The Department of Defence is inviting applications for a Senior Security Officer position within the Directorate: Vetting, Screening and Special Investigations.
The position is based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and carries a salary of R237,453 per annum at Level 05. The advert does not state a specific employment type.
The successful candidate will supervise security operations, oversee security officers, manage access control and control room activities, and help protect departmental people, assets, information and premises.
The opportunity is aimed at candidates with Grade 12, a Grade B PSIRA certificate and at least three years of security experience. A valid driver’s licence is also required.
Applications close on 18 September 2026 at 16:00. Applications received after the deadline and faxed applications will not be considered.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date.
What is the Senior Security Officer opportunity?
The Senior Security Officer position is a supervisory security role within the Directorate: Vetting, Screening and Special Investigations. The employee will be responsible for ensuring that security operations are carried out according to departmental policies, procedures and applicable legislation.
The role exists to provide effective protection of departmental buildings, equipment, documents, assets and people. This includes supervising security personnel, controlling access to premises, monitoring security systems and responding to incidents or emergencies.
The successful candidate will also have an administrative and management function. This includes preparing duty rosters, monitoring employee performance, managing leave and overtime records, identifying training needs and ensuring that prescribed security registers and documentation are properly maintained.
Why could this opportunity be valuable?
This position can provide practical experience in security supervision, access control, incident management, security administration and control room operations.
The successful employee can strengthen skills in supervising staff, preparing shift schedules, conducting security inspections, managing security equipment and handling preliminary incident investigations.
Experience of this nature can be useful across government departments, corporate security environments, facilities management, private security services and organisations that require access control, asset protection and security operations.
Employers value security professionals who can combine frontline security knowledge with leadership, documentation, risk identification, incident reporting and compliance with security procedures.
Quick Overview
Item Details Opportunity Senior Security Officer Company Department of Defence Location Gauteng: Pretoria Closing Date 18 September 2026 at 16:00 Salary/Stipend R237 453 per annum (Level 05) Employment Type Not specified in the advert Industry Government / Defence Target Group Coloured males, African females and persons with disability Application Method Hand delivery or email
What will successful candidates do?
The successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day work of security officers and ensure that security activities meet departmental requirements. This includes allocating duties, monitoring performance and taking corrective action where security standards are not being met.
A major part of the role involves controlling access to departmental premises and ensuring that equipment, documents, assets and other items entering or leaving buildings have the necessary authorisation. The employee will also inspect security systems and report equipment that is damaged, faulty or not functioning correctly.
The position also combines security operations with personnel administration and control room supervision. The Senior Security Officer will monitor incidents, maintain prescribed records, review security camera footage when properly authorised and support responses to emergencies and security breaches.
Main responsibilities include:
• Supervise security officers and monitor their compliance with departmental security policies and procedures.
• Allocate duties and address deviations from required security standards.
• Prepare and manage duty rosters, shift schedules and overtime arrangements.
• Control access to departmental buildings and premises to prevent unauthorised entry.
• Ensure the movement of equipment, documents, stores and assets is properly authorised.
• Inspect security measures such as X-ray machines, metal detectors and security lighting.
• Report damaged, faulty or non-functional security equipment and systems.
• Manage staff-related administration, including leave, overtime, work plans and performance assessments.
• Monitor employee performance and identify training and development needs.
• Ensure incidents are accurately recorded in occurrence books, incident registers and other prescribed records.
• Review security camera footage when an authorised request has been received.
• Identify, respond to and report security breaches, incidents and irregularities.
• Provide support during emergencies.
• Conduct security inspections and ensure access points and designated areas are properly secured after hours.
• Administer the departmental key control system.
• Identify security risks and threats affecting the department.
• Provide relevant incident information to investigating officers.
• Conduct preliminary investigations into incidents and prepare reports.
• Oversee control room operations and supervise control room personnel.
• Ensure control room staff follow approved procedures and security prescripts.
• Monitor and report security non-compliance.
• Ensure security systems receive scheduled servicing and remain operational.
• Maintain and update registers relating to observed incidents and security activities.
Who should apply?
The ideal candidate is an experienced security professional who has progressed beyond basic security duties and is capable of supervising personnel and coordinating security operations.
Applicants should have at least three years of security experience, together with the required Grade B PSIRA certification. The role also requires an understanding of access control, security incident reporting, equipment movement controls, emergency procedures and relevant security legislation.
Candidates must also be prepared to work extended shifts and irregular hours and must hold a valid driver’s licence.
Requirements
Applicants must meet all the requirements specified in the advertisement:
• Grade 12 certificate.
• Grade B Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) Certificate.
• Minimum of three years’ security experience.
• Knowledge of access control procedures.
• Knowledge of measures for controlling the movement of equipment.
• Knowledge of security incident reporting and recording procedures.
• Knowledge of the powers, duties and responsibilities of security officers under applicable legislation, policies, standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of prescribed security legislation, including the Minimum Information Security Standard (MISS), Criminal Procedure Act, Minimum Physical Security Standard (MPSS), Protection of Information Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Knowledge of the authority of security officers under applicable security legislation and standards.
• Knowledge of relevant emergency procedures.
• Willingness to work 12-hour shifts.
• Willingness to travel.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including after-hours, weekends and public holidays.
• Valid driver’s licence.
Salary or Stipend
The Senior Security Officer position offers a salary of R237,453 per annum, at Level 05.
The advertisement does not provide details of additional employee benefits or a separate benefits package.
Important Working Conditions
The successful candidate must be willing to work 12-hour shifts and irregular working hours. This may include after-hours, weekends and public holidays.
The position is based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and the advert also requires candidates to be willing to travel.
A valid driver’s licence is required.
Insider Tip
Insider Tip: Candidates should tailor their CV to clearly demonstrate their security supervisory experience, particularly in access control, incident reporting, control room operations, staff supervision, security inspections and the management of security equipment. If you have experience working with security legislation or maintaining prescribed registers and reports, make those responsibilities easy for the recruiter to identify.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted using either of the methods specified in the advertisement:
Hand delivery:
20 Steve Biko Street, Agriculture Place, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002
Email:
SSOrecruit83@nda.gov.za
The closing date is 18 September 2026 at 16:00.
Applicants should ensure that their application information is complete and submitted before the deadline. The advertisement specifically states that applications received after the closing date and faxed copies will not be considered.
For enquiries, applicants can contact Mr Thabo Maila on (012) 312 8627.
The employment equity targets stated in the advert are Coloured males, African females and persons with disability.
Final Thoughts
This opportunity is suited to experienced security professionals who meet the Grade 12, Grade B PSIRA and three-year experience requirements and are ready to take on supervisory responsibilities.
The role offers exposure to security management, personnel supervision, access control, incident investigations, control room operations and security compliance within a government environment.
With applications closing on 18 September 2026 at 16:00, eligible candidates should allow enough time to submit their applications through the specified channels.
Applicants who meet the requirements should submit their application before the closing date.