Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Watch Operator

🎯 Role Definition

A Watch Operator is a frontline control-room professional responsible for continuous monitoring of critical infrastructure, security systems, process controls, and communications during assigned shifts. This role requires vigilant observation of alarms and instrumentation (SCADA/DCS/CCTV), clear radio and phone communications, timely incident detection and escalation, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and accurate logkeeping. Watch Operators act as the central point for situational awareness, coordinating emergency response and maintenance activities while preserving safety, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Security Officer or Patrol Officer with control room experience
Facilities Technician, Maintenance Technician, or Plant Operator trainee
Junior Control Room Operator or CCTV/Access Control Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Watch Operator / Lead Watchstander
Control Room Supervisor or Shift Supervisor
Operations Manager, Emergency Response Coordinator, or Site Security Manager

Lateral Moves:

SCADA/DCS Technician or Systems Analyst
Maintenance Planner / Reliability Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Continuously monitor SCADA, DCS, CCTV, access control, intrusion detection and other control-room systems to identify abnormal conditions, alarms, security breaches, or process deviations and take predefined corrective or escalation actions immediately.
Receive, assess and prioritize alarms and events in accordance with site alarm response procedures; perform initial troubleshooting steps, log actions taken, and escalate unresolved issues to on-call engineers, supervisors or emergency services.
Maintain clear, concise, and accurate shift logs and electronic records of all incidents, operational changes, permit status, communications and handover notes to ensure continuity between shifts and compliance with audit requirements.
Coordinate emergency response activities (fire, medical, spill, security incident) by activating notification cascades, dispatching responders, liaising with external emergency services, and following the incident command/onsite response plan until relieved.
Execute control-room procedures to initiate, adjust and monitor critical system setpoints and emergency shutdowns under authorized direction, ensuring strict adherence to permits, isolation procedures and safety interlocks.
Conduct formal shift handovers by summarizing ongoing operations, outstanding actions, current alarms/alerts, maintenance activities, and safety concerns to the incoming Watch Operator in a structured and auditable manner.
Monitor and control access control systems, visitor management, and contractor permit-to-work compliance, including verifying credentials, recording entries/exits and ensuring that high-risk tasks have proper supervision and isolation.
Use two-way radios, telephones, and operator consoles to provide clear and timely coordination between field teams, supervisors, contractors and third-party service providers during routine and emergency operations.
Perform periodic system checks and diagnostics of critical monitoring equipment (UPS, communication links, CCTV cameras, sensors) and log any faults; initiate work orders and follow up until repairs are completed to restore redundancy and system integrity.
Analyze trends from alarm histories and process data to recommend improvements to alarm configuration, HMI design, or monitoring strategies that reduce nuisance/historic alarms and improve operator situational awareness.
Authorize and monitor permit-to-work activities (hot work, confined space, electrical isolation) by verifying that all safety and isolation steps are completed and that monitoring and rescue resources are available.
Ensure compliance with company HSE policies, site procedures, and regulatory reporting requirements by documenting incidents, near misses and hazards and by participating in investigations and follow-up corrective actions.
Maintain situational awareness of weather, security threats, and operational constraints impacting the site and proactively communicate potential impacts to stakeholders and oncoming shifts.
Execute routine administrative duties including attendance at pre-shift briefings, completion of digital checklists, updating contact rosters, and maintaining readiness of emergency response equipment and supplies in the control room.
Support scheduled start-ups, shutdowns and turnaround activities by coordinating field supervision, logging permit status, and ensuring critical safety checks are completed before operations continue.
Provide real-time operational guidance to field technicians during troubleshooting activities by relaying instrument readings, procedural steps, and safety clearances in accordance with SOPs.
Operate and maintain CCTV video management systems, perform archived video retrieval for incident reviews and investigations, and provide recorded evidence to internal investigators or law enforcement as required.
Maintain confidentiality and chain-of-custody for incident reports, security footage, and access logs in accordance with company policies and legal/regulatory obligations.
Participate in regular drills, tabletop exercises and competency assessments for emergency response, ensuring proficiency in alarm response, evacuation procedures and communication protocols.
Enforce and monitor contractor and visitor safety orientation compliance and ensure contractors adhere to site-specific safety plans, PPE requirements and restricted area protocols.
Identify opportunities to improve control-room ergonomics, procedures, and documentation; contribute to continuous improvement projects and play an active role in reliability and safety reviews.

Secondary Functions

Support root cause investigations by providing archived logs, alarm histories, and operator notes and by working closely with engineering and HSE teams to implement corrective actions.
Assist with configuration management tasks such as updating operator display screens, alarm rationalization documentation, and control-room SOP revisions under the direction of supervisors or systems engineers.
Help develop and deliver on-the-job training and competency certification materials for new Watch Operators and contractors to ensure consistent operational standards.
Perform basic first-line troubleshooting of communication devices, CCTV cameras, and operator consoles and escalate complex technical faults to IT or control systems support teams.
Participate in monthly performance reviews of alarm loads, shift handover quality and incident metrics and help implement action plans to improve key performance indicators.
Maintain and verify inventory of spare parts and consumables required in the control room, such as batteries, emergency lighting, and communication gear, and request procurement as needed.
Provide support during planned maintenance windows by tracking isolation tags, confirming equipment status and ensuring re-commissioning steps are followed before equipment is returned to service.
Actively contribute to safety committees, operational readiness assessments, and risk assessment workshops to represent control-room perspectives and improve site-wide safety outcomes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in monitoring and operating SCADA, DCS or PLC-based control systems with strong understanding of alarm management and HMI navigation.
Experience with CCTV/video management systems (archival retrieval, camera control, exporting evidence) and integration with access control platforms.
Familiarity with radio communications protocols, two-way radio operation, and clear radio communication etiquette for incident coordination.
Knowledge of permit-to-work systems, lockout/tagout procedures, confined space entry controls and isolation verification processes.
Ability to interpret basic P&IDs, site drawings, instrumentation trends and process variable displays to assist troubleshooting.
Competence in using incident management, shift logging and maintenance management systems (CMMS) to create, update and close work orders and incident records.
Understanding of emergency response frameworks and basic incident command structure (ICS/NIMS concepts) relevant to industrial sites.
Basic IT skills: Windows OS, Microsoft Office suite (Excel for logs/reports), email, and secure remote access tools.
Familiarity with HSE legislation and regulatory reporting requirements applicable to the industry (environmental release, security breach reporting).
Practical knowledge of control-room hardware: UPS, network switches, alarm annunciators and backup communication systems.

Soft Skills

Exceptional situational awareness with the ability to detect subtle deviations across multiple information sources and prioritize actions under pressure.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for clear incident reporting, shift handovers and stakeholder coordination.
Calm, decisive decision-making during emergencies, with a bias toward safety and compliance with established procedures.
High attention to detail and thoroughness in logkeeping, permit verification, and procedure adherence.
Ability to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends and extended on-call periods while maintaining professional performance and focus.
Team-orientation and collaboration skills, working effectively with operations, maintenance, security, contractors and emergency services.
Adaptability and capacity to learn new control systems, procedures and technologies quickly.
Integrity and discretion when handling sensitive security information, video footage and incident reports.
Time management and multitasking capability to track simultaneous events without losing priority control.
Continuous improvement mindset with openness to provide feedback on process, alarm design and operator tools.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma / GED (required)

Preferred Education:

Associate degree, technical certificate, or diploma in Electrical, Instrumentation, Process Technology, Marine Engineering, Security Management, or a related technical field

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical / Electronic Technology
Instrumentation and Control Technology
Process Technology or Mechanical/Industrial Trades
Marine Engineering or Nautical Science (for maritime watch roles)
Security Management / Emergency Response

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of relevant experience in a control room, plant operations, security control center, maritime bridge watch, or critical infrastructure monitoring environment.

Preferred: 3+ years as a Watch Operator, Control Room Operator, Maritime Watchstander, or Security Control Room Technician with demonstrable experience in SCADA/DCS monitoring, alarm response, incident escalation and emergency coordination.