Senior Security Specialist in Toronto

About the job

Responsibilities:

• Defines, evaluates, and assesses security architecture requirements for systems environments and IT projects.
• Ensures the incorporation of IT security and contingency measures in the development of systems.
• Advises on the identification, analysis, and resolution of specific security factors, risks, vulnerabilities; protection of personal privacy issues; and appropriate industry and international security standards.
• Carry out information and information technology (I&IT) security projects and tasks in the Ontario Public Service as assigned by Corporate Security or cluster I&IT management.

General Skills:

• Strong understanding and expertise in security architecture.
• Knowledge of techniques to secure information assets and the planning, design, and implementation of security technologies.
• Proven techniques to discover gaps or weaknesses in security architecture to identify and mitigate known security threats or inherent weaknesses.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and corporate directives related to the security and confidentiality of information (e.g. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act).
• Solid knowledge of current security and contingency technology and techniques (e.g. digital signature, encryption, access controls, fire-walls, authentication, virus protection, etc.); and a proven working knowledge of security audit procedures and protocols.
• Experience in developing enterprise architecture deliverables (e.g. models).
• Experience in providing specialized security support at the specified experience level.
• Experience in establishing secure environments at a network, operating system or application level.
• Experience with implementing security on complex and distributed systems.
• Awareness of emerging IT trends and directions, especially as related to security.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision skills; written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• A team player with a track record for meeting deadlines, managing competing priorities and client relationship management experience.

Deliverables:

The Senior Cyber Security Specialist's role focuses on expanding cyber security education and consultation efforts for Ontario's higher education and healthcare sectors. The specialist will design and implement training programs, resources, and awareness initiatives to strengthen cyber resilience across these sectors. They will engage with institutions to assess needs, provide guidance on risk mitigation, and support the broader adoption of Ontario's Cyber Security Strategy. Key responsibilities include developing sector-specific cybersecurity best practices, coordinating workshops and consultations, and delivering reports to inform policy decisions.

Skills Experience and Skill Set Requirements:

The Education & Centre of Excellence (ECOE) unit is seeking one (1) Fee-For-Service contingent IT resource in the Senior Cyber Security Specialist, Level 3 category. The FFS resources will provide the capacity required to support delivery of the OPS Cyber Security Strategy by assisting Cyber Centre of Excellence for Broader Public Sector (BPS) (run by the ECOE unit) projects to expand current partnerships with the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and Broader Public Sector.

The Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (COE) is seeking one (1) Senior Cyber Security Specialist to support in strengthening Ontario's cyber security infrastructure as the province collectively moves more government programs and services online:

• Digital Transformation: Transforming through a digital first approach to lower the cost of delivery and make services simpler, faster and better for people, businesses and OPS employees priority.
• Service Delivery Excellence: Driving operational excellence and continuous improvement in the delivery of services and transforming and streamlining delivery models across government with private sector partners.
• Supporting Businesses: Simplifying Ontario's regulatory framework and reducing the administrative burden on businesses to make it easier to engage with all of government priority.
• Education Program & Sector Consultations: Expanding cyber security education and consultations for sectors including higher education and health.

The role requires the following competencies:

• Technical Security Architecture Design (25%): Provides security design expertise and advice to internal stakeholders on design principles and best practices and the development and implementation of security mechanisms to ensure the protection of information assets of client ministries and compliance with legal requirements, and industry best practices.
• Security Liaison and Advice (25%): Maintains ongoing liaison with IT cyber security staff and senior client ministry program management to facilitate working relationships on all security planning, implementation and management matters by assessing security needs and assisting asset custodians in the identification, design, and implementation of security architecture.
• Project Management (25%): Leads and/or carries out large scale and sensitive security architecture design projects and/or significant components of other projects with security design elements, to mitigate identified risk to an acceptable level, ensuring compliance and integration with the Enterprise Information Architecture and Cluster architectures; provide supervision/technical direction to teams, coordinate development of design specifications, prepare reports, estimates, and feasibility studies.
• Communication and Relationship Management Skills (25%): Demonstrated communication, consultative and advisory skills to act as a lead technical resource and provide expertise to ongoing contacts.

Must haves:

• Provides security design expertise and advice to internal stakeholders on design principles and best practices and the development and implementation of security mechanisms to ensure the protection of information assets of client ministries and compliance with legal requirements, and industry best practices.