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Watch Commander Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Watch Commander

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$18 - $21.50/hr

As Watch Commander you will be responsible for managing, supervising, and ensuring our Protective Security Officer (PSO) team maintains the highest security standards in compliance with our contract ...

Summary Join Chenega & NASA as a Watch Commander at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, leading security operations, emergency response, and personnel supervision in support of one of ...

Watch Commander

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$18.25 - $24.75/hr

The Watch Commander also assists with patrolling the campus grounds and campus buildings to ensure a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. As an employee of the Department of ...

Security Watch Commander - ATL FK

Atlanta, GA ยท On-site

$16.75 - $19.25/hr

General information Job Title Security Watch Commander - ATL FK Date Friday, July 24, 2026 Entity Unifi Security LLC State Georgia City Atlanta Base Pay Rate: $ 22.50 Full/Part Time Full Time Exempt ...

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Watch Commander information

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$5

$13

$19

How much do watch commander jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for watch commander in the United States is $13.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.58 and $15.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Watch Commander?

A Watch Commander is a supervisory law enforcement officer who oversees police operations during a specific shift, often called a 'watch.' They are responsible for managing personnel, responding to major incidents, and making critical decisions to ensure public safety. Watch Commanders typically coordinate resources, provide guidance to officers, and serve as the highest-ranking official on duty during their shift. Their duties may vary depending on the size and structure of the police department, but they play a crucial role in maintaining order and effective communication within the team.

What is the difference between Watch Commander vs Security Supervisor?

AspectWatch CommanderSecurity Supervisor
CertificationsCPR, First Aid, Security Guard LicenseCPR, First Aid, Security Guard License
Work EnvironmentSecurity sites, patrols, emergency responseOverseeing security teams, site management
Employer & IndustrySecurity firms, private security, law enforcement supportSecurity companies, corporate security departments

Watch Commanders typically focus on overseeing security operations on-site, responding to incidents, and managing security personnel during shifts. Security Supervisors also manage security teams but often have broader responsibilities including administrative tasks and staff training. Both roles require similar certifications and are integral to security operations, but the Watch Commander is more operationally focused, while the Security Supervisor has a managerial oversight role.

How does a Watch Commander typically interact with other departments during emergency situations?

A Watch Commander plays a pivotal role in coordinating responses during emergencies by acting as the central point of communication between different departments such as patrol units, detectives, fire services, and medical responders. They are responsible for assessing situations, allocating resources, and ensuring that all involved teams are informed and working cohesively. This often involves making quick decisions, prioritizing incidents, and facilitating clear, ongoing communication to resolve situations efficiently while maintaining public safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Watch Commander, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Watch Commander, you need extensive experience in law enforcement or security management, strong leadership abilities, and often supervisory certification or relevant training. Familiarity with incident command systems, radio communication equipment, and digital incident reporting tools is typically required. Excellent decision-making, situational awareness, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating teams and responding to emergencies. These competencies ensure that critical situations are managed efficiently, team safety is upheld, and organizational protocols are consistently followed.
More about Watch Commander jobs
What cities are hiring for Watch Commander jobs? Cities with the most Watch Commander job openings:
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What states have the most Watch Commander jobs? States with the most job openings for Watch Commander jobs include:
Infographic showing various Watch Commander job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $27,432 per year, or $13.2 per hour.

Watch Commander

Hana Industries Inc.

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

$18 - $21.50/hr

Other

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Description


Hana Industries,ย Inc. is an emergingย security company focused onย providing services to the U.S. Government.ย We are currently seeking experienced Watch Commanders for the Department of Homeland Security at the IRS Headquarters in Washington DC.

As Watch Commander you will be responsible for managing, supervising, and ensuringย our Protective Security Officerย (PSO)ย team maintains the highest security standards in compliance with our contract, customer expectations, and our Company policies and procedures.
Duties

  • Fostering the development of a positive and high-performance team of PSOs
  • Ensuring compliance to all Company personnelย and safety policies and ensures staff perform duties in a safe manner
  • Managing the staffing of posts at the site in order to ensure complete coverage for vacations, illness, and call-offs
  • Conducting Guard Mount and pass down information and ensuring guard force is in compliance to federal, state, and local training and certification requirements
  • Ensuring that all officers receive and understand new, changed, or special instructionsย 
  • Ensuring guard force follows the Company's professional uniform and grooming standards
  • Ensuring accountability for the proper use and maintenance of all equipment used at all posts by assigned PSOs
  • Ensuring clarity, completeness, accuracy, and legibility of all written reports, timesheets, and log entriesย 
  • Conducting investigations into security matters and report findings to chain-of-command
  • Ensuring accuracy of start and end times, meal and break periods are documented on daily timekeeping systems
  • Ensuring the safety of security force by complying with our company safety policies and procedures
  • Promoting our Company's values of integrity, fairness, teamwork, diversity, high ethical standards, and genuine care for your co-workers and our customer.

Requirements

  • Minimum five (5) years demonstrated specialized civilian orย military and commercialย law enforcement andย security force experience
  • Minimum of 2 years of successful experience in field supervisionย 
  • Bachelor's degree preferred
  • Active DHS Suitability.ย 



ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย HIND is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V