Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Facilities Security Officer and Facilities Manager

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

The Facilities Security Officer and Facilities Manager is a dual-role position responsible for protecting people, property and classified or sensitive information while ensuring efficient, safe, and compliant building operations. This hybrid role combines the regulatory, programmatic and operational responsibilities of an FSO — access control, insider threat mitigation, compliance with DoD/NRC/industry security directives — with the full spectrum of facilities management duties: maintenance, vendor and contractor oversight, life-safety systems, budget and capital project delivery. The successful candidate operates at the intersection of physical security, regulatory compliance and facilities operations to minimize risk, maintain mission readiness and ensure a secure, resilient facility environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Facilities Coordinator / Facilities Specialist
  • Physical Security Technician / Security Specialist
  • Building Operations Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Facilities Manager
  • Corporate Security Manager / Facility Security Program Manager
  • Director of Facilities or Director of Security & Facilities
  • VP of Operations / Head of Global Facilities & Security

Lateral Moves:

  • Security Program Manager
  • Emergency Management / Continuity of Operations (COOP) Manager
  • Real Estate & Lease Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Serve as the Facility Security Officer (FSO): develop, maintain and enforce the facility security plan, policies and procedures to comply with applicable government and contractual requirements (e.g., NISPOM, ICD 705, DFARS, ITAR), ensuring protection of classified and controlled unclassified information (CUI).
  • Maintain and administer personnel security processes, including initiation and tracking of security clearances, sponsorship requirements, periodic reinvestigations, and ensuring compliance with government reporting timelines.
  • Manage visitor and access control programs: implement badge issuance, escorts, visitor logs, temporary access measures, and day-to-day access provisioning to ensure only authorized personnel have facility ingress.
  • Conduct and document regular physical security surveys, vulnerability assessments and risk analyses; propose and implement mitigation plans for perimeter, entry control, storage, and sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIF) where applicable.
  • Oversee installation, configuration and maintenance of physical security systems (access control systems, card readers, biometric readers, CCTV, intrusion detection, alarms) and coordinate with IT for integrations and cybersecurity considerations.
  • Develop, maintain and deliver security and facility operations training programs, briefings and insider threat awareness for employees, contractors and visitors; document training completion and compliance.
  • Maintain a classified material accountability and controlled storage program: inventories, two-person integrity (TPI) procedures, combination control, and secure destruction or transfer processes in accordance with regulatory guidance.
  • Respond to, investigate and document security incidents, breaches, policy violations and near-misses; coordinate corrective actions, disciplinary recommendations and lessons-learned reporting to leadership and contracting authorities.
  • Oversee emergency preparedness, business continuity and crisis management programs for the facility: maintain emergency plans, coordinate drills (fire, active shooter, evacuation), liaise with local emergency services, and ensure emergency equipment readiness.
  • Manage building engineering and operations: HVAC, electrical distribution, plumbing, building automation systems (BMS), life-safety systems, access and egress systems to ensure reliable, efficient facility performance.
  • Lead preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance programs using CMMS tools to schedule and document routine inspections, repairs and service-level agreements for critical building systems.
  • Coordinate and manage third-party vendors and service contracts (HVAC, janitorial, pest control, security system integrators, locksmiths), including procurement, scope-of-work, performance monitoring, invoice validation and contract compliance.
  • Develop and manage annual facilities and security budgets: forecasting, capital project budgeting, cost control and reporting; recommend cost-saving measures that preserve service levels and security posture.
  • Plan and execute facility improvement and capital projects from concept through closeout: space planning, design review, permitting, code compliance, vendor selection, project scheduling and stakeholder coordination.
  • Ensure life-safety and fire protection system compliance: maintain fire suppression, detectors, emergency lighting and exit signage; work with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) for inspections and remediation of code deficiencies.
  • Maintain environmental, health and safety (EHS) compliance: OSHA, local building codes, hazardous materials handling and storage, indoor air quality and sustainability initiatives; coordinate corrective actions and reporting.
  • Manage space utilization and workplace moves: develop space plans, office reconfigurations, furniture installations and move coordination with minimal disruption to operations and security.
  • Oversee key and lock control programs including secure storage, issuance logs, restricted access to master keys, and documentation of lost key incidents and re-key activities.
  • Administer facility-level information protection and media control programs: removable media policies, clean-desk enforcement, and secure disposal/shredding of sensitive documents.
  • Coordinate access and security requirements for contractor personnel, sub-contractors and third-party visitors: vetting, briefings, supervision requirements and daily oversight while on site.
  • Maintain and produce required security documentation, metrics, compliance artifacts and after-action reports for government audits, contract deliverables and executive leadership briefings.
  • Liaise with corporate security, HR, IT, legal and operations teams to align facilities security controls with broader enterprise risk management strategies and incident response procedures.

Secondary Functions

  • Support facilities-related procurement: requisition development, vendor evaluations and purchase order tracking for operational and security-related equipment.
  • Participate in cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives to reduce operational costs, increase security effectiveness and improve occupant comfort and safety.
  • Assist with sustainability and energy-efficiency projects, including tracking utility metrics and implementing energy-saving retrofits.
  • Provide backup coordination for reception or building operations during staff absences and high-traffic events.
  • Maintain spare-parts inventory and tools for critical systems and coordinate emergency repairs after-hours as required.
  • Prepare and deliver regular status reports, dashboards and KPIs (work order completion rates, system uptime, security incidents) to leadership and stakeholders.
  • Support ad-hoc audits and external inspections; assemble evidence packages and coordinate corrective action plans with accountable leads.
  • Participate in vendor onboarding, safety orientation and contractor safety/schedule coordination for site projects.
  • Maintain continuity of operations plans and support test events that validate recovery procedures and recovery time objectives.
  • Serve as liaison to landlord/real estate representatives for leased spaces, coordinate landlord-provided services and negotiate resolution of facility-related performance issues.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Facility Security Program Management: experience implementing and administering FSO-level programs, security plans, classification controls and government contract security requirements (e.g., NISPOM, ICD 705, DFARS, ITAR).
  • Physical Security Systems: hands-on experience with access control systems, badge management, biometric readers, CCTV design and maintenance, intrusion detection and alarm monitoring.
  • Security Clearance Processes: knowledge of personnel security lifecycle, e-QIP or equivalent, security adjudication processes and reinvestigation timelines.
  • Risk Assessment & Vulnerability Analysis: capability to perform site surveys, threat modeling, corrective action planning and risk mitigation prioritization.
  • Building Systems & MEP Knowledge: practical understanding of HVAC, electrical systems, plumbing, fire suppression, building automation systems (BAS/BMS) and associated maintenance practices.
  • CMMS & Work Order Management: proficiency with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (e.g., Maximo, FM:Systems, Hippo, ServiceNow) to track work orders and maintenance schedules.
  • Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge: familiarity with OSHA, NFPA, local building codes, environmental health & safety and AHJ interaction.
  • Emergency Planning & Business Continuity: experience developing and exercising emergency response plans, evacuation procedures, tabletop exercises and continuity plans.
  • Contract & Vendor Management: ability to develop SOWs, manage vendor performance, procure services and control vendor liability and insurance requirements.
  • Budgeting & Financial Management: experience preparing operating and capital budgets, cost forecasting and vendor invoice reconciliation.
  • Project Management: ability to lead small-to-medium construction/retrofit projects, including permitting, procurement, scheduling and closeout documentation.
  • IT & Physical Security Integration: working knowledge of how physical security tools interface with IT systems, networked cameras, cybersecurity considerations and secure system hardening.

Soft Skills

  • Clear, concise communication (written and verbal) for training, incident reporting and stakeholder briefings.
  • Leadership and people management: ability to lead cross-functional teams, supervise technicians and drive contractor performance.
  • Strong attention to detail and documentation discipline for audit-readiness and compliance artifacts.
  • Problem solving and decisiveness under pressure during security incidents or facility failures.
  • Customer-service orientation with the ability to balance operational needs and security requirements.
  • Time management and prioritization across multiple concurrent operational and compliance tasks.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution when working with vendors, landlords and internal stakeholders.
  • Critical thinking and continuous improvement mindset to optimize processes and reduce risk.
  • Confidentiality and professionalism when handling classified or sensitive information.
  • Adaptability to changing regulatory or operational priorities in a mission-driven environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate's degree in Facilities Management, Security Management, Engineering Technology, Business Administration or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Security Management, Engineering, Homeland Security, Emergency Management or Business Administration.
  • Certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Physical Security Professional (PSP), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Facility Management Professional (FMP), or Security+ are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Facilities/Facility Management
  • Security Studies / Homeland Security
  • Mechanical, Electrical or Civil Engineering
  • Business Administration / Operations Management
  • Emergency Management / Occupational Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of combined facilities operations and physical security experience.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years with at least 2–3 years in an FSO or equivalent security program management role supporting government contracts or classified environments.
  • Demonstrated experience managing vendors, supervising technical staff, leading capital projects and maintaining regulatory compliance.
  • Prior experience working in DoD, DOE, DOD contractor, critical infrastructure, aerospace, defense, or similar regulated industries preferred.
  • Active security clearance is highly advantageous; prior experience sponsoring clearances or interacting with DSS/DoD notifiers is a plus.

This document is tailored for recruiters and hiring managers seeking a combined Facilities Security Officer and Facilities Manager — optimized for search and AI parsing with detailed responsibilities, skill sets and career pathways commonly found in real-world job postings.

Explore More Careers