Key Accountabilities

Leader (Operations/Program/Service):

Develop, analyze, oversee, and continuously improve the security architecture and control framework that protect the university’s information, systems and research, and support the organization’s goals and service needs;

Execute a comprehensive, clear cybersecurity strategy that exhibits effective planning and ensures agility;

Establish a multi-year cybersecurity roadmap that supports maturing the security function, services, and partnerships across the university;

Set cybersecurity standards in consultation with IST leaders, faculties and other stakeholders, ensuring the standards are practical to implement and that the university is enabled to meet them;

Partner with the CIO and other university leaders to enable secure and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, including AI risk assessment, security review and guardrails for their use;

Collaborate with other leaders to identify opportunities to innovate service delivery, develop information capabilities, and improve operational performance and processes;

Oversee the security of IT infrastructure, cloud services, and software development ensuring cost effectiveness, efficiency, integration, security, accessibility, and sustainability;

In collaboration with university partners, lead investigations into real and potential IT threats and breaches;

Track, analyze, and monitor technology performance metrics to continually improve performance outcomes and deliverables;

Provide senior leadership and expertise in the development of information technology policies and procedures;





Establish and lead security governance for artificial intelligence, including risk assessment of AI tools and vendors, safeguards for institutional and research data used with generative and agentic AI, monitoring for unsanctioned AI use, and alignment with recognized frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001);

Prepare the university for AI-enabled threats, such as AI-generated phishing and impersonation and the faster discovery and exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and apply AI responsibly to strengthen threat detection, response and team capacity;

Lead cybersecurity awareness and education programs for students, faculty and staff, including the safe and responsible use of AI tools;

Partner with the Safeguarding Research Office to ensure cybersecurity is properly managed in the research context, including protection of sensitive research and support for federal research security requirements such as the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of

Concern, while preserving academic openness;

Provide executive oversight of third-party and supply chain risk, business continuity and disaster recovery, and ransomware resilience programs; and





Set identity and access management and zero trust principles for the university, in partnership with IST and faculty IT teams.

Strategic Influencer:

Contributes expertise and insight to the development of university, portfolio and area strategies;

Champions the development of proactive strategies or initiatives. Educates the university on emerging trends in cyber security and IT compliance, including the security and privacy implications of artificial intelligence; anticipates impacts of these trends on future service delivery and addresses any workforce planning requirements;

Provides comprehensive advice, recommendations and perspectives on current organizational activities and issues related to cyber security and IT compliance;

Contributes security and risk expertise to university AI governance and advisory bodies, working with academic, research, privacy, legal, and Indigenous data governance partners;

Contributes to quarterly risk updates provided through the board audit platform, and participates directly in the annual Cybersecurity Report and Roadmap presented to the Board of Governors;

The CISO should be visible and engaged across campus, participating in committees, town halls, and student/faculty initiatives; and

Works collaboratively with colleagues to identify joint objectives and initiatives.

Innovator:

Proactively identifies the need for change within one’s own area. Searches beyond own area and the university for recent methods, trends and innovative approaches. Challenges the status quo.

Develops, tests, and delivers new methods or approaches; <

📌 Chief Information Security Officer Law, safety and security (Edmonton)
🏢 Avenue.io
📍 Edmonton