enforcement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED

Preferred Education:

  • Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Criminal Justice / Criminology
  • Security Management / Homeland Security
  • Occupational Safety & Health
  • Supply Chain Management / Logistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of hands-on security or loss prevention experience in a warehouse, distribution center, or similar high-volume logistics environment.

Preferred:

  • 3–5+ years supervisory or coordinator-level experience in security or loss prevention
  • Prior experience with warehouse operations, inventory control, and cross-docking environments
  • Experience liaising with law enforcement and leading security investigations
  • Certifications such as CPS (Certified Protection Specialist), CPP (Certified Protection Professional), or relevant state security guard certifications are a plus
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