What can you expect from this position?Reporting to the Director, Airport Security, the Associate Director leads the safe, secure, and resilient delivery of GTAA's end-to-end security operations, overseeing the SOC, Pass & Permit Office, Security Response Coordinators, Public Safety Officers, and contracted partners.
As the day-of operational authority, this role drives real-time security decision-making, leading coordinated responses to threats and incidents, maintaining system-wide situational awareness, and ensuring effective prevention, detection, response, and recovery across a complex, multi-agency environment.
Acting as the designated security official, the Associate Director ensures seamless cross-functional and external coordination while upholding the continuous, compliant execution of the Airport Security Program.
The role also shapes the future of airport security, co-leading strategy, advancing security technologies and access control systems, and ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory and international standards.
As Associate Director, Security Operations, you will:- Lead end-to-end 24/7 security operations across Toronto Pearson, including SOC, Pass & Permit Office, frontline response teams, and contracted security partners.
- Act as the designated day-of security authority and primary operational liaison with Transport Canada.
- Command real-time incident response, directing decision-making, threat response, and recovery actions in a high-risk environment.
- Maintain airport-wide situational awareness, ensuring coordinated and timely response across all security functions.
- Own execution of the Airport Security Program (ASP) and ensure compliance with Transport Canada regulations, Aerodrome Security Measures, and directives.
- Translate regulatory requirements into operations, embedding procedures, controls, and frontline execution.
- Ensure audit readiness and regulatory compliance, overseeing inspections, findings management, and corrective actions.
- Oversee security systems, access control, and surveillance platforms, ensuring reliability, resilience, and integration into operations.
- Drive implementation and operationalization of security technologies, including response to system disruptions and contingencies.
- Coordinate multi-agency partnerships with Transport Canada, CATSA, CBSA, Peel Regional Police, airlines, and airport stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary operational interface during incidents, ensuring coordinated, timely, and effective partner response.
- Drive security risk identification and mitigation, using intelligence and SeMS principles to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
- Build and develop a high-performing security workforce, ensuring staffing, training, contractor performance, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
This is the role for you, if you have:- 7 years of progressive experience in an airport environment, aviation security, or similar with demonstrated experience in serving a large and complex customer base.
- 5 years of people leadership experience managing leaders and/or large operational teams.
- Strong relationship management skills, building trust with internal teams, unions, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to influence, collaborate, and negotiate cross-functionally, delivering results in a complex, unionized environment.
- Deep knowledge of aviation security regulations and operations, combined with strong business acumen and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and partners, applying strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
- Incident Command System (ICS) training, Emergency Management, Project Management or leadership certification preferred.
- A valid Ontario Driver's License.
- Post-Secondary diploma in Aviation Management, Business Administration or related field.
- Ability to obtain and retain a Transportation Security Clearance.
This position is exempt from Ontario's 2026 pay transparency requirements under Regulation 476/24.
