Job Profile: Security Officer / Transport

Job Overview

The Security Officer / Transport professional is the physical embodiment of an organization's risk management strategy. In an industry where the product is a high-value, federally restricted substance, this role is the critical control point for preventing diversion, theft, and unauthorized access. This position is responsible for executing the detailed security protocols that safeguard multi-million dollar inventories and sensitive operational areas. The role operates within a complex matrix of state-mandated regulations that dictate every aspect of physical security, from CCTV camera angles to the specific procedures for transporting product between licensed facilities. The officer's performance directly ensures business continuity, protects the company's license to operate, and maintains a safe environment for all employees. It is a position requiring constant vigilance, procedural discipline, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.

A Day in the Life

The day begins with a formal shift change briefing. The officer receives a detailed pass-down from the outgoing shift, reviewing the activity log for any notable events, maintenance issues with security hardware, or scheduled high-risk activities like cash pickups or large product transfers. The first operational task is a comprehensive interior and exterior patrol of the facility. This involves physically checking the integrity of all perimeter fencing, gates, and access points. Each door and window sensor is verified for proper function on the alarm panel. The officer inspects the exterior of the building for any signs of tampering or potential vulnerabilities, such as new graffiti that could be a marker, or overgrown foliage that might obscure a camera's line of sight.

Following the perimeter check, the focus moves to technology systems. The officer logs into the Video Management System (VMS) to conduct a systematic check of all CCTV cameras. This is a meticulous process of ensuring each of the dozens, sometimes hundreds, of cameras has a clear, unobstructed view, is recording properly, and that the timestamp is accurate to the second as required by state law. Any camera malfunction is immediately logged and reported for urgent repair. The officer then audits the access control system logs from the previous 12 hours, looking for unusual patterns, such as repeated declined access attempts at a sensitive area like the vault or IT server room, which could indicate a compromised keycard or an attempt at unauthorized entry.

Mid-morning involves managing the flow of people and products. An external contractor, such as an HVAC technician, arrives for scheduled maintenance. The Security Officer is the gatekeeper. The technician’s identification is verified against a pre-approved visitor list. Their tools are inspected to ensure no contraband is brought into the facility. The officer issues a temporary, limited-access badge that will only grant entry to specific zones, and provides a direct escort to the work area. Every minute of the visitor's time on-site is logged. Simultaneously, a large batch of harvested cannabis is scheduled to be moved from a curing room to the processing area for trimming. The officer oversees this internal transfer, verifying that the inventory team correctly weighs and documents the batch before movement, and then monitors the entire transit path via live CCTV to ensure an unbroken chain of custody.

The afternoon is dedicated to a scheduled transport of finished goods to a dispensary client. This operation begins an hour before departure. The officer inspects the transport vehicle, a nondescript van or truck equipped with GPS tracking, multiple cameras, and a reinforced, locked storage compartment. The officer receives the transport manifest, a legally mandated document detailing the origin, destination, driver, and every single product in the shipment by weight and batch number. They physically observe the inventory manager loading the shipment, cross-referencing each case against the manifest for absolute accuracy. Once loaded, the officer secures the compartment with tamper-evident seals.

The transport itself is an exercise in vigilance and threat mitigation. The route is not the most direct but has been pre-planned to avoid high-risk areas and patterns. The officer, often part of a two-person team, maintains constant situational awareness, monitoring other vehicles for any signs of being followed. Regular, coded check-ins are made with the facility's command center. Upon arrival at the dispensary, the officer follows a strict receiving protocol. They wait for confirmation before exiting the vehicle, and position it to minimize exposure. The dispensary's receiving agent presents their credentials, which are verified. Only then is the product compartment opened. The entire transfer is recorded by both the vehicle's cameras and the officer's body camera. After the manifest is signed and the transfer is complete, the officer conducts a final check before departing. The day concludes back at the facility with the completion of all transport paperwork, filing of incident reports, and a final patrol before briefing the incoming night shift.

Core Responsibilities & Operational Impact

The Security Officer's duties are structured around three pillars of asset protection and compliance:

1. Facility Security & Threat Mitigation

• Access Control Management: Operating and enforcing a multi-tiered access control system. This includes issuing, deactivating, and auditing employee badges and ensuring that access permissions align strictly with job functions to prevent unauthorized entry into sensitive areas like vaults, cultivation rooms, or data centers.
• Surveillance and Patrol: Actively monitoring a large network of CCTV cameras to observe operations, deter illicit activity, and identify security vulnerabilities in real-time. Conducting randomized and scheduled patrols to establish a physical presence and inspect security infrastructure.
• Emergency Response: Serving as the first responder to all on-site emergencies. This includes security breaches, medical incidents, fire alarms, or workplace conflicts. The officer is trained to de-escalate situations, coordinate with law enforcement and emergency services, and secure the scene to protect personnel and assets.

2. Secure Logistics & Chain of Custody

• Compliant Transport Execution: Safely and securely transporting high-value cannabis products and cash between licensed facilities in accordance with strict state regulations. This includes route planning, vehicle security checks, and adherence to manifest requirements.
• Manifest Verification & Accuracy: Meticulously verifying that every item of transported product perfectly matches the official state-mandated manifest. This ensures complete accuracy in the seed-to-sale tracking system and prevents catastrophic compliance violations.
• Chain-of-Custody Integrity: Implementing and documenting all procedures required to maintain an unbroken chain of custody for all assets during transport. This includes the use of tamper-evident packaging, secure hand-off procedures, and comprehensive documentation for every stage of the journey.

3. Auditing, Record Keeping & Compliance

• Meticulous Log Maintenance: Creating and maintaining detailed and accurate records of all security-related activities. This includes visitor logs, incident reports, patrol logs, and manifest documentation. These records are subject to unannounced audits by state regulators.
• Regulatory Adherence: Ensuring all physical security measures—including alarm systems, CCTV camera coverage and retention policies, and vault construction—continuously meet or exceed the specific requirements set forth by the state's cannabis control board.
• System Audits: Regularly auditing security systems, such as access control permissions and alarm sensor functionality, to ensure they are operating as intended and that no unauthorized changes have been made.

Strategic Impact Analysis

The Security Officer / Transport role creates tangible value and mitigates risk across the entire enterprise:

Chain of Command & Key Stakeholders

Reports To: This role typically reports to the Security Manager or the Director of Security. In smaller organizations, the reporting line may go to the Director of Operations or Facility General Manager.

Similar Roles: This position blends responsibilities found in roles such as Corporate Security Officer, Asset Protection Specialist, and Secure Logistics Agent. Professionals in armored car services (e.g., Brinks, Loomis) perform similar transport functions, while those in casino or hospital security manage comparable access control and surveillance challenges. The cannabis Security Officer uniquely integrates these duties under a single, highly-regulated framework, requiring both static-site security skills and secure transport expertise.

Works Closely With: This position requires constant collaboration with the Inventory Control Manager to ensure product movements are accurate, the Compliance Officer to guarantee all security actions meet state law, and the General Manager to align security operations with overall business needs.

Technology, Tools & Systems

This role requires proficiency with a specific suite of security and compliance technologies:

• Video Management Systems (VMS): Expertise in operating advanced VMS platforms like Avigilon, Genetec, or Milestone for live monitoring, incident investigation, and exporting forensic-quality video evidence for law enforcement and regulators.
• Electronic Access Control Systems (EACS): Managing and auditing enterprise-level access control systems (e.g., S2, Lenel) that utilize RFID keycards, fobs, and biometric scanners to control entry to hundreds of doors across a facility.
• Seed-to-Sale (S2S) Tracking Software: Interacting with state-mandated S2S systems (e.g., Metrc, BioTrackTHC). The officer must be able to use these systems to verify transport manifests and log the movement of inventory.
• Transport & Logistics Technology: Utilizing specialized equipment including vehicle-mounted GPS trackers, secure radio communication systems, body-worn cameras, and digital manifest software to ensure compliant and secure transportation.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Transferable Skills

Professionals from other high-stakes security environments possess highly relevant and transferable skills:

• Military & Law Enforcement: Experience with operational security, physical patrols, detailed report writing, de-escalation tactics, and maintaining composure in high-stress situations is directly applicable.
• Armored Transport Services: A background in high-value asset transportation provides direct experience in secure logistics, route planning, manifest discipline, and counter-surveillance techniques.
• Casino & Gaming Security: Expertise in managing large, complex CCTV networks, protecting significant cash assets, controlling access to restricted areas, and interacting with the public and regulatory bodies is a perfect match.
• Critical Infrastructure Protection (e.g., Data Centers, Energy): A strong foundation in enforcing strict access control protocols, monitoring sophisticated alarm systems, and maintaining detailed logs in a zero-failure environment is highly valued.

Critical Competencies

The role demands a specific combination of personal and professional attributes:

• Procedural Discipline: The ability to follow complex Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with meticulous accuracy and consistency, every single shift. There is no room for deviation from protocol.
• Unwavering Vigilance: A high level of situational awareness and the ability to remain focused and observant for long periods, identifying subtle anomalies that could signal a threat.
• Professional De-escalation: The skill to calmly and professionally manage tense and potentially volatile situations, whether with an agitated employee, an unauthorized visitor, or a potential external threat.

Top 3 Influential Entities for the Role

The responsibilities of this role are shaped and governed by these key organizations:

• State Cannabis Regulatory Agency: This is the most critical entity. Whether it's the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) or the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), this state body writes and enforces the specific security rules that the officer must implement, from minimum camera resolution to manifest requirements.
• ASIS International: As the leading global organization for security professionals, ASIS sets the industry standards and best practices for physical security. Their certifications, like the Physical Security Professional (PSP), provide the foundational knowledge that is adapted to the unique needs of the cannabis sector.
• State and Local Law Enforcement: Building a professional working relationship with local police departments is essential. They are the ultimate response force for major incidents like robbery or burglary, and collaboration on emergency planning and response protocols is a key responsibility of the security function.

Acronyms & Terminology