Program Manager, Data and AI Security – Canadian Tire – Toronto, ON
Location: Toronto, ON | Company: Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation is one of Canada’s most recognized retail and financial services organizations, and its cybersecurity team is growing. Based in Toronto, ON, this Program Manager, Data and AI Security role sits within the enterprise Cyber Security Program Management function and offers a rare opportunity to shape how a major Canadian company secures its AI systems, data platforms, and digital infrastructure at scale.
This is a strategic, influence-driven position — not a hands-on engineering role. You’ll work across architecture, platform, and risk teams to define AI and data security capabilities, drive roadmap adoption, and translate complex technical priorities into actionable plans that resonate with both technical leads and executive stakeholders alike.
About the Role: Program Manager, Data and AI Security
Reporting to the AVP, Cyber Security Program Management, you’ll lead strategic initiatives across the AI security and data security domains — covering everything from machine learning pipeline integrity to database hardening, encryption, and data governance. Your mandate is to define security requirements, build capability roadmaps, and drive cross-functional alignment from engineering teams all the way to the CISO level.
Success in this role requires both technical credibility and strong stakeholder management skills. You’ll be expected to facilitate data-driven decision-making, identify capability gaps, recommend tool rationalization, and present short-, mid-, and long-term roadmaps to executive leadership. Collaboration with compliance frameworks such as NIST AI RMF, ISO 27001, and privacy regulations including GDPR and CCPA is central to the work.
Benefits and Salary
Canadian Tire’s typical hiring range for this position is $80,000 to $131,000 per year, with final compensation depending on experience, competencies, and market conditions. The company offers a comprehensive benefits and retirement program, performance incentives, continuing education programs, mental health benefits of up to $5,000 per year for eligible employees and their families, Canadian Tire Profit Sharing, career growth opportunities, and product discounts.
Job Details
📌 Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
🏢 Company: Canadian Tire Corporation
📍 Location: Toronto, ON
🆔 Requisition ID: JR154070
🗓️ Date Posted: July 15, 2026
💰 Pay: $80,000 – $131,000 per year
Responsibilities
This role spans strategy, delivery, and influence — you’ll be simultaneously building capability roadmaps, setting security standards, and keeping engineering and executive teams aligned. Day-to-day, you’ll be navigating complex stakeholder environments while driving measurable improvements to Canadian Tire’s AI and data security posture.
- Develop and maintain an AI and data security capabilities roadmap aligned with organizational cyber strategy and risk assessments
- Define and enforce security-focused technical standards and guidelines for AI models, data platforms, and database technologies
- Establish security requirements for AI systems, data pipelines, and storage solutions, ensuring alignment with compliance frameworks and enterprise risk posture
- Partner with architecture and engineering teams to embed security requirements into AI model development, data governance, and operational practices
- Prioritize roadmap initiatives based on impact, cost, and feasibility across short-term (0–6 months), mid-term (6–18 months), and long-term (18+ months) horizons
- Deliver a detailed capability framework aligned to CISO expectations, including a capability heatmap and prioritized recommendations
- Facilitate fact-based, data-driven decision-making with domain expertise and influence technical and business outcomes through strong negotiation skills
- Present roadmaps and strategic recommendations to executive stakeholders for feedback and alignment
Requirements / Skills
Canadian Tire is looking for a technically credible security professional who can operate comfortably at both the strategic and technical levels. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in AI and data security program management, strong communication skills, and a track record of influencing outcomes in complex, matrixed organizations.
- 7+ years of program management experience in technology or cybersecurity, with at least 4 years focused on AI and data security
- Deep understanding of AI security controls including model integrity, adversarial attack mitigation, secure ML pipelines, and responsible AI principles
- Strong data security knowledge covering database hardening, encryption (data-at-rest and in-transit), tokenization, and secure data lifecycle management
- Data governance expertise including privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA), secure data sharing, and identity-based access controls
- Industry certifications required: CISSP, CCSP, CISM, or equivalent; AI security certifications (e.g., Certified AI Security Specialist) preferred
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and ISO 27001 is a strong asset
- Experience with secure AI development tools and data platforms such as Co-Pilot, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hadoop, Spark, Databricks, Power Platform, or Azure AI Studio is preferred
- SAFe Certification is considered a plus
How to Apply
To apply, visit the official job posting using the link below. Make sure your resume is up to date and reflects your experience in cybersecurity program management and AI/data security before submitting.
Share This Opportunity
Know someone who might be interested? Share this job posting and help them join Canadian Tire in Toronto.
Job Summary & Tips for Applying
Quick Summary & What to Highlight: This Program Manager, Data and AI Security role at Canadian Tire in Toronto is ideal for candidates who excel in AI and data security strategy, cross-functional program management, and executive stakeholder communication. On your resume, emphasize any experience building security capability roadmaps, working with compliance frameworks like NIST AI RMF or ISO 27001, and driving alignment between engineering and business teams. If you hold a CISSP, CCSP, or CISM certification, make sure those are prominently displayed.
Resume & Application Tips: Before applying, tailor your resume to match the job description. Include keywords like AI security, data governance, capability roadmap, encryption, and secure ML pipelines that appear in the posting. Quantify your achievements where possible (e.g., “managed a 3-year security roadmap across 5 engineering teams” or “reduced data security gaps by 40% through tooling rationalization”). A brief cover letter that speaks to your experience at the intersection of AI, data security, and enterprise program management will strengthen your application for this role in Toronto.
Interview Preparation: If selected for an interview, research Canadian Tire Corporation‘s cybersecurity priorities, enterprise technology strategy, and company values beforehand. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to demonstrate your ability to influence technical and business stakeholders and deliver complex security programs. Common questions may include scenarios around roadmap prioritization, handling competing business and security objectives, and embedding governance into engineering workflows. Dress professionally for a corporate technology environment, arrive 10–15 minutes early (or be ready early for virtual interviews), and bring copies of your resume. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team structure, current AI security maturity, and growth opportunities within the Cyber Security Program Management function. After the interview, send a thank-you email within 24 hours reiterating your interest in the position.