Security Manager

Challenger Services Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Senior on-site leadership role

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Challenger Security is seeking an experienced Security Manager to lead on-site operations at a high-security data centre in Sydney. The role requires hands-on leadership, rostering, incident management, and a strong focus on compliance and service continuity.

You will build and mentor a high-performing team, manage client relationships, and continuously improve security processes while ensuring regulatory and DISP obligations are met.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in the security industry with 5+ years in a security management or senior supervisory role at a data centre.
• Current NV1 security clearance and NSW Class 1A security licence.
• Experience leading rostering and developing a team in a 24/7 operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day security operations on site, ensuring contractual compliance and client satisfaction.
• Manage rosters, leave, and labour hours to meet service levels within budget.
• Recruit, induct, train, and develop security officers and supervisors.
• Maintain relationships with client stakeholders and provide regular KPI reporting.
• Oversee access control, patrols, incident management, and investigations.
• Ensure licences, inductions, and clearances are current and DISP and vetting obligations are met.
• Lead incident response and contribute to risk assessments and business continuity planning.
• Maintain site records, incident reports, and audit evidence.
• Collaborate with Operations, People & Culture and Compliance on site changes.

Skills

Security leadership

Rostering & workforce management

Stakeholder communication

Incident management

Access control & physical security

Job description

About Challenger Security

Challenger Security is an established Australian security services provider, delivering tailored security solutions across complex and demanding operational environments.

Built on strong client partnerships, operational excellence, and the capability of our people, we continue to expand our presence across the data centre and critical infrastructure sectors.

To support a key data centre contract in Sydney, we are seeking an experienced Security Manager to lead day-to-day security operations, build a high-performing team and be the trusted face of Challenger on site.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who takes pride in running a tight, compliant, and reliable operation.

About the Role

Based on site in Sydney, you will be responsible for the operational and contractual performance of security services at a single, high-security data centre.

You will lead your team in an environment where operational reliability, regulatory compliance and service continuity are paramount, and where the client expects no surprises.

You will run the site to the contract every day, from rostering, supervision, and training through to incident management and reporting, while continually looking for better ways to deliver the service.

Working closely with the client's site and facilities leadership and Challenger's operations team, you will make sure the client always knows how the site is performing, what risks are emerging and what is being done about them.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day security operations on site, ensuring contractual compliance, service excellence, and client satisfaction.
• Manage rosters, shift coverage, leave and labour hours to meet contracted service levels within the agreed site budget.
• Recruit, induct, train, and develop security officers and supervisors, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with client site stakeholders, including regular performance meetings, KPI reporting and proactive communication of issues and risks.
• Oversee access control, visitor and contractor management, patrols, alarm response, and incident management in line with client security protocols.
• Ensure all officers hold current licences, site inductions, and required clearances, and that the site meets security legislation, client protocols and applicable DISP and personnel vetting obligations.
• Lead incident response and investigations, and contribute to site security risk assessments, business continuity, and emergency response planning.
• Maintain accurate site records, incident reports and audit evidence, and support client and internal audits.
• Work with Challenger's Operations, People & Culture and Compliance teams to deliver operational improvements and support any changes in scope on site.

About You

We are seeking an experienced security manager with strong data centre or critical infrastructure experience, who leads from the front and knows what good looks like on a high-security site.

You will be comfortable operating in a highly regulated environment, managing competing priorities and delivering outcomes where security, reliability and attention to detail are non-negotiable.

Essential requirements:

• Minimum 10 years' experience in the security industry, with at least 5 years in a security management or senior supervisory role at a data centre facility.
• Current NV1 security clearance, with the ability to maintain the clearance as required.
• Current NSW Class 1A security licence.
• Working knowledge of the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP), personnel security vetting, and associated compliance obligations.
• Demonstrated experience leading, rostering, and developing a team of security officers in a 24/7 operation.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships on site and report confidently on contract performance.

We will also be looking for

• Understanding of labour management and site budgets, including overtime control and roster efficiency.
• Understanding of physical security systems, access control, incident management, and operational risk.
• Experience using workforce rostering, patrol tracking, and incident reporting systems.
• Experience supporting a site transition or mobilisation will be highly regarded.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision‑making skills.
• A calm, decisive approach under pressure, with the ability to manage incidents and escalations effectively.

Above all, you will bring the leadership, judgement, and operational discipline to run a complex, high-security site to a consistently high standard, every shift.

What's on Offer

• Competitive market-based compensation package
• A senior on-site leadership role within a growing Australian security organisation.
• The opportunity to build deep expertise in the expanding data centre and critical infrastructure sector.
• Career development opportunities as our data centre portfolio continues to grow.
• The autonomy to run your site, build your team and strengthen a key client relationship.
• A collaborative leadership environment that values expertise, initiative, and delivering results.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are an experienced security leader with data centre or critical infrastructure experience, and you take pride in running a reliable, compliant, and well‑led site, we would welcome your application.

Challenger Security is committed to an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.