Country Level Security Manager – A role far too beyond just Security Management
The canvas of
company’s Security Manager of medium to large-sized company can be at
geographical region, zones or country level. This asks for an updated knowledge
and grasp of the overall country/ region or zone security dynamics, with fair
degree of grip over the other tiers’ perspective in the realm of geo-political
and geo-strategic dimensions. This can only become possible when the Security
manager and his Security team have thorough understanding of the company
operations. There are examples where sometimes the security leaders are so well
blended and equipped that visitors may take them as managers heading any other
team but security.
Top management of
the companies and others would always bank heavily on the advice rendered by
the security manager and other members of his/her team placed at different
locations within the company. This would ask the security head and the site
leaders to generate accurate inputs for managing Security for the ongoing
operations and also carrying out Security risk assessments for the impending
company operations.
Some Security
managers go wrong by restricting their scope to Security alone. It doesn’t mean
that their hardcore work is not important. Diversity of their role demands them
to remain aware of the ongoing operations to the minutest details, operational
barriers/ deadlines, potential impediments from the local communities &
contractors’ side, sensitivities related to the targets of the company, the HSE
compliance needs/ issues, administrative bounds, corporate affairs related
complexities, stoppages (both prevailing & foreseen) and their dollar
impact, overall & the current financial health of the company, prevailing
litigations and the company legal cases, etc. All these should become the
filters that must influence the preparation of the security solutions.
All the above looks daunting and undoable, given the fluid nature of Security operations of any company, but remember! A Security manager worth his/ her name, will always gel so well into the companies’ teams that such inclusion and awareness will become a second nature.
If this guideline is followed, the information will spontaneously flow to the Security manager. This is when he/ she wins the confidence of the contemporary heads and the top management. I have often seen the Security Manager to be part of important meetings of the company, part of all operational interactions and be on the distribution list of all very important communications. This arrangement can either be there as a default practice or a realisation based on displayed significance of a particular Security manager.
I would recommend to my Security friends to ensure that they should conduct themselves in a manner that they are included in both the above situations. This would demand them to be atop their professional prowess and be an active part of the organisation. Contribution to the correct decision-making process for the good of the company and becoming a mandatory input needed for it, is what is desired from all managers including a good Security professional. Anything otherwise, would rather leave a lot to be desired!
Author: M Zubair Chughtai
Muhammad Zubair Chughtai
193-E, Street 6, Askari-10, Lahore Pakistan
Phone: +92-336-0011550 E-Mail: mzuberch@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/muhammad-zubair-chughtai-2b798443
Summary
Being a self-driven, result-oriented, change leader, skilled at articulating strategic road maps
& execution models with broad experience in security management, integrated security &
support services delivery, security risk management, loss prevention, investigations, business
continuity, administration and general management, be a useful member of progressive
outfits. Bringing my 35 years of military, corporate, cross-cultural-exposure, professional
orientation and diversity to good use, be a dynamic team player and change agent.
Experience
Corporate Experience Jun 2010 - Mar 2019
• MOL Pakistan Country Head Security. Joined as Site Security Officer, promoted Security Coordinator in 8 months
and Country Head Security since 2012 (reporting line – CEO in Pakistan and with technical reporting to the
Corporate Security in Hungary). Performed following functions:
Ø Security management of one drilling site to the entire country-level having ~50 major and minor sites spread
over the entire Kohat Division, erstwhile FATA, Punjab and the company office in Islamabad
Ø Liaison and intimate rapport with Government, LEAs (Armed forces/police & intelligence) and influential circles
on important company/ Security matters in sync with Corporate Affairs Director
Ø Rendered professional advice to the company top management & Corporate Office on managing company
present and future operations within the prevailing Security climate/ challenges thereof
Ø Intimate liaison and collaboration with all contemporary Level-2/3 managers on operational matters
Ø Being member of Company Executive Board, rendered advice on top company level matters, issues and major
Technical, Administration & Supply Chain management contracts for decision making
Ø Direct administration of more than 1000 Security personnel (including 3 Lt Cols, 13 Majs and 4 other officers),
which encapsulated contract management, relief/ rotation, performance management, etc
Ø VIP protection at sites/ residences and on the move with elaborate technical security cover
Ø Security management of over 20-25 convoys per day intra-area of operations in KP and also from/to Islamabad
office under a well-documented journey management in close sync with Administration
Ø Kept risks levels at ALARP through deployment of Security resources after due diligence including deliberate
and documented Security risk assessment
Ø Crisis management and BCM in the trying milieu of Pakistan. Providing inputs for future BD to include
acquisition of new acreages in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh. Made some such areas in KP accessible for
company operations, where even the Police and other LEAs was reluctant to deploy
Ø Direct support in implementing HSE and other compliances through coaching of Security personnel at all sites.
Many of my Security team members were often declared compliance and Safety champions and awarded
Ø Documented training to include theoretical & practical crisis management and other mock exercises/ drills
(security specific and general) in collaboration with operational teams and Security specific
Ø Developed a wholesome Technical Security system of Multi-layered Technical Security to include Security
Control Room, CCTVs including state of the art FLIR long-range cameras, HID CAS encrypted system both in
office & the Field, Vehicle/ Personnel Tracking System, Pipeline surveillance system, Boosters for VHF
communication, Emergency door alarm system - linked with e-mail/SMS, Electronic doors and barriers, etc
N.B. Developed a proper concept of Security management system in the company during my initial years in MOL
while holding all tertiary to the highest position of the newly organized Security department
View all posts by M Zubair Chughtai
One thought on “Country Level Security Manager – A role far too beyond just Security Management”
Would appreciate a debate on the topic.