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Security Officer Lead

SSM Health · WI · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you led or mentored other officers. What did you focus on?

What they are checking: Leadership experience, which the posting says is highly preferred.

What makes hospital security different from other security work?

What they are checking: Understanding patient care, privacy and vulnerable people in a hospital environment.

How would you help train a new officer in their first weeks?

What they are checking: Mentoring and modeling good practice, which the posting lists as part of the lead role.

This is full-time overnight, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., with every other weekend. How do you stay sharp on nights?

What they are checking: Reliability and alertness on an overnight schedule when fewer staff are around.

What would you do

As a lead on the night shift, you'd be the main escalation point for incidents. Walk me through how you'd respond to a call about an aggressive visitor in the ED.

What they are checking: Calm de-escalation, team coordination and knowing when to involve police in a hospital setting.

How do you coordinate your officers when two incidents happen at once on different floors?

What they are checking: Prioritizing by risk and directing the team clearly during overlapping calls.

An officer on your shift is cutting corners on rounds. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Holding peers accountable fairly while supporting their growth as the posting describes.

What do you do when a patient who is at risk tries to leave against medical advice?

What they are checking: Working with clinical staff and following policy, since patient rights and safety must both be respected.

About the work

How do you de-escalate someone who is yelling and threatening staff?

What they are checking: Verbal de-escalation skills, since most hospital incidents can be resolved without force.

How do you write an incident report so it holds up later?

What they are checking: Clear, factual reporting that supports investigations and protects staff and the hospital.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. As a Lead Security Officer, you will provide frontline leadership by mentoring team members, coordinating daily operations, and serving as the primary escalation point for security-related incidents. Prior leadership experience is highly preferred. Department: Security Schedule: full-time night shift (11:00 pm - 7:00 am) with every other weekend rotation Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday. Job Summary: Provides a reasonably safe and secure environment by providing security services for the staff, patients and premises as well as be first responders to urgent facility matters. Provides direction and guidance to those officers that are on their shift acting as both a mentor and role model for junior officers. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Assists with training of new staff . Coaches trains and mentors all staff. Champions diversity by demonstrating respect, encouraging learning, and proactively supporting diversity in team building and customer interactions. • The lead officer is the first escalation in chain of command while on duty. Uses discretion to escalate issues further if they are unable to resolve. Responsible for staff scheduling and other administrative duties. • Ensures all shift duties and operations are assigned and completed. Conducts various investigations as needed. Completes reports, follows up on investigations or assigns to others in a timely manner, ensuring follow through and proper communication. Prioritizes duties and requests for service, while providing for the safety and security of all persons and property. • Reviews statistical reports, summaries and other reports to monitor shift activities/trends. Assist with reviewing and updating security policies and emergency plans and participating in emergency exercises and drills. • Promotes visitor and employee safety by providing door checks, detecting lighting deficiencies, confirming proper operation of elevators and other equipment, assisting with disruptive individuals, etc. Provides extra attention and monitors matters with security sensitive, or heightened security concerns. • Ensures and work towards continuous compliance with accreditation standards, as well as federal and state laws. Examples include compliance with agencies such as The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. • Provides professional customer service when dealing with complex and dynamic situations when approached by staff or clients. Assist with problems solving, provide customer assistance monitor safety and respond to complaints and utilizes a proactive approach to identifying safety and security hazards by communicating with clinical staff and leadership. • Assist law enforcement, corrections and other officials, when necessary, while ensuring compliance and recognition of patient’s rights. • Troubleshoots access control, alarm, and video management system issues, applying common fixes and triaging issues, as well as identifying future installation needs. Proficient knowledge of printing/managing badge access system. • May operate motor vehicle to patrol. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • High School diploma/GED or 10 years of work experience EXPERIENCE • Three years' experience ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS • Following extension of a conditional offer of employment, applicant must successfully complete a psychological assessment to confirm suitability for the rigors of providing security services as set forth in this job description. • Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance that meets minimum state requirements upon hire and upon request. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Constant use of hearing to receive oral communication and hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Constant use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more). • Constant lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent use of speech to share information through oral communication. • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Frequent standing, twisting and walking. • Frequent use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships and to identify and distinguish colors. • Occasional bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, sitting, squatting, reaching, gripping and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing over 50 lbs. • Occasional keyboard use/data entry. • Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors. • Occasional driving. • Rare crawling, running and lifting/moving patients. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois • Driving Record - Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) • And • Driver License - Issued in the United States • And • Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID) - Illinois State Police • And • Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) • Or • Active Law Enforcement Officer - Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (ILETSB) State of Work Location: Missouri & County of Work Location: All Except St. Charles County • Driving Record - Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) • And • Driver License - Issued in the United States State of Work Location: Missouri & County of Work Location: St. Charles County • Driving Record - Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) • And • Driver License - Issued in the United States • And • Security Officer License - St. Charles County • Or • Security Officer License - St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department State of Work Location: Oklahoma, Wisconsin • Driving Record - Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) • And • Driver License - Issued in the United States Work Shift: Night Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 9251000007 SEC - St Mary's Madison \ SP ED Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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