IT Support & Security Specialist

Position: IT Support & Security Specialist

Start Date: November 23, 2026

Urban Academy staff, students and families are connected through learning, inspired by community, and empowered to contribute as we work toward our vision of truly educating for tomorrow. We value creativity, collaboration, global citizenship, technology, the outdoors and the arts as means through which we can offer excellence in education. A gender-inclusive JK–12 independent school, we are located in a beautiful facility in New Westminster, across the street from Braid Street Skytrain Station.

At Urban Academy, we seek faculty and staff who are aligned with our values of belonging, future-focused education, changemaking and entrepreneurial spirit. Urban Academy is distinguished by extraordinary teachers who provide a collaborative, inquiry-based, and student-centred approach to teaching. Through the Urban Academy educational program, students develop critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills in a technology-rich learning environment.

The IT Support & Security Specialist plays a dual role in ensuring the stability of IT systems while maintaining cybersecurity across the organization. This position is responsible for supporting end-user devices, managing IT infrastructure, and implementing security protocols to safeguard sensitive data and systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation in IT support combined with hands-on cybersecurity experience, contributing to both day-to-day technical operations and long-term security initiatives.

As an IT Support & Security Specialist, your responsibilities include:

• Provide support for hardware, software, and network issues across staff and student devices.

• Administer identity and access management systems and maintain secure authentication practices.

• Implement and maintain security protocols, including endpoint protection, firewall rules, and data loss prevention strategies.

• Monitor security alerts, respond to incidents, and assist in investigations and remediation efforts.

• Manage network infrastructure, including switches, firewalls, Wi-Fi, and VPN connections, ensuring optimal performance and security.

• Maintain backup and disaster recovery systems, ensuring data integrity and minimizing downtime in case of failure.

• Assist in system upgrades, patch management, and the deployment of security updates across the network.

• Contribute to compliance with privacy regulations and cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., PIPA, NIST CSF 2.0).

• Support staff training on cybersecurity best practices and help maintain user awareness programs.

• Collaborate with vendors and service providers to manage hardware, software, and security tools.

• Maintain documentation for IT processes, security protocols, and system configurations.

Qualifications and requirements:

• Master’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field (preferred).

• Industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CompTIA Security+, Microsoft, AWS, or Cisco) are an asset.

• Experience with endpoint protection tools and identity management systems.

• Strong understanding of network infrastructure (firewalls, switches, VPNs, Wi-Fi).

• Knowledge of security frameworks and data privacy regulations.

• Hands-on experience with cloud-based services and SaaS applications.

• Basic scripting skills (e.g., PowerShell, Python) are an asset.

Preferred qualifications, experiences, and dispositions:

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.

• Effective communication skills for supporting both technical and non-technical users.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

• Attention to detail, especially regarding security protocols and risk mitigation.

• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for system maintenance or incident response.

• Must pass a criminal background check and adhere to organizational privacy and security policies.

• Other duties as required

Please visit our website (www.urbanacademy.ca) to learn more about UA’s wonderful school life and see if this is the type of environment that you feel you could thrive in, and contribute to. At Urban Academy, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring a barrier-free work environment. We welcome applications from all qualified job seekers, including BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and people of colour), persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ (persons of all sexual orientations and genders). If you are an applicant with a disability, we will work with you to make reasonable workplace accommodations you may need for your best work performance.

Urban Academy provides:

• Competitive Compensation at a salary range of $70,000 to $85,000, inclusive of vacation pay and commensurate with years of experience

• Open and collaborative culture

• Comprehensive benefits package

• Matching RRSP program

• Inspiring campus setting

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest, but only those candidates who are short-listed will be contacted. No phone calls or drop-ins, please.