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. 

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.

This institutional role spanning both UBC campuses combines technical expertise with transformational leadership, responsible for strengthening and overseeing the cybersecurity function at UBC. The CISO will bring their relationship building and excellent communication skills to foster collaboration, accountability and innovation across the cybersecurity team, the broader UBC IT team, and within UBC’s diverse and distributed environment, enabling cultural and behavioural change to elevate cybersecurity maturity.

The ideal candidate brings 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. They demonstrate expertise in modern security frameworks, risk management, and crisis response, combined with strong people leadership skills and the ability to inspire trust across diverse stakeholders. A visionary yet pragmatic leader, the next CISO will advance UBC’s information security program as a cornerstone of institutional reputation, academic excellence, and innovation.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a globally recognized institution’s cybersecurity function, built on a strong foundation, in an innovative environment with executive support and a highly capable team. Based in Vancouver, a city celebrated for its natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and thriving innovation economy, the role offers both professional distinction and personal fulfillment. The next CISO will shape the future of UBC’s information security program, ensuring the protection of world-class research and academic activity, and positioning UBC as a leader in digital resilience and trust.

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.

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.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The expected compensation range for this role is $225,000 to $260,000, plus benefits and pension. 

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