Systems Architect & Cybersecurity Lead

Job Summary

Provides advanced technical leadership in systems architecture and cybersecurity across the Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) portfolio. Designs and implements solutions for complex departmental systems, leads cross‑unit technology initiatives, and contributes to strategic planning. Responsibilities include re‑architecting legacy platforms, coordinating enterprise‑level integrations, and serving as technical lead on high‑impact projects. This role reflects senior‑level duties previously held at higher levels and is critical to maintaining continuity and security of revenue‑generating platforms.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Director of Information Systems within DAE. Works independently and collaboratively with senior stakeholders across UBC IT, PrISM, Cybersecurity, and faculty departments. Provides dotted‑line reporting to the Chief Information Security Office (CISO) Senior Leadership and Privacy and Information Security Risk Leadership for cybersecurity and privacy matters. Supervises programmer analysts and student developers.

Work Performed

• Leads the design and governance of architectural solutions for complex departmental systems and integrates them into campus‑wide infrastructure.
• Conceptualizes and recommends technology initiatives including platform upgrades, enterprise migrations, and system re‑architecture.
• Provides specialist advice on cybersecurity, DevOps automation, and systems architecture to operating staff and client departments.
• Oversees the development, enhancement and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines, automation frameworks, and cybersecurity guardrails.
• Evaluates cybersecurity risk by reviewing vulnerability reports, distinguishing true positives, and recommending remediation strategies.
• Authorizes and oversees portfolio-wide employment access requests across the portfolio, ensuring compliance with institutional security policies.
• Leads implementation planning, oversees testing and release cycles, and ensures documentation of system changes and recovery procedures.
• Advises on infrastructure design, vendor selection, and application lifecycle enhancements.
• Serves as technical project lead on departmental and campus‑wide initiatives.
• Provides expert guidance and escalation leadership to cross‑functional teams to resolve complex system failures and ensure platform continuity.
• Develops and institutionalizes methodologies for improving operational procedures and system reliability.
• Leads and mentors technical staff and ensures alignment with best practices and departmental standards.
• Oversees operational reliability of production and non‑production application environments and infrastructure, ensuring appropriate monitoring and performance optimization.
• Plans and governs large-scale global configuration changes and module deployments for websites and applications.
• Provides architectural direction for custom development and complex integrations. Packages in‑house developed websites and applications for production or integrates vendor‑supplied applications and online solutions with existing infrastructure through custom interfaces and components.
• Develops or modifies software code to meet specifications or facilitate integration.
• Leads evaluation of emerging technologies, maintains appropriate professional designations and up‑to‑date knowledge of current information technology techniques and tools; provides input to strategies for ongoing support and upgrade of these systems.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Errors in judgment or technical implementation could result in significant disruption to high‑risk, revenue‑generating platforms, data breaches, or loss of donor trust. Decisions made by the incumbent directly impact institutional operations, cybersecurity posture, and strategic technology direction. Poor planning or failure to act decisively could compromise system reliability, contractual obligations, and institutional reputation. Given the sensitivity of data handled—including payment card and donor personal information—the incumbent must adhere to UBC Information Security Standards and exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact. Errors in reporting or data extraction could negatively affect fundraising efforts and damage the university’s reputation or increase its risk profile.

Supervision Received
Works independently with wide latitude. Receives broad direction from the Director of Information Systems. Performance is reviewed based on achievement of strategic objectives and project outcomes. May report to a Project Manager or collaborate under the direction of senior technical staff for specific project‑based tasks. Expected to take full ownership of decisions while contributing actively as a team member.

Supervision Given
Provides direct and indirect supervision to programmer analysts and student developers. Offers technical leadership, mentorship, and consultation to other staff across DAE and affiliated units. Provides guidance and performance feedback to less experienced technical staff. May direct work of Programmer Analysts, Business Analysts, QA team members, and end‑users during solution implementation. May contribute to hiring and evaluation processes.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. In-depth knowledge of applications and the business requirements supporting them. Minimum of five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in systems architecture, cybersecurity, and enterprise‑level platform integration.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional technical teams and manage complex projects.
• In‑depth knowledge of applications and business requirements in large‑scale enterprise environments.
• Experience in application pipeline management, cybersecurity frameworks, privacy compliance, and system migration.
• Proficient in managing multi‑tiered websites and web applications, including hosting and deployment operations.
• Strong foundation in IT infrastructure: backups, patching, performance tuning, monitoring, logging, and alerting.
• Technical expertise in Windows Server administration, PowerShell scripting, and virtualized platforms.
• Working knowledge of Unix/Linux fundamentals and shell scripting.
• Experience customizing COTS products such as CRM and CMS platforms.
• Familiarity with quality assurance frameworks, log monitoring, and web hosting technologies.
• Proficient in database‑driven, object‑oriented programming and complex SQL queries, stored procedures, and ETLs.
• Advanced knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, DevOps automation, and cloud infrastructure.
• Experience with cybersecurity frameworks, vulnerability assessment, and remediation strategies.
• Familiarity with UBC’s enterprise systems, including Constituent Relationship Management platforms.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience mentoring technical staff and aligning teams with institutional standards.