AVP, Software Development

LHH Knightsbridge; Toronto; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory organization in Canada is seeking an experienced AVP, Software Development to manage and enhance the technology stack of large enterprise systems. This role requires strong leadership in software architecture, compliance with regulatory standards, and the ability to lead large teams in a financial environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in software development, relational database management, and agile methodologies.

Qualifications

• University degree in Computer Science or related field with 15-20 years in software development and architecture.
• 5+ years in a leadership or director-level technical role.
• Experience managing large enterprise-scale complex platforms in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Own, manage, and enhance the technology stack of large, complex enterprise systems.
• Review and improve code, manage technical managers, and mentor senior engineers.
• Drive the long-term evolution of platforms in a financial environment.

Job description

Client: Canadian Securities Administrators, IT Systems Office (CSA ITSO)

Position: AVP, Software Development

Reports to: VP, Program and Product Delivery

Location: Toronto

THE ORGANIZATION

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), is the umbrella organization of Canada’s 10 provincial and 3 territorial securities regulators whose objective is to improve, coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets, to ensure (i) the smooth operation of Canada’s securities industry and (ii) collaborating in the delivery of regulatory programs and securities law enforcement.

The CSA is committed to a harmonized securities regulatory system that (i) provides protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, (ii) fosters fair and efficient capital markets, and (iii) reduces risks to market integrity and (iv) maintains investor confidence in the markets, while retaining the regional flexibility and innovation that characterize our system of provincial and territorial regulation.

The CSA functions through a Secretariat, an Information Technology Systems Office, standing, steering and project committees and national filing systems. Collectively, CSA members undertake the development of harmonized regulations and rules, and coordinate under passport and other interface policies for the (i) the approval of prospectuses and decisions regarding discretionary exemptions and (ii) applications for registration, designation and recognition as well as reviews of market participants.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The AVP, Software Development is a highly experienced and hands‑on senior‑level technical leader with extensive expertise in software engineering and architecture. This role will be responsible for owning, managing, and enhancing the technology stack of large, complex enterprise systems at over $100 million and consisting of million lines of Java and equivalent code. The AVP, Software Development is instrumental in ensuring the platform's integrity, efficiency, and compliance with public regulatory standards, thereby supporting the overarching mission of the organization.

Reporting to the VP, Program and Product Delivery of the CSA IT Systems Office, this role actively reviews and improves code, manages technical managers who support and mentor senior engineers, and drives the long‑term evolution of the platforms within a systemically important financial environment. Additionally, the AVP, Software Development is accountable for advancing and maturing Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) practices.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in Computer Science or related field with 15-20 years in software development and architecture, including 5+ years in a leadership or director‑level technical role.
• Proven experience managing large enterprise‑scale complex platforms, ideally in regulated environments (financial services, government, etc and ability to drive engineering excellence, streamline delivery processes and align technology solutions with business objectives.
• Demonstrated leadership in full‑stack architecture and development, including modern web frameworks, scalable cloud infrastructure and end‑to‑end DevOps pipelines. Strong understanding of cybersecurity, data governance, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proven experience leading large teams to deliver complex transformation programs involving extensive technology stacks, using Agile, SAFe, or hybrid delivery models.
• Proven leadership in establishing and governing code management practices, with deep expertise in tools such as Jenkins, SonarQube, JIRA and Microsoft DevOps.
• Extensive experience leading the strategy, implementation and optimization of system monitoring and observability frameworks using tools such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics, ELK and Grafana.
• Deep working knowledge of cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) including lift‑and‑shift or hybrid migration strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with high attention to detail; creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time‑critical problems.
• Collaborative, driven and self‑motivated; capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with public sector digital systems or regulatory technology.
• Sound knowledge of the CSA business activities and regulatory requirements is an asset.
• Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) certified and / or experience with CMMI‑based processes.
• Familiarity with AI or automation tools for IT operations (AIOps) is a strong asset.
• Bilingual (French / English) is an asset.