Loss Prevention Manager Career

Job Description: Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.


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Loss Prevention Manager Career

What Loss Prevention Managers do:

  • Administer systems and programs to reduce loss, maintain inventory control, or increase safety.
  • Identify potential for loss and develop strategies to eliminate it.
  • Monitor compliance to operational, safety, or inventory control procedures, including physical security standards.
  • Recommend improvements in loss prevention programs, staffing, scheduling, or training.
  • Collaborate with law enforcement to investigate and solve external theft or fraud cases.
  • Coordinate or conduct internal investigations of problems such as employee theft and violations of corporate loss prevention policies.
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies or members of the retail loss prevention community.
  • Maintain documentation of all loss prevention activity.
  • Provide recommendations and solutions in crisis situations such as workplace violence, protests, and demonstrations.
  • Train loss prevention staff, retail managers, or store employees on loss control and prevention measures.
  • Verify correct use and maintenance of physical security systems, such as closed-circuit television, merchandise tags, and burglar alarms.
  • Assess security needs across locations to ensure proper deployment of loss prevention resources, such as staff and technology.
  • Coordinate theft and fraud investigations involving career criminals or organized group activities.
  • Direct loss prevention audit programs including target store audits, maintenance audits, safety audits, or electronic article surveillance (EAS) audits.
  • Investigate or interview individuals suspected of shoplifting or internal theft.
  • Monitor and review paperwork procedures and systems to prevent error-related shortages.
  • Perform or direct inventory investigations in response to shrink results outside of acceptable ranges.
  • Supervise surveillance, detection, or criminal processing related to theft and criminal cases.
  • Visit stores to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
  • Analyze retail data to identify current or emerging trends in theft or fraud.
  • Hire or supervise loss prevention staff.
  • Maintain databases such as bad check logs, reports on multiple offenders, and alarm activation lists.
  • Advise retail establishments on development of loss-investigation procedures.
  • Direct installation of covert surveillance equipment, such as security cameras.
  • Review loss prevention exception reports and cash discrepancies to ensure adherence to guidelines.
  • Advise retail managers on compliance with applicable codes, laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Perform cash audits and deposit investigations to fully account for store cash.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Holland Code Chart for a Loss Prevention Manager