Information Security Specialist

Date Posted: 04/21/2026

Req ID: 47739

Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga

Department: UTM: Info. & Inst. Tech. Services

Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description

Description

U of T Mississauga—the second largest campus of Canada’s top-ranked university and the only research university in Ontario’s booming Peel Region—is one of the world’s great catalysts of human potential.

Our employee community hums with the energy of 3,400 faculty, librarians and staff, who power our campus with curiosity, connection and care. We work together to spark life-changing research and innovation, make an indelible mark on the world by building equitable cities and societies, enable healthy lives, create a sustainable future and ignite entrepreneurship. We prioritize student success and aim to give our 16,500 students the lift of a lifetime through learning and discovery. We love to create opportunities that are not available anywhere else for our community to achieve their ambitions and make their unique contributions to Canada and the world.

This work all comes together on a spectacularly green campus, alongside the Missinihe-ziibi (Trusting Creek or Credit River), where we seek to honour truth, reciprocity and reconciliation on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We’re thrilled to welcome those who want to learn more about us and to be part of what we do.

POSITION SUMMARY:

I&ITS is a high-volume service delivery operation, processing over 15,000 incidents, changes, and requests annually, and is the primary technical support for the teaching, learning, and research mission at UTM. The Information Security Specialist position is part of the UTM I&ITS group supporting the Information Security programs. Reporting to Senior Manager, Information Security, this position will be responsible for implementing, managing and optimizing information security platforms designed to protect data and systems, prevent unauthorized access, and respond effectively to potential threats. This role will act as a subject matter expert in the implementation of security controls across a range of technologies and ensure these controls address IT requirements in an ever-evolving threat landscape. The incumbent will work closely with IT teams and other departments to ensure security best practices are integrated into daily operations and projects. They should possess advanced knowledge of IT security tools and technologies and apply such knowledge to optimize the security goals of I&ITS services to the UTM community.

The Specialist is responsible for the configuration, maintenance, and tuning of security tools – including SIEM, EDR, PAM, MDM, Firewall, vulnerability scanner, and intrusion prevention/detection systems – to ensure proactive threat detection and mitigation. The Specialist will monitor security alerts and dashboards, respond to suspicious activities, and optimize system effectiveness for timely and accurate threat detection.

With high-level authorization to the University’s computer systems, the Specialist performs information security incident response in situations where systems or applications have been breached either internally or through external attacks. The Specialist will be responsible for gathering required forensic data in collaboration with relevant teams in instances of employee-related breaches and misconduct, and of potential IT-related criminal activity, partnering with relevant UTM departments, such as Campus.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

I. EDUCATION:

• University degree in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience. CISSP and other security certifications are a strong asset.

II. EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 7 years of Information security experience in a heterogeneous environment, with a broad range of platforms and technologies, including at least 2 years working with Information Security as a significant focus of activity
• Minimum 3 years of progressive experience in creating, implementing and maintaining Information Security technologies and platforms
• Excellent understanding of security tools and technologies such as firewall, IDS/IPS, SIEM, EDR, etc., used to protect on-prem or cloud infrastructure. Previous experience in the implementation and management of such security tools is a strong asset.
• IT Security certifications held or in progress are an asset.
• Expert proficiency in security frameworks and foundational networking/OS security (Zero Trust concepts, TCP/IP, VPNs, Windows/Linux/Unix hardening).
• Experience with scripting (Python, Bash) to automate security tasks. Extensive experience leveraging network and security analysis tools for deep packet inspection, forensic analysis, and advanced troubleshooting.
• Experience in selecting, configuring, and deploying service misuse detection and prevention technologies (Anti-Spam, Anti-Virus, Anti-DDOS, etc.).
• Experience running penetration testing and vulnerability scanning (Metasploit, Nessus, etc.).
• Experience drafting information security standards and guidelines, assessing risk management, and determining controls.
• Experience performing security assessments of infrastructure (cloud and on-premise), applications and websites.

III. SKILLS:

• Able to think strategically about change and new solutions
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and reprioritize work as required
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Thirst for knowledge, self-education and research
• Strong planning and organization skills

IV. OTHER:

Ability to work under pressure of high volume and expectations, while meeting multiple deadlines for multiple projects; strong service orientation coupled with the ability to recognize and assess the operational significance of a problem, control/mitigate the risk and set priorities accordingly. Strong ability to assess risks and controls of computing systems and operations. Demonstrated broad knowledge of information technology, instructional technology, classroom technology, audiovisual technologies, digital signage, network technologies, databases and application development. Strong ability and willingness to work effectively as a team leader and team member; must be able to collaborate and cooperate with team members, project sponsors, and other stakeholders. Ability to lead team members of varying levels and skill sets, including Professional/Managerial as well as staff. Must be able to deal calmly and effectively with a variety of people. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, tact and diplomacy. Ability to effectively navigate a professional and political climate, including assessing the requirement to escalate and issue to more senior levels of management or resources or bodies outside the Faculty; ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Ability and willingness to learn new systems, technologies and project management methods and tools.

Closing Date: 05/05/2026, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: Salaried

Personnel Subarea:PM

Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 3 -- Hiring Zone: $93,592 - $109,190 -- Broadband Salary Range: $93,592 - $155,985

Job Category: Information Technology (IT)