Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Watch Worker

🎯 Role Definition

A Watch Worker (also referred to as Night Watch Worker, Security Watch, or Watchkeeper) is responsible for maintaining a safe, secure and orderly environment across assigned facilities and sites. This role combines active surveillance, access control, patrol duties, incident response, and detailed reporting to protect people, property and assets. The Watch Worker works closely with facilities teams, law enforcement, and emergency services to enforce site rules, manage risk, and ensure rapid, professional response to security incidents.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Security Officer / Night Guard
Facilities Attendant or Building Porter
Customer Service Representative with shift experience

Advancement To:

Senior Security Supervisor / Watch Supervisor
Facilities Security Manager
Loss Prevention Manager

Lateral Moves:

CCTV/Control Room Operator
Reception & Access Control Coordinator
Emergency Response Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct scheduled and random foot and vehicle patrols of premises, perimeter fencing, parking areas and sensitive zones to deter theft, vandalism, trespass and safety hazards; document findings and take immediate corrective action when required.
Monitor multiple CCTV channels, alarm systems and access control logs in real time, identify suspicious behavior or security breaches, and escalate incidents according to established protocols.
Control access to buildings and restricted areas by verifying credentials, processing visitor sign-ins, issuing temporary badges, and enforcing site-specific access policies to safeguard employees and assets.
Respond promptly to alarms, medical emergencies, fire incidents, environmental hazards, and security breaches; coordinate with on-site teams and emergency services and provide clear, calm incident leadership until relieved.
Investigate irregularities, disturbances and safety concerns; collect basic witness statements, preserve evidence, secure scenes and compile detailed incident reports for supervisors and law enforcement when necessary.
Maintain accurate, legible, and timely logbooks and digital incident records, including shift handover notes, patrol times, observed hazards, and actions taken to support audit trails and compliance requirements.
Enforce company policies and site regulations with diplomacy and firmness; de-escalate conflicts, manage confrontational situations and liaise with management and police as situations require.
Perform routine opening and closing procedures for facilities, secure doors and gates, verify building integrity, and ensure all alarm systems are set or disarmed according to schedule.
Conduct safety and security inspections of perimeter lighting, locks, fire exits, emergency equipment and first aid kits; report and follow up on maintenance requests to prevent recurrence of hazards.
Provide customer-facing support by assisting employees, contractors and visitors with directions, access procedures and safety briefings while maintaining professional security posture.
Operate two-way radios, mobile devices and on-site communication systems to coordinate responses, request backup and report status updates; adhere to communication protocols to ensure clarity and accountability.
Assist in loss prevention programs by conducting bag checks, point-of-sale monitoring, and collaborating with retail or warehouse managers to identify shrinkage trends and implement mitigation strategies.
Execute vehicle checks and traffic control duties during events, shift changes and emergency evacuations to maintain safe ingress and egress and reduce congestion-related risks.
Supervise temporary contractors and third-party vendors on site to ensure they follow site safety rules, have appropriate permits, and do not present security risks during maintenance or deliveries.
Participate in scheduled safety drills and tabletop exercises for fire, active threat, evacuation and medical emergencies; provide feedback to improve response plans and training content.
Maintain and inspect site security equipment including locks, barriers, flashlights, radios and portable alarms; report equipment faults and assist with inventory and procurement when required.
Support investigations by supplying accurate surveillance footage, photographic evidence and written summaries to internal security teams and law enforcement while preserving chain of custody.
Enforce parking policies and tow/immobilize unauthorized vehicles when required, coordinating with property management and contracted towing services following company policy.
Provide first responder care — basic first aid, CPR or AED use as trained — and document medical incidents, coordinating with emergency medical services and health & safety leadership.
Maintain situational awareness during all shifts, including handover briefings and risk assessments for scheduled high-risk events, adverse weather or planned high-profile visitors.
Prepare post-shift and weekly reports summarizing incidents, trends, equipment status and recommended improvements for site managers and corporate security leadership.
Uphold confidentiality and data protection standards when handling personal information, incident files and CCTV recordings; follow records retention policies and privacy regulations.

Secondary Functions

Train and mentor junior watch staff and temporary security personnel on patrol routines, report writing, conflict de-escalation and use of sheltering/locking procedures.
Support health and safety teams by flagging repetitive hazards, participating in root-cause reviews and recommending engineering or administrative controls.
Assist with access control systems administration, including user provisioning, temporary access revocation and simple troubleshooting of badge readers and locks.
Participate in audits and compliance checks related to security, OSHA/fire codes and company policies; implement corrective actions and track remediation.
Provide input to scheduling and shift coverage plans to optimize site security posture across peak hours and special events.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of site security SOPs, emergency response plans and training materials.
Liaise with local law enforcement, emergency services and neighboring facilities when incidents have community or cross-property impact.
Support retail or operational teams during opening/closing, cash drops, inventory counts or stock reconciliations as directed by loss prevention leadership.
Assist with basic custody and storage procedures for seized items, evidence and lost property, ensuring proper tags, secure storage and documentation.
Participate in cross-functional projects such as safety culture programs, environmental incident prevention and business continuity planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

CCTV monitoring and digital video recorder (DVR/NVR) operation and basic footage retrieval.
Access control administration: badge systems, visitor log management and key control procedures.
Alarm system monitoring, alarm response protocols and basic troubleshooting of sensors and panels.
Incident reporting and logbook maintenance with clear, concise written communication for legal and audit purposes.
Basic first aid, CPR and AED operation (certified) and documentation of medical incidents.
Knowledge of fire safety systems, evacuation procedures and use of fire extinguishers.
Use of two-way radio communications, dispatch protocols and emergency notification systems.
Understanding of local laws related to trespass, detention, search and seizure and citizen’s arrest where applicable.
Familiarity with loss prevention tactics, shrinkage reduction techniques and retail/warehouse security practices.
Proficiency with security-related software (incident management systems, access control platforms, shift handover tools).
Basic physical security maintenance skills: lock checks, barrier inspections and simple equipment fault reporting.
Evidence handling and chain-of-custody awareness for CCTV and seized items.

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and observational skills with the ability to identify subtle risks and anomalies.
Excellent verbal communication and customer service when interacting with employees, visitors and emergency responders.
Conflict de-escalation and negotiation skills to manage disputes safely and professionally.
High level of integrity, discretion and the ability to handle confidential information responsibly.
Calm under pressure and decisive in emergency situations, with the capacity to prioritize actions rapidly.
Team player mindset and collaboration across facilities, operations and external agencies.
Reliable time management and punctuality for shift-based coverage and strict opening/closing routines.
Problem-solving orientation and the ability to provide actionable recommendations to reduce repeat incidents.
Adaptability to changing environments, variable shift patterns (overnight/weekends) and event-driven demands.
Attention to detail in documentation, checks and incident follow-up to ensure compliance and traceability.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GED).

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or vocational certification in criminal justice, security management, facilities management, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Criminal Justice
Security & Loss Prevention
Emergency Management
Facilities Management
Occupational Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of security, facilities, or related frontline experience; previous night shift or patrol experience preferred.

Preferred:

Prior experience in a security/watch role with documented incident reporting, CCTV operation and access control duties.
Certifications such as CPR/First Aid, SIA (or local security license), OSHA 10, or similar regulatory training.
Experience working in retail, industrial, healthcare, education, or multi-tenant commercial properties where security coordination is required.