University of British Columbia - Chief Information Security Officer

Overview

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for excellence in teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities in North America. UBC’s vision is to inspire people, ideas and actions for a better world. Through its pursuit of excellence in research, learning and engagement, UBC fosters global citizenship and advances a sustainable and just society. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with the curiosity and commitment to making a difference. With two main campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, UBC is home to over 70,000 students and 19,000 faculty and staff supported by a $3.9 billion dollar budget.

Role

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for UBC’s Information Security portfolio within the Office of the CIO. The CISO reports to the Chief Information Officer as part of a senior leadership team, and along with leaders in the Office of University Counsel (OUC) and Safety and Risk Services (SRS) is accountable to the Privacy and Information Security Management (PrISM) Executive Leadership Committee for achieving agreed upon objectives. The CISO engages with Faculties, Departments and Administrative units across the University to protect and steward UBC’s data, research, systems, and digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic, operational and people leadership for UBC’s Information Security portfolio.

Lead and strengthen the cybersecurity function across UBC, combining technical expertise with transformational leadership.

Foster collaboration, accountability and innovation across the cybersecurity team and the broader UBC IT team.

Enable cultural and behavioural change to elevate cybersecurity maturity within UBC’s diverse and distributed environment.

Engage with Faculties, Departments and Administrative units to protect UBC’s data, research, systems and digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.

Qualifications

Significant senior leadership experience as a CISO, CIO, or equivalent in large, complex and distributed organizations, ideally with exposure to research-intensive environments and sensitive data.

Expertise in modern security frameworks, risk management, and crisis response.

Strong people leadership skills and the ability to inspire trust across diverse stakeholders.

A visionary yet pragmatic leader who can advance UBC’s information security program as a cornerstone of institutional reputation, academic excellence and innovation.

Location & Compensation

Based in Vancouver, a city celebrated for its natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and thriving innovation economy. The expected compensation range for this role is $225,000 to $260,000, plus benefits and pension.

Equity, Diversity & Accessibility

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and / or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and / or Indigenous person.

Accessibility

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

How to Apply

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The UBC is being supported by Boyden, an executive search firm, in this recruitment. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume here.

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