Senior / Principal Security Operations Specialist

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS: FULL PROFESSIONAL PROFICIENCY IN BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH. CANDIDATES MUST CURRENTLY RESIDE IN MONTREAL OR THE GREATER MONTREAL AREA, WITH A STRONG PREFERENCE FOR THOSE LIVING IN MONTREAL ITSELF. 4 DAYS ON SITE

Please do not apply if you are not fully fluent in BOTH French and English. This is a strict, non-negotiable requirement. Candidates who are fluent in only one of these languages will not be considered.

About the Opportunity

We are looking for a highly experienced Senior / Principal Security Operations Specialist to support a major international organization based in Montréal.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on cybersecurity professional who thrives in a dynamic, international environment and can take ownership of day-to-day security operations, incident response and continuous security improvement.

The successful candidate will work closely with internal IT teams, external Security Operations Center (SOC) partners and stakeholders across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee day-to-day cybersecurity operations.
• Monitor, investigate and coordinate the response to security incidents and emerging threats.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for external SOC and security service providers.
• Manage and optimize security capabilities across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• Strengthen endpoint protection, identity security, access controls and data protection.
• Support security assessments and technical integration activities following mergers and acquisitions.
• Identify vulnerabilities, security gaps and operational risks, and implement remediation plans.
• Improve security procedures, incident response playbooks and operational processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in both French and English.

Required Technical Expertise

• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in cybersecurity, ideally within enterprise environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft 365 Security
• Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
• Microsoft Intune
• Microsoft Purview
• Security incident investigation and response
• SOC operations and coordination with external security providers
• Experience with Zscaler and cloud/network security technologies.
• Solid understanding of identity protection, endpoint security, Zero Trust principles and security monitoring.
• Ability to work autonomously, troubleshoot complex security issues and implement practical solutions.

Mandatory Language Requirements - Knockout Criteria

Fluent French AND fluent English are mandatory.

The candidate must be able to:

• Communicate confidently and professionally in both languages.
• Lead technical discussions, meetings and incident response activities in French and English.
• Explain complex cybersecurity matters to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Produce and understand professional technical documentation in both languages.

French only = Not eligible.

English only = Not eligible.

Basic or intermediate proficiency in either language = Not eligible.

Both languages must be at an advanced professional level (C1 or equivalent).

Language proficiency will be assessed during the recruitment process. No exceptions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in multinational or multi-entity environments.
• Previous involvement in mergers, acquisitions and IT/security integration projects.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, Microsoft Security certifications or equivalent.
• Experience with Microsoft Sentinel, KQL, SIEM and threat hunting.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving skills.

Contract Details

• Location: Montréal, Québec
• Work arrangement: Hybrid – 4 days per week onsite
• Extension: Potential opportunity to transition into a permanent position
• Compensation: Competitive, based on experience. Permanent salary reference range: CAD 110,000–150,000 annually.
• Start date: ASAP

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a senior, hands-on cybersecurity professional who combines deep technical expertise with operational leadership and strong communication skills.

The ideal candidate is comfortable managing security incidents, collaborating with external SOC providers, securing Microsoft environments and communicating effectively with stakeholders in both French and English.

Please apply only if you meet ALL of the following essential requirements:

1. Fully fluent in French AND English.
2. At least 7 years of relevant cybersecurity experience.
3. Strong hands-on experience with the Microsoft security ecosystem.
4. Proven experience in security operations and incident response.
5. Able to work onsite in Montréal 4 days per week.

Applications that do not meet these mandatory criteria will not be considered.