Director, Aviation Security and Regulatory Compliance

Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America. Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.

The Director, Aviation Security and Regulatory Compliance will:

• Ensure that Air Canada’s security policy, Air Operator Security Program (AOSP), and all relevant processes and procedures are developed and documented in a manner conformant with international standards and compliant with regulatory requirements for the state of operations.
• Lead the enhancement and continuous improvement of Air Canada’s Security Management System (SeMS) by engaging collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including through the IATA SeMS Certification program and the Transport Canada Security Program for Air Carriers.
• Promote and promulgate Air Canada’s security culture, awareness and support at the highest levels of the organization and throughout all branches of the operation.
• Lead and develop all strategic and tactical initiatives related to aviation security, including regulatory compliance, intelligence, threat assessment and risk management, and quality assurance.
• Develop a security risk management program, including the identification of threats and vulnerabilities, processes for developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies, and assessing effectiveness of mitigation measures in place.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC) team, ensuring the department’s 24/7 operational support functions related to passenger conduct and assessment, along with asset protection and system monitoring, are conducted effectively.
• Provide the leadership and direction to develop and enhance the efficacy and the proficiency of Corporate Security capability.
• Manage and control the continuous improvement of the Corporate Security responsibilities, capability, and effectiveness in support of the Air Canada’s Business goals and Branches.
• Through effective leadership, engagement, and collaboration, manage and operationalize innovative security outcomes to set the conditions and enable Air Canada to meet stated strategic goals.
• Provide operational direction and impetus to continuously improve Air Canada’s Corporate Security resilience, efficacy, and capability.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for developing the strategy, delivery and execution of Air Canada’s Security Management System (SeMS
• Develop and manage programs and initiatives supporting all SeMS components, to ensure that Air Canada’s security posture is accurately postured with proportionate security controls (processes/ procedures) to mitigate potential threats to operations across our domestic, transborder and international network.
• Responsible to ensure Air Canada’s continual compliance with all new and existing State and industry requirements, including all obligations under Transport Canada and the US Transportation Security Administration’s legislative and regulatory instruments, and similar obligations for all countries where Air Canada operates internationally. Additionally, ensure conformance with international standards and recommended practices, including through IATA’s Operational Safety Audit.
• Represent Air Canada through industry consultation and engagement opportunities with Transport Canada and other regulatory agencies and authorities for all aviation security matters, including regulatory compliance, security intelligence, and oversight and enforcement activities.
• Lead Air Canada through the IATA SeMS Certification process
• Oversee the strategic development and implementation of the new GSOC mandate and ongoing GSOC initiatives and programs, including the upgrade of tools and systems, streamlining of training, processes, and procedures, the optimization of team
  performance, and the consolidation of PAS/OSC/GSOC inputs and outputs within the organization.
• Ensure that the GSOC team manages all security operational and regulatory support needs of the organization, including implementation and maintenance of physical security, passenger conduct, security watchlist, special category passenger, and access control processes as directed by Corporate Security.
• Establish and manage the annual budgets for Aviation Security and the GSOC, respectively, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and efficient resource allocation.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement initiatives to optimize financial performance without compromising security standards.
• Develop strategy and provide direction on Air Canada’s security intelligence program, including the development and maintenance of a repository of products for use across the organization, ongoing threat assessments, and consistent and relevant communication products ensuring proactive awareness for decision-makers with regards to geopolitical issues, conflict zones, and airspace management.
• Responsible for ensuring Air Canada has a comprehensive and systematic process for collecting security information, ensures that threat assessments and decision-making processes are based on accurate, up-to-date, and thoroughly analyzed security information.
• Responsible for ensuring Air Canada has a process to identify security threats and vulnerabilities, and has implemented a risk assessment methodology, including establishing a clear schedule and criteria for reviewing and updating the risk assessment methodology
• Provide subject matter advice in the continual development, implementation and oversight of security governance, policy, and procedures to support Air Canada’s global operational footprint.
• Provide subject matter expertise on the security regulatory aspects and risk assessments of new and existing routes. Identify and resolve security-related issues of new products, processes, and services.
• As the aviation security subject matter expert, participate in the review, development of content, and implementation of training programs and initiatives to ensure that training materials and content across Air Canada are reflective of the evolving threat environment and changes to security requirements.
• Manage the Corporate Security SharePoint to ensure transparent and consistent information sharing with all branches.
• Chair and organize the quarterly Aviation Security Advisory Committee meeting.
• Represent Air Canada on high-level security governance and policy committees on a domestic and international level.
• Effectively manage working relationships with Government aviation agencies and other agencies as required.
• Vigorously pursue adherence to security regulatory requirements and maintain operational regulatory compliance.
• Review and amend (as required) the suitability and appropriateness of the Air Canada’s AOSP and Transport Canada’s planned implementation of Air Carrier Security Program requirements.
• In collaboration with the Director, Security Operations, ensure that Managers, Security Operations implement processes related to regulatory compliance oversight and risk management, including development and maintenance of foreign AOSPs and station threat and risk assessments for all regions where Air Canada operates.
• Engage with internal stakeholders to ensure their adherence with the Air Canada’s AOSP.
• Ensure compatibility and alignment of Air Canada’s AOSP with the most current IOSA Standards Manual and Transport Canada requirements.
• Review and enhancing the Standard Operating Procedures in line with airline best industry practice.
• Strategically drive improvement, to a robust quality control and assurance program aligned to ISO 9001:2015 to ensure internal compliance and adherence to State and IOSA security standards.
• Lead and effectively manage security support to the business Branches and Executives
• Utilize the Business Partnership program as a platform to enable effective operational security assurance, oversight, support, and advice to the Branches.
• Monitor industry direction and developments and provide recommendations to the Managing Director, Corporate Safety, Security and OHS to keep Air Canada at the leading edge of security and resilience industry best practice.
• Actively ensure the security and resilience of all people, assets, systems, and procedures engaged in or associated with Air Canada’s global operation.
• Improve the security culture and performance across the business through partnerships, collaboration, and communications in order to deliver more effective business operations and duty of care responsibilities.
• Implement and manage continuous improvement initiatives within Corporate Security.
• Manage the performance and personal development of direct reports.
• Develop and maintain a robust succession plan for Corporate Security.
• Succession plan: recruit, train, identify and develop talent to ensure a strong baseline for future Corporate Security leaders.

Qualifications

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in similar security management roles working in Public and/ or Private organizations and/ or Non-Government Organizations.
• Previous experience in leadership and management of people roles.
• Capacity to work in high tempo, agile and dynamic environments.
• Capability to excel in a complex multi-layered environment.
• Outstanding record in the design, implementation of risk methodologies and the management of associated risk.
• Business and industry acumen particularly in relation to airline interdependencies.
• Education
• A degree level certificate (or proven equivalent) and/ or relevant experience in a related field.
• Recognized ISO qualification in Security and Resilience (Organizational Resilience) and/ or Risk Management (Guidelines).
• Recognized ISO qualification in Quality Management System (Requirements).
• Demonstratable knowledge of a modern Project Management methodology.
• Preferred Skills
• Commitment to the value of teamwork, sharing of information and desire to contribute constructively to the company culture and ethos.
• A commitment to on-going continuous improvement of professional standards and the development of relevant capabilities.
• Excellent soft skills, verbal and written communication skills and ability to articulate subjective opinion.
• Display the appropriate leadership skills required to seamlessly collaborate with internal and external business partners.
• Ability to be an agent for change by maintain a focus on positivity and determining opportunities for continuous improvement within the business and to be the driving force behind the implementation and ongoing evaluation of those changes.
• Ability to remain calm and courteous under significant time and situation pressure.
• Ability to make decisions on limited information and analysis.
• A second skill set in either intelligence, security, or resilience.
• Effective and decisive decision maker.
• A high degree of resilience and flexibility.
• Decisive and self-starting attitude with energy and motivation to be effective in a demanding environment. Leadership
• This senior management role requires excellence in leadership skills including excellent communication skills, exceptional listening skills, strategic and critical thinking abilities and driving for results with optimism.
• Change management skills including managing employee expectations and the ability to execute with respect and engagement will be critical in advancement of individual performance and scope change.
• Strategic development of processes will require leadership to engage the stakeholders in identification of areas of improvement, removal of redundant or outdated processes and tasks and the continued advancement of our security program while continually developing individual skillsets. This will include direction, coaching, mentoring, education, and support of both internal security employees and our internal and external stakeholders.
• Embrace the “Win as One Air Canada” philosophy in all internal security management processes. Develop and advance the team culture of respectfulness and optimism withing the entirety of Corporate Security.

Financial Containment

• Oversee branch financial results and determine cost saving potential.
• Develop the Departmental budget in accordance with the corporate fundamentals.
• Manage the different projects budgets by evaluating required resources and time constraints effectively.
• Place financial valuations on all data and events leading to cost being a decision driver when applicable.
• Prepare business cases that highlight benefits and facilitate financial approval.
• Manage the different projects budgets by evaluating required resources and time constraints effectively.
• Leverage innovation in pursuit of cost efficiency, resource efficiency, and added value. Project Management
• Track current project KPIs for efficiency improvement.
• Manage and scope new projects to meet corporate strategy, vision, and mission.
• Provide the senior leadership team with project updates to ensure preparedness for executive level presentations and all safety boards.
• Develop tracking tools for better project monitoring and project risk management.
• Use data to monitor effectiveness of implemented mitigations. (digital signage, information distribution platforms, alert notifications, and statistical process control notifications).
• Implement a branch strategy that is best in class.
• Use data to strategically determine required mitigations in collaboration with the affected branch.
• Use data to determine effectiveness and timeliness of any implemented mitigations.
• Collaborate with branch leaders to create a robust system for strategy review and target achievement.
• Develop a long-term vision and strategy for the Security Operations team to ensure continuous improvement, development, relevancy, and sustainability.

Other Attributes

• High degree of empathy
• Analytical and lateral thinking ability
• Project Management skills
• Flexibility
• Good Negotiation Skills
• Objective outlook

Soft Skills

• Articulate: Articulate in both verbal and written skills.
• Integrity: Moral fortitude to add subject matter expertise accurately, deliberately and in a timely fashion.
• Trustworthy: Knowledge, personality, and communication skills to rapidly gain credibility with and influence key stakeholders at all levels.
• Robust: Strong behavioural competencies in building and managing relationships with stakeholders.
• Selfless: Manage and develop individual and collective team performance and skills.
• Confident: Strong decision-making skills in forming sound risk-based assessments and taking accountability for outcomes.
• Responsive: A demonstrable ability to quickly process multi-level problems simultaneously and provide accurate assessments and recommendations.
• Diligent: A high degree of resilience and flexibility to manage constantly changing plans and priorities.
• Industrious: Self-starting attitude with energy and motivation to be effective in a demanding environment.

Continuous Improvement

• In cooperation with the CSEQ Director Data Analytics and Advanced Technologies leverage data to find new opportunities to exceed corporate targets and showcase growth in culture.
• Grow all new opportunities into projects that align with our corporate strategy.
• Ensure best-in-class caliber products are being delivered.
• Advance skill sets of all members of the security team through industry related symposiums and continued education. Support Professional development initiatives where available.
• Establish quality control processes to ensure quality and accuracy of data.
• Provide feedback for data entry to ensure standardization and quality and accuracy of data. Strategy Implementation
• Strategically develop initiatives related to enhanced security management.
• In collaboration with other branches and internal data resources, create dashboards and reference materials.
• Demonstrate punctuality and dependability to support overall team success in a fast-paced environment.

Conditions of Employment:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest at the time any offer of employment is made and are responsible for obtaining any required work permits, visas, or other authorizations necessary for employment. Prior to their start date, candidates will also need to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the country of interest.

Linguistic Requirements

Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees’ unique contributions to our company’s success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.