Director of Safety And Security

Nieuport Aviation owns and operates the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), Toronto’s downtown airport. As terminal operator, Nieuport manages the non‑aeronautical portfolio—retail and food & beverage, media/advertising and sponsorships, lounges, property activation, and ancillary passenger services—while partnering with airport stakeholders to deliver an elevated passenger experience. Backed by long‑term institutional ownership, Nieuport continues to invest in customer amenities, terminal infrastructure, and service innovations. Position Description - Director, Safety & Security Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director, Safety & Security leads all safety, security, risk, and compliance functions for Nieuport Aviation at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) terminal. Operating in a complex, multi stakeholder environment, the role builds trusted partnerships with PortsToronto, Transport Canada, CATSA, CBSA, USCBP, airlines, tenants, contractors, and other agencies; represents Nieuport on key committees and industry forums; and champions a proactive, safety-first culture across the terminal. The mandate spans strategy and governance through to operational assurance and incident response. Success means protecting passengers, employees, and partners, and assets, ensuring continuous regulatory compliance, and positioning Nieuport as a leader in airport safety and security. Key Responsibilities Serve as the strategic leader for safety, security, risk management, and business continuity, aligning programs with corporate objectives and long-term planning. Design, own, and continuously improve the enterprise Safety & Security Governance Framework, including roles, responsibilities, decision‑making protocols, and integration with enterprise risk management. Chair internal safety and security committees; set agendas, track actions, and ensure accountability across all departments. Integrate safety and security considerations into capital planning, operational change management, project approvals, and procurement decisions. Establish and maintain controlled policies, standards, and documentation with defined approval, review, and audit cycles. Provide monthly reporting to operational leadership and quarterly performance briefings to the Executive Team and Board; ensure transparency of trends, risks, mitigations, and lessons learned. Safety Culture & Leadership Champion a safety-first mindset by embedding safety as a core value and shared responsibility across all roles and departments. Promote a Just Culture that encourages hazard and near‑miss reporting, balances accountability with learning, and builds psychological safety. Drive leadership visibility through coaching, walkthroughs, safety conversations, and active participation in daily operations. Empower frontline employees by involving them in hazard identification, solution development, and safety committees. Recognize and reinforce proactive safety behaviours and continuous improvement. Monitor and mature the safety culture through perception surveys, reporting metrics (e.g., reporting rates, close‑out times), and targeted action plans. Regulatory Compliance & External Relations Ensure compliance with Canadian aviation and occupational safety regimes (e.g., Transport Canada, Canadian Aviation Security Regulations and Measures, Aerodrome Security Measures, Air Carrier Security Measures, Security Screening Measures, and OHSA). Ensure regulatory requirements are embedded into operational practices and governance frameworks. Represent Nieuport as a trusted safety and security leader in industry forums; influence regulatory changes and advocate for operational realities. Act as Transport Canada–designated Security Signing Authority for the Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) program; oversee enrolment, issuance, audit, and revocation processes. Build collaborative working relationships with PortsToronto and federal agencies; represent Nieuport on BBTCA committees and national industry bodies. Risk Management, Emergency & Business Continuity Maintain and continually improve emergency management, fire safety, incident response, and business continuity plans. Plan and lead drills, tabletop, and full‑scale exercises with terminal stakeholders; incorporate lessons learned into plans, training, and infrastructure. Embed safety and security risks within the corporate risk register; provide executive‑level visibility and mitigation recommendations. Use data, trend analysis, and scenario planning to identify emerging risks proactively. After drills, incidents, or activations, lead structured after‑action reviews and ensure lessons learned are shared, implemented, and tied to infrastructure, training, and policy updates. Align emergency and continuity planning with partner agencies and terminal stakeholders to ensure an integrated response capability. Operations, Standards & Assurance Standardize safety, security, and risk programs across the terminal with clear expectations, performance indicators, and ownership at all levels. Conduct audits, inspections, and investigations using root cause methodologies; elevate systemic issues through the governance structure. Track corrective and preventive actions to closure, with progress reported to leadership and the Board. Partner with Operations and Facilities to ensure safe design, maintenance, and operational changes. Leverage technology, dashboards, and analytics to proactively identify trends and address risks before incidents occur. People, Budget & Insurance Develop a high‑performing Safety & Security team through coaching, succession planning, and clear performance expectations. Build organizational safety capability by developing training, tools, and role clarity for leaders, supervisors, and frontline employees. Own and optimize the department budget; align resourcing and investment decisions with risk priorities and strategic outcomes. Manage vendors and service providers to meet defined safety and security standards. Lead the annual insurance renewal process with accurate risk information and evidence of controls. Ideal Candidate Profile Background and Experience 10+ years in aviation safety, security, risk management, or related fields, including 5+ years at a senior management level in a multi‑stakeholder, operationally complex environment. Demonstrated leadership of SMS implementation and continuous improvement, including hazard/risk processes, assurance, and CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) governance. Proven experience designing or leading safety governance structures and integrating safety into enterprise decision‑making, planning, and change management. Hands‑on experience with emergency management, fire safety, incident response, and business continuity, including design and delivery of tabletop and full‑scale exercises. Experience advising or presenting to Executive Teams or Boards on safety, risk, and incident trends. Proven capability to navigate Canadian aviation security and safety regulations (Transport Canada, OHSA, CASRs, Air Carrier Security Measures, Aerodrome Security Measures, and Security Screening Measures and to represent the operator credibly with regulators and airport authorities. Experience administering RAIC processes and broader terminal security programs. Demonstrated success leading organizational change and embedding new standards, behaviours, and culture in operational environments. Track record of building collaborative relationships, mediating issues, and influencing diverse stakeholders (agencies, airlines, tenants, unions/contractors) to deliver results. Budget ownership and familiarity with the information required for insurance renewal and risk placement. Leadership and Personal Attributes Strategic, calm under pressure, and decisive during incidents; models integrity and accountability. Influential and courageous, able to challenge decisions or say no when safety or security is at risk. Collaborative and politically astute; effective at coalition building in committee and forum settings. Strong communicator—credible in boardrooms, regulatory meetings, and frontline environments; simplifies complex risk and regulatory issues for non‑technical audiences. Continuous improvement and change mindset with the resilience to drive transformation and sustain new behaviours. Builds followership and trust; develops high‑performing teams. Education Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Safety, Engineering, Security, Aviation, Risk). Master’s degree or MBA is an asset. Eligibility for Transport Canada Secret Level Security Clearance. Relevant professional certifications are considered strong assets: CRSP, CRM, CPP, ASQ credentials; ISO management systems (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 31000, ISO 14001); aviation specific designations such as ACI–ICAO Airport Safety/Security Professional, ICAO SMS training, or Transport Canada AVSEC certifications. #J-18808-Ljbffr