Director, Security Operations

Role impact:

The Director of Security Operations is a national leadership role responsible for the practical implementation of Cadillac Fairview's security strategy across various asset classes i.e., Office, Retail, Residential, Industrial. This position drives strategic alignment, standardization, and innovation to support regional and property level Security Operations. The Director utilizes a risk-based, intelligence-led approach to enhance operational resilience and protect the company's people, assets, information, and reputation.

Working closely with the National Security Operations leadership team, the Director partners with internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement, emergency management agencies, and intelligence partners. This collaboration anticipates threats, mitigates risk, and embeds security and resilience as a value enabler. The role also leads the evaluation and implementation of emerging security technologies, supporting predictive security operations, that enhance situational awareness, threat prevention and incident response capabilities.

This position may be based in either Vancouver, BC or Calgary, AB office.

What you will deliver:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of National Security & Life Safety programs, ensuring a risk-based, intelligence-led approach aligned with CF's diverse asset portfolio.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Security Operations, supporting Security & Life Safety Manager's / Senior Manager's (SLSM's) and property leadership with risk assessments, internal security audits, and external evaluations to elevate baseline security, resilience, and compliance.
• Oversee the design and national/regional implementation of security models, programs, initiatives, standard operating procedures, physical security architecture, infrastructure technology deployment, and emergency response.
• Direct the national emergency preparedness and response framework, ensuring enterprise-wide readiness for a range of incidents (e.g., violence, crime, military/civil/political unrest, terrorist activity, protests, pandemics, extreme weather) to safeguard colleagues, visitors, guests, assets, information, and reputation while minimizing business disruption.
• Serve as a regional escalation point and provide direct support to property teams during emergency incidents.
• Partner with General Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership, oversight and coaching for SLSM's regionally.
• Responsible for procurement activities of major service contracts for security and life safety vendors, including compliance monitoring, KRI and KPI reporting, and corrective action implementation.
• Build & utilize metrics and risk intelligence to identify operational inefficiencies, compliance issues or workforce readiness gaps, find significant cost savings, and lead structural improvement efforts to enhance performance and service delivery.
• Prepare financial projections for operating and long-range capital expenditures (e.g. 10-year plans) for physical security, life safety, and security technologies at the regional/national level. Lead the development of accurate financial projections based on regionally specific risk profiles, service level expectations, compliance obligations, and direction from the Vice President, Security Operations, while identifying opportunities for cost savings and value optimization.
• Develop and lead a roadmap for security technology modernization, ensuring CF's physical security systems remain state-of-the-art, resilient, and adaptive.
• Oversee the national security technology architecture and deployment of surveillance systems, access controls, alarm systems, and command centres.
• Lead CF's national compliance efforts for physical security, life safety, and emergency management, ensuring all sites exceed regulatory and corporate requirements.
• Brief CF's leadership team and other national governance bodies/committees on high-risk emerging issues, escalating concerns through risk-memos, briefings, and dashboards aligned to enterprise risk appetite.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including tenants, government agencies, and public safety partners, to align interests and improve safety outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned

What your strengths are:  

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Provides strategic direction and cultural leadership for national security programs, driving performance, innovation, and continuous improvement. 
• Proven track record of developing and implementing high-impact, risk-based, intelligence-led programs that scale nationally and improve portfolio resilience. 
• Expertise in conducting threat risk assessments and scenario-based planning to anticipate and mitigate security and operational disruptions.
• Leads national coordination of incident response and crisis management, integrating intelligence inputs, law enforcement liaison, and situational analysis. 
• Excellent communicator with the ability to tailor messages for executive audiences, regional leadership, public safety partners, and front-line teams.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with intelligence agencies, police services, emergency management agencies, and other security leaders. 
• Continuously seeks emerging technologies and methodologies that improve the safety, security, and resilience of CF's national portfolio.
• Evaluates new and next-generation solutions, oversees national pilots and implementation strategies, and leads operational transformation initiatives. 
• Advanced knowledge of physical security systems, access control, video surveillance, alarm systems, and integrated command platforms.
• Strong understanding of applicable legislative and regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions (e.g., OHSA, Criminal Code, provincial fire codes). 
• Skilled in project governance, business case development, and ROI evaluation for major national initiatives. 
• Champions a service mindset among security leaders that prioritizes tenant experience, employee well-being, and public safety. 
• Operates with integrity, discretion, and accountability in all dealings — internal and external.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and a credible liaison to public safety agencies and external partners.

What you need to succeed:     

• Must qualify for and achieve a Level II Government of Canada security clearance.
• Post-secondary education or equivalent business management qualification in Security Management, Criminology, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Risk Management, or a related field is required.
• A university degree in a relevant business discipline (ex. Public Safety, Business Administration, Political Science, Occupational Health & Safety, or a criminology-related discipline) required.
• Graduate-level or specialized studies in Security, Emergency, or Risk-Based discipline or equivalent business discipline is a definite asset, as is completion of recognized security, emergency management, or safety certification, as examples:
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
• Physical Security Professional (PSP)
• Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
• Incident Command System (ICS 100, 200, 300)
• NFPA Life Safety Certification or Fire Security Director certification
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
• First Aid / CEP / AED Certification
• A minimum of 10 years of security management experience, ideally at a property or properties of complex scope (i.e., large, mixed-use facility), with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity overseeing security and/or life safety.
• Experience working in a real estate, property management, public-facing, or high-footfall environment is highly preferred.

Why you should join us:

At Cadillac Fairview we have been transforming communities for over 50 years. We are so much more than our properties. We are building leaders at all levels. We offer the challenge of interesting work, a great organizational culture, the opportunity to collaborate with the best in the business, and support for your growth and development. We reward values-based behavior and superior results with a competitive rewards package that includes best-in-class benefits and pension. Imagine a place where you can make a difference

At CF our everyday actions and critical business decisions are guided by our CF Values. Achieving results is naturally important for us and we achieve results through behaviours that are consistent with our CF Values.

Are you someone who believes in our values?

• Aim Higher – we strive to exceed expectations
• Own Your Expertise – we empower ourselves and each other
• Collaborate Effectively – we bring the right people together to get the right results
• Engage with Empathy – we objectively consider the needs of others
• Embrace Change – we drive, learn from, and adapt to change

At CF you'll join a diverse community and award-winning team where your talent and commitment to excellence are welcomed, valued and respected. We're ready to meet you there – are you?

CF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. If you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment, assessment, and/or selection process, please advise your CF contact or email