Partner - Aviation Security - Threats and Risks

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The person in this position will support Air Canada's threat assessment and security risk management function, ensuring the communication of information regarding potential, emerging, or actual threats while taking into account Air Canada's current or future activities and the general context of air transport. They will proactively collaborate with Air Canada Operations groups, various industry partners, government organizations, security service providers, and security and law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence that will be evaluated and developed to support Air Canada's decision-making.

This person must also identify security-related threats and risks, facilitate their assessment, and ensure that mitigation measures are assigned and tracked. Security risk assessment must focus on determining gaps and needs for additional or ad-hoc security measures to mitigate risks, whether globally or locally (station). All applicable laws and regulations must be determined and reviewed during a risk assessment, which is usually carried out as part of a compliance or mitigation review, inspections, or quality assurance activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of Air Canada's insider threat program, ensuring the implementation of the program framework, engaging all branches, keeping records of incidents and investigations, and developing and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Lead the development of the Air Canada Security Risk Management program. Ensure the program complies with national and international requirements, IATA SMS certification, and existing internal processes. Continue to refine the program based on evolving requirements and best practices.
• Determine, assess, and manage security risks by ensuring the regular establishment and review of appropriate mitigation strategies. Develop key performance indicators and conduct a review of the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
• Research, produce, and disseminate in a timely manner accurate, relevant, and creative assessments regarding Air Canada's current or potential activities, particularly concerning acts of unlawful interference (AUI), aviation security threats, and other domestic and international security issues. Assessments will be assigned or emerge from personal initiatives, and will serve for information, recommendations, and decision-making.
• Provide expertise and assistance to the Security Operations team regarding executive protection, travel advice, and support to Operations groups.
• Establish consultation mechanisms with the branches of Airports, International Operations, Flight Operations, and In-Flight Service as well as with the Emergency Management team to proactively meet their needs and ensure regular and constant mobilization of Operations groups.
• Develop and maintain intelligence collection mechanisms from open-source or public sources, security providers, official sources, professional contacts, and classified sources (where possible).
• Develop and maintain a distribution and classification mechanism for assessments produced by Air Canada as well as products from other sources intended for both broad and limited audiences.
• Create, develop, and implement a Corporate Security audit process in conjunction with the Senior Manager - Aviation Security, Quality, and Regulation.
• Provide expertise to the Security Operations team during investigations and assessments, as needed.
• Monitor developments in the industry and globally to identify areas of potential vulnerability.
• Regularly assess on-site or station security.
• Represent Corporate Security as a subject matter expert during branch risk assessments. Work with the Corporate Security Risk Management team to determine areas for undertaking an integrated risk management approach.
• Provide required briefings upon request, particularly during quarterly meetings of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee. Keep the Corporate Security management team regularly informed of any current or potential security issues.
• Collaborate with the Security and Emergency Management teams to develop and implement information-sharing mechanisms for all employees who may require critical, targeted, or broad-reaching security information. Support Air Canada's emergency notice platform.
• Collaborate with Transport Canada, the US Federal Aviation Administration, and other authorities.
• Attend classified briefings organized by Transport Canada or other government partners.
• In collaboration with the Partner - Geopolitical Analysis and Intelligence, provide guidance regarding local security contexts and threat intelligence for current and new routes, in collaboration with concerned Operations groups and Strategic Procurement for supplier selection, contract creation, and modifications and renewals thereof.
• Support the Partner - Geopolitical Analysis and Intelligence regarding the monitoring, analysis, assessment, and trends of geopolitical threat and risk.
• Collaborate with the Partner - Geopolitical Analysis and Intelligence and Air Canada International Affairs as needed, especially during assessments of potential new routes.
• Regularly collaborate with Air Canada's Cybersecurity team and participate in the threat identification and assessment committee.
• In accordance with supervisor guidelines, participate in industry working groups and committees, maintain strong and reliable relationships with other airlines and industry partners, and ensure good communication with them.
• Promote a positive culture of security reporting throughout the Corporation.

Qualifications

• At least five years of analytics experience; aviation security experience an asset.
• Bachelor's degree in a field of study such as political science, international relations or affairs, national security studies, etc. Master's degree an asset.
• Formal training within an intelligence agency, law enforcement or military organization, or the private sector, an asset.
• Government of Canada security clearance, active Level II, or ability to obtain and maintain it.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, and relevant briefing experience.
• Excellent critical thinking skills, to identify, gather, and evaluate data, ability to absorb and synthesize an abundance of information and draw logical conclusions that can be interpreted and potentially exploited.
• Excellent professional ethics and ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and inspire trust.
• Highly developed research and analysis skills.
• Flexibility, ease in working in an operational context and under pressure.
• Proven ability to develop a network of contacts in the industry or government agencies.
• Interpersonal skills, team building, and networking skills.
• Willingness to work occasionally on an irregular work schedule, depending on events.

Employment Conditions:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country concerned at the time a job offer is presented and are responsible for obtaining work permits, visas, or other necessary authorizations. Proof of eligibility must be provided before the start date.

Language Requirements

All things being equal, 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 that highlights the unique contribution of our employees to our business success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage diverse applications so that we can build a diverse workforce representative of our customers and the communities where we live and serve.