Deputy Director, Information Technology (IT)

Are you a driven technology professional ready to use your skills for meaningful global impact?

Join UNICEF Canada – one of Canada’s most respected & historic charities – as our Deputy Director of Information Technology, where you’ll lead transformative technology strategies and directly support the well-being of children around the world. 

This is your opportunity to combine purpose with expertise —driving IT systems that empower teams, strengthen how we work, and ultimately help change lives.

Position Details

Why UNICEF & UNICEF Canada?

UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, we provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. We protect children from violence and abuse. Bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. Keep them safe from climate change and disease. Serve as the world’s largest provider of vaccines. Before, during and after emergencies, we’re on the ground with life-saving help and hope. The needs of children around the world continue to increase and the role of UNICEF is more important than ever.

UNICEF Canada is one of 32 National Committees located in high-income countries around the world. Our team exists to fundraise for UNICEF’s highest priorities, and to work neutrally with governments and the private sector in Canada and internationally to advance the rights and well-being of children and youth.

As UNICEF Canada prepares to launch a bold new Strategic Plan in 2026, a strong, committed team will be foundational to our success. Be part of this next phase of impact!

Position Description

Looking for an opportunity to join a mission-driven team using tech for good? This is it!  As a key leader at UNICEF Canada, the Deputy Director of Information Technology oversees the delivery of all core technology services — from cybersecurity and AI, to systems operations, to digital strategy and innovation.

This role is as hands-on as it is strategic, playing a pivotal role in mobilizing your team to ensure our infrastructure is secure, scalable, and aligned with our mission to create lasting impact for children around the world. This is your chance to lead transformative IT initiatives in a purpose-driven organization where technology truly powers change!

Key Accountabilities

Technology Strategy, Governance & Transformation (40%)

• With the Vice President, Technology, shape and execute an IT strategy aligned with UNICEF Canada’s mission and growth.
• Lead the identification, planning, and implementation of secure, scalable technologies—including AI, automation, and cloud-native solutions.
• Manage IT projects using Agile methodologies, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and to scope.
• Collaborate across departments to prioritize technology initiatives that support organizational goals.
• Define project scopes, objectives, and resource needs while tracking performance and outcomes.
• Develop and implement IT policies, procedures, and best practices.

Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance (30%)

• Lead cybersecurity strategy and operations, including threat detection, risk assessments, SIEM integration, and incident response aligned with NIST CSF.
• Oversee security infrastructure (e.g., ATP, DLP, MFA, endpoint protection, phishing simulation, and backup solutions) and ensure compliance across all systems.
• Regularly conduct audits, tabletop exercises, and penetration tests to validate controls and response readiness.
• Manage organizational readiness for privacy regulations and ensure secure handling of donor, financial, and personal data across platforms.
• Develop, maintain, and test business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) plans for all critical systems.

Core Infrastructure, Systems & IT Operations (20%)

• Oversee the reliability, security, and scalability of infrastructure—including Microsoft 365, networking, cloud (Azure), virtualization (Hyper-V), and hybrid systems.
• Lead day-to-day operations of IT support, ensuring responsive helpdesk services, system availability, and user satisfaction.
• Implement ITSM practices to ensure ticket tracking, service level monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Manage vendors and contracts, ensuring service delivery meets operational and security expectations.
• Oversee integrations with key platforms such as Raiser’s Edge NXT, Engaging Networks, Financial Edge, and the data warehouse.

Organizational Enablement & People Leadership (10%)

• Lead and coach a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation
• Oversee progress tracking using Jira for sprint management, capacity tracking, and visibility across teams.
• Contribute to cross-organizational planning, budgeting, and impact reporting, ensuring IT is integrated into broader goals.
• Participate actively in agile planning, team meetings, and organization-wide initiatives.
• Embed mission alignment and organizational values—including anti-colonial and anti-racist principles—into all areas of work.
• Maintain clear and organized systems for managing IT documentation and information.

Required Experience

Technical Skills

• Microsoft 365: Expert in Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and compliance & security tools such as Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Azure Active Directory (AD).
• Virtualization: Skilled in managing virtualized environments using platforms such as VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V.
• Cybersecurity: Deep understanding of network and information security including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), endpoint protection, security information and event management (SIEM) tools, and incident response.
• Networking: Proficient in network design, administration, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Cloud & Data Centres: Experienced in managing on-premise and hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform).
• Tech Support Leadership: Proven success managing helpdesk teams and IT service management (ITSM) practices.
• Vendor Management: Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and ensure SLAs.

Additional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, computer science, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive IT experience, including 3-5 in a leadership role.
• Strong communicator with the ability to engage cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, operations, and project management.
• Ability to travel, with some evening and weekend work required

An Employer of Choice: What We Offer

UNICEF Canada is where diverse talent & passion come together to create extraordinary impact for every child. We are committed to being an employer of choice and building a culture that is inclusive, ambitious, compassionate, and high impact. 

Members of the UNICEF Canada team have access to the following employee benefits:

Our Commitment to Inclusive Workplaces & Recruitment

UNICEF Canada is an inclusive workplace and is committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.

At UNICEF Canada, we believe strongly in personal connections and our hiring process is entirely human-driven. We do not use AI or automated systems to review applications or conduct interviews. Each candidate is evaluated by our experienced team to ensure a fair and thoughtful hiring experience.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document to careers@unicef.ca by May 14, 2025, 2025.  Please include your salary expectations in your cover email and reference Deputy Director, IT in the subject heading. 

UNICEF Canada thanks all applicants for their interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Consistent with our Child Safeguarding Policy, all successful candidates must receive clearance by a police background check (including a vulnerable sector screen).