Duty Security Manager - Olympia

£27.47 per hour (£60,000 annual equivalent) plus overtime
Permanent | 4-on-4-off | 12-hour day and night shifts | Kensington West London

The Role

Carlisle Support Services is recruiting an exceptional Duty Security Manager to lead security operations at Olympia, one of London’s most iconic and complex destinations.

Home to major exhibitions, conferences, hotels, offices, entertainment venues, hospitality spaces and a busy transport interchange, Olympia welcomes millions of visitors each year. Its security operation runs around the clock across a fast-moving estate where events, tenants, contractors and the public come together.

As the most senior security authority on the estate during your shift, you will take full responsibility for people, performance, compliance and safety. This is a hands-on shift-command role for an experienced operational leader who can set exacting standards, make confident decisions under pressure and maintain oversight of the entire estate.

You will lead from the front, command significant security and life-safety incidents, direct the Security Control Room and ensure every member of the team is properly briefed, deployed, supported and accountable.

We’re looking for people who are

• Decisive and composed, with the confidence to take command during complex or fast-moving incidents.
• Visible, approachable and committed to leading from the front.
• Experienced in managing security teams within complex estates, major venues, events, hospitality or comparable environments.
• Able to maintain consistently high operational and professional standards.
• Skilled at developing officers and supervisors through clear feedback, coaching and structured development.
• Confident engaging with clients, tenants, event partners, contractors and emergency services.
• Strong written and verbal communicators who can produce accurate, evidence-led reports.
• Commercially aware and conscious of the safety, financial and reputational impact of their decisions.
• Dependable and flexible, with the ability to work a full-time 4-on-4-off rotating shift pattern covering days, nights and weekends.
• Holders of a current SIA Door Supervisor licence.

This is not simply a supervisory position. We are looking for a proven security leader who can take ownership of an entire shift and deliver a safe, compliant and professional operation in all circumstances.

Your core responsibilities will include

Daily Security Operations and Leadership

• Plan and deliver structured, risk-led briefings before officers take their posts.
• Deploy the team according to events, visitor numbers, maintenance activity, contractor movements and current intelligence.
• Maintain a strong operational presence across the estate and address performance concerns promptly.
• Manage welfare matters, absences and return-to-work conversations in line with company policy.
• Produce comprehensive written and verbal handovers for the incoming Duty Security Manager.
• Act as the primary operational contact during your shift, escalating matters at the appropriate level.
• Ensure officers hold valid licences and verified competencies for their assigned duties.
• Develop officers and supervisors through regular feedback, competency checks, one-to-ones and acting-up opportunities.

Emergency Response and Incident Management

• Assume the Silver Commander role during significant security or life-safety incidents.
• Maintain estate-wide situational awareness while directing field teams and the Security Control Room.
• Command fire evacuations, coordinate the operational response and meet the London Fire Brigade at the Fire Command Centre.
• Deliver structured METHANE or IIMARCH briefings and support an effective transfer of command to the emergency services.
• Lead post-incident debriefs and produce clear investigation reports, root-cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Ensure CCTV footage, incident records and witness statements are promptly preserved for potential criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings.

Crowd Management

• Plan security deployments for major exhibitions and other crowd-management operations.
• Assess staffing requirements against attendance, risk and venue layout.
• Monitor crowd density, movement and behaviour using CCTV and radio intelligence.
• Adjust deployments, queues, barriers and officer positions before issues develop.
• Direct proportionate conflict de-escalation and determine when police involvement is required.

Security Technology and Compliance

• Use the Security Control Room as an effective command resource, directing CCTV coverage, radio communications and incident logging.
• Read and interpret fire alarm panels and understand operational cause-and-effect arrangements.
• Ensure scheduled life-safety and compliance tests are completed, recorded and escalated correctly.
• Manage operational activity and records through the Zinc platform, including task completion and daily occurrence reporting.
• Control permits to work and ensure contractor access and supervision are managed appropriately.
• Maintain accurate reports and operational records capable of withstanding legal or disciplinary scrutiny.
• Ensure compliance with SIA requirements, CCTV-related data protection obligations and the legal framework governing the use of force.

Customer Service and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Carlisle Support Services and Olympia to the highest professional standard.
• Build trusted relationships with Olympia Estate Services, tenants, event partners, contractors and emergency services.
• Resolve visitor and tenant concerns wherever they fall within your authority.
• Coordinate closely with facilities management where maintenance, contractor activity or building services affect security operations.
• Deliver a reassuring, professional presence for everyone who works at or visits the estate.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A current SIA Door Supervisor licence, maintained throughout employment.
• Demonstrable operational security-management experience within a complex estate, major venue, events, hospitality, multi-site or comparable environment.
• Proven experience commanding security and life-safety incidents, including fire evacuation, at Silver Commander or an equivalent level.
• Experience managing and developing security officers and supervisors across shift patterns.
• Operational knowledge of fire alarm panels, life-safety systems and emergency procedures.
• Experience of CCTV, access-control and security-control-room operations.
• Strong radio communication and incident-command skills.
• The ability to produce professional incident reports, investigation summaries and shift records without editorial support.
• A sound understanding of SIA licensing, data protection in security operations and the legal context surrounding the use of force.
• The ability to obtain an Enhanced DBS check and satisfy the required pre-employment screening.

Desirable

• IOSH Managing Safely or an equivalent health and safety qualification.
• First Aid at Work or FPOS qualification.
• Behaviour Detection awareness training.
• An ILM or CMI leadership and management qualification at Level 3 or above.
• A Level 3 or Level 4 spectator-safety or crowd-management qualification.
• Experience within a premium estate, high-profile venue, destination retail or hospitality-led environment.
• Experience working with the London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police or British Transport Police.
• JESIP awareness or equivalent multi-agency command training.

The Benefits

• Excellent pay: £27.47 per hour, equivalent to approximately £60,000 per year, plus overtime.
• A permanent position at one of London’s most prestigious and operationally varied destinations.
• A structured 4-on-4-off shift pattern covering 0700-1900 and 1900-0700.
• Full induction, ongoing training and a structured professional-development programme.
• A clearly defined career pathway from Duty Security Manager to Operations Manager and Contract Manager.
• Access to coaching, acting-up opportunities and ILM or CMI development.
• Health and wellbeing plans, including a family-friendly maternity policy.
• Instant access to earned and authorised wages through flexible financial support.
• Shopping, dining, cinema and gym discounts and rewards.
• Quality uniform and equipment.
• Support with SIA licence renewal and fully funded SIA top-up training.
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Refer a Friend Scheme, long-service awards and colleague-recognition programmes.

Our selection process is structured and evidence based. Final shortlisted candidates should expect to attend an operational assessment centre, which could include role related scenarios, a presentation, plus a behavioural & competency-based interview. We are looking for demonstrated leadership, sound judgement and credible operational experience.

If you are ready to take command of a demanding, high-profile security operation and have the experience to set the standard on every shift, we would like to hear from you.

About Carlisle

Join a growing market-leading brand of support services to work with the UK’s largest brands such as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Jaguar Land Rover, Tesco, BBC StudioWorks, and many more.

Carlisle currently employees over 5,000 dedicated and enthusiastic staff members to deliver events, security cleaning, and retail facilities support services across the UK’s most renowned sites and critical infrastructure.

Apply today to find out more and embark on an exciting career journey filled with unrivalled recognition schemes and progression opportunities aimed at helping you achieve your true potential.

 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 

At Carlisle, we are committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in all areas of employment, recruitment and selection, training, development, and promotion. In all situations people will be judged solely on merit or ability.

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