Who are we?
Open North is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the common good. Working alongside governments and civic organizations of all sizes, we provide data expertise to inform decision-making, stimulate innovation, improve public and civil society services, and address society’s most pressing challenges.
Our work involves strengthening the capacity of organizations to make better decisions about managing their data so that it is useful, actionable, secure, and trustworthy throughout its lifecycle.
At Open North, we combine in-depth data and technology expertise with a multidisciplinary approach. Our team is made up of urban planners, software engineers, community organizers, data scientists, cyber and IT specialists, sociologists, geographers, and technology lawyers, allowing us to bring diverse perspectives to each project.
For more information, visit opennorth.ca
The opportunity
The Cyber Lead-in-Residence will help strengthen cybersecurity resilience across Canada’s not-for-profit, Indigenous, and local government sectors by building practical knowledge, confidence, and organizational capacity to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber risks.
This 1-year contract role focuses on:
- developing cybersecurity training and educational resources,
- facilitating workshops and learning sessions,
- supporting participants in cybersecurity initiatives,
- and contributing cybersecurity expertise in accessible, non-technical ways.
The successful candidate will work across multiple programs and collaborate with internal teams and external partners.
Key responsibilities
With the support and guidance of the program team, your responsibilities will include:
Content Creation (25%)
- Develop and update accessible cybersecurity training materials and resources.
- Create guides and toolkits for not-for-profits, Indigenous organizations, and local governments.
- Document and share cybersecurity best practices.
Training Coordination and Strategic Support (10%)
- Support participants throughout cybersecurity initiatives.
- Maintain communication and help resolve issues.
- Collaborate with organizational partners and project teams.
Facilitation and Evaluation (50%)
- Facilitate workshops, webinars, and training sessions.
- Adapt training to different audiences and levels of technical knowledge.
- Support evaluation activities using qualitative and quantitative feedback.
Targeted Support (15%)
- Provide specialized support related to cybersecurity initiatives to participating organizations, meeting them where they are at.
- Respond to participant questions and connect organizations to relevant resources and tools
Qualifications and skills
- Expertise in cybersecurity risk assessments and risk management, and awareness and training, including common threats facing small and medium-sized organizations.
- Ability to communicate technical cybersecurity concepts to non-technical audiences and adapt recommendations to organizations with varying levels of capacity and resources.
- Understanding of the operational realities of not-for-profits, Indigenous organizations, and local governments. You meet organizations where they are at without watering down the risk or necessary response.
- Experience facilitating workshops, webinars, or virtual learning sessions.
- Experience improving training materials based on participant feedback.
- Experience coordinating workshops and digital literacy or capacity-building initiatives.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
- Strong critical thinking, creativity, and attention to detail.
- Knowledge of the not-for-profit, Indigenous, and local government sectors.
Languages
- Professional fluency in English and French is mandatory (written and spoken).
Compensation and working conditions
Hours per week: Expected workload will vary throughout the contract, with a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Rate: $65.00/hour
Contract: July 2026 – June 2027 (1 year with strong likelihood of renewal)
Reports to: Program Manager
Location: Remote – Anywhere in Canada
Renewal: July 2027, subject to confirmed funding
Application deadline: June 15, 2026
Anticipated start date: July 6, 2026
Not sure if you are qualified for this position? Open North wants to hear from you. Research suggests that women are unlikely to apply for a new role unless they meet 100% of the stated job qualifications. Men, in contrast, are willing to put their name forward when they meet about 50-60% of the requirements. If the position and the mission of Open North interests you, please apply. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process. Applicants requiring accommodation are encouraged to contact us.
Open North is committed to achieving equitable participation in the workforce. We recruit, employ, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, age and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.
Send your resume and cover letter to jobs@opennorth.ca . If you have a portfolio, you can also include it.