Deputy Lead – Security-Thika

Role Overview

Reporting to the Head of Security, this role keeps the site's protective posture intact across every shift — deciding where officers are posted, closing gaps at entry and exit points, and making sure surveillance and alarm systems are actively monitored rather than passively installed. It is a working supervisory position, not a desk role: expect time on the floor conducting patrols, auditing posts and checking that briefings have actually translated into practice. The person in this seat is also the designated second-in-command, stepping into the Head of Security's decision-making authority during absences so the operation never loses a clear chain of command.

In a manufacturing setting, losses rarely arrive as a single dramatic event. They accumulate through small, repeatable lapses — an unrecorded dispatch, a contractor waved through without a search, an incident written off as not worth logging. This role exists to interrupt that pattern before it becomes expensive.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct daily guard force activity across the site and take over the Head of Security's duties when they are unavailable, including decisions on escalation and deployment.
• Build and maintain duty rosters that match coverage to risk, handling shift rotations, last-minute absences, replacements and redeployment between security points without leaving posts uncovered.
• Walk the perimeter and interior on a regular schedule, inspecting posts for officer alertness, turnout, discipline and adherence to standing procedures, and logging what you find.
• Control and verify movement of people and goods — employees, visitors, contractors, vehicles, raw material offloading, waste removal, receipt and dispatch — through the designated factory gates.
• Watch CCTV, access control and alarm outputs during the shift, follow up on anomalies immediately, and flag vulnerabilities with recommended fixes rather than simply reporting them.
• Take charge at the scene of incidents, emergencies and operational disruptions; preserve evidence, gather statements and intelligence, and manage escalation to the right level of management.
• Run preliminary investigations into theft, property damage, irregularities and unauthorised activity, then produce factual, confidential reports for management review.
• Keep the Occurrence Book, deployment registers, rosters, incident files and equipment records accurate and current, and compile periodic security updates for the Head of Security and senior management.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years in security operations, with at least 5 of those spent supervising or leading a team — preferably inside manufacturing or FMCG environments where gate control, raw material movement and dispatch security are daily realities.
• Documented professional security training is mandatory; a degree in Security Management, Criminology or a closely related discipline is a distinct advantage.
• Background in corporate security, law enforcement or the military is well regarded.
• Hands-on familiarity with CCTV platforms, access control hardware and alarm systems — enough to monitor them critically and spot when they are failing.
• Demonstrated competence in manpower planning and rostering, investigative technique, incident management, emergency response and security risk assessment.
• Proven ability to write clear incident and investigation reports and to maintain operational records that stand up to management scrutiny.
• Comfortable working in Microsoft Word and Excel for rosters, registers and reporting.
• Judgement that holds under pressure — the ability to stay composed at an incident scene, make a defensible call quickly, and accept responsibility for it.
• Uncompromising integrity and discretion; this role handles confidential investigations and sensitive information about employees and contractors.
• Willingness to work shifts, weekends and public holidays when operational demands require it.

What Success Looks Like

• Every assigned security point is staffed and alert, with deployment matching the site's actual risk profile.
• Access control and perimeter protection hold firm — people, assets and premises are safeguarded and breaches are rare and quickly contained.
• Incidents are responded to, investigated, documented and escalated within the expected timeframe, with records that withstand review.
• Recurring risks are identified and mitigated before they repeat, and reporting to management is accurate, timely and useful for decision-making.
• The security team operates with visible discipline and accountability, and leadership continuity is seamless whenever you deputise for the Head of Security.