Just got off a call with a VP of Operations at a New York integrator. He has open project manager roles and has had them open for four months. His installation crews are ready. His clients are waiting. The bottleneck is project management.

Security project managers are one of the most nuanced roles to fill in the industry right now. Here is what the job actually looks like.

What Does a Security Project Manager Do?

Security project managers oversee the installation and integration of new security systems, as well as upgrades and expansions to existing systems. They coordinate everything between the client, the installation crew, and company leadership.

On a typical day, a security project manager might:

  • Develop a project plan based on the client’s requirements and deadlines
  • Track hours worked and budget spent against overall project progress
  • Review client change requests and estimate their impact on budget and schedule
  • Identify risks to project success and build contingency plans
  • Serve as the primary point of contact between the technical team and the client

Who Employs Security Project Managers?

Security project managers work primarily for systems integrators and installers. Any integrator running multiple simultaneous jobs needs project managers to keep them moving. The larger the integrator, the more PMs they need.

What Does a Security Project Manager Earn?

Security project manager positions typically pay between 90,000 and 120,000 plus bonuses. The highest paid PMs earn around 180,000 per year. Pay is tied directly to the size and complexity of the projects being managed.

What Does It Take to Get the Role?

Most security project managers have five or more years of experience in the industry, typically in a technician or engineering role. The transition from senior technician to project manager is one of the most common career paths in electronic security.

Obtaining a Certified Security Project Manager from SIA (info here) certification improves hiring chances and increases pay.

How Do You Advance From Here?

Successful security project managers can move into:

  • Program manager – broader responsibility for managing all aspects of a client relationship, including proposals, projects, and ongoing service
  • Operations manager – overseeing the full operations function of an integrator
  • Installation Manager – leading the installation teams

What Makes a Great Security Project Manager?

The best PMs combine technical credibility with operational discipline. They understand enough about access control, video, and camera systems to have real conversations with the installation crew. And they are organized enough to keep three projects moving simultaneously without dropping anything.

Communication is the core skill. A security project manager is always in the middle – between the client who wants it done faster, the crew that needs more time, and leadership that wants it done within budget. The ones who thrive are the ones who can hold all three conversations without losing any of them.

The Market Right Now

As integrators grow and take on larger commercial and government projects, the demand for qualified project managers grows with them. This is one of the most consistently in-demand roles across the industry and one of the highest paying for candidates who come from a technical background.

If you are a project manager looking for your next role, or a hiring manager trying to fill a security project manager position, Network Mountain places project managers at security integrators nationwide.

Candidates: See what we are working on.

Hiring managers: Start a search.