Cyber Incident Response Commander (Contract)

Sopra Steria; Montreal; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sopra Steria is recruiting a Cyber Incident Response Commander for a contractual role in Montréal. You will lead the CERT response, coordinate business and technical teams, and guide containment and recovery with strong incident-management discipline.

The role requires experience with incident response frameworks, security operations, and relevant certifications. Excellent communication with executives and a calm, decisive leadership style are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a role with similar responsibilities (CERT/SOC/SecOps/GRC).
• Strong understanding of incident management processes and methodologies (ISO 27035, NIST, SANS).
• Knowledge of SOC operations, forensics techniques and security tools.
• Relevant cybersecurity certifications (GCFA, ECIH, CISSP, CEH, ECSA, ITIL Foundation).
• Degree in a STEM field, cybersecurity or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Act as Incident Commander during security incidents, coordinating business and technical teams.
• Assess incident severity, prioritise incidents and declare major incidents when needed.
• Manage incidents per IRP and playbooks, ensure team alignment and collaboration.
• Prioritise forensic activities and drive mitigation and recovery to resolution.
• Communicate and report incidents to stakeholders, management and executives.
• Maintain and update the IRP and related playbooks and scope-specific plans.

Skills

Incident management

Leadership

Security frameworks

Communication

Education

STEM degree

Tools

SOC operations

Forensics

Security tools

Job description

Cyber Incident Response Commander (Contract)

• Full-time

We are recruiting on behalf of our client, a global leader in shipping and logistics, for a Cyber Incident Response Commander to join its Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Montréal.

Our client operates a worldwide network of vessels, ports, terminals and logistics services, and relies on a dedicated cyber defence organisation to protect its operations around the clock. In this role, you will be at the centre of that effort, leading the response when security incidents occur.

Overview of the role

The Cyber Incident Response Commander leads the response to information security incidents within our client’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). Reporting to the Incident Response Manager, you will take command when incidents occur: bringing business and technical teams together, assessing severity, coordinating containment and recovery, and keeping leadership informed. Between incidents, you will strengthen the client’s Incident Response Plan, playbooks and processes so the organisation is ready for the next one. This role calls for calm leadership under pressure, sound judgement and the ability to communicate clearly with everyone from analysts to executives.

Mission timeline

• Expected start date: January 4, 2027
• Expected end date: December 31, 2027

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Incident Commander during security incidents, bringing business and technical units to the table to coordinate an effective response
• Assess incident severity, analyse and prioritise incidents, and formally declare major incidents based on risk and regulatory criteria
• Manage incidents in line with the Incident Response Plan (IRP) and playbooks, ensuring each team member operates within their defined responsibilities and collaborates effectively
• Prioritise forensic activities and follow mitigation and recovery efforts through to resolution
• Communicate, notify and report on incidents to stakeholders, management and executives
• Maintain the IRP and its appendices, keeping it current and aligned with other plans and policies in effect
• Refine incident playbooks and write scope-specific IRPs (e.g., vessels, regions, subsidiaries)
• Work with legal and communications departments to improve incident response processes
• Gather lessons learned, establish links between incidents and recommend improvements
• Provide evidence to internal and external auditors
• Contribute to Cyber Defense Center collaboration activities and to CERT-related projects, improvements and compliance efforts

Required Skills

• 5+ years of experience in a role with similar responsibilities, such as CERT, SOC, SecOps or GRC
• Strong understanding of incident management processes and methodologies, such as ISO 27035, the NIST framework or the SANS 6-step process
• Knowledge of SOC operations, forensics techniques and security tools
• Relevant cybersecurity certifications, such as GCFA, ECIH, CISSP, CEH, ECSA and ITIL Foundation
• Degree in a STEM field, cybersecurity or equivalent, with a focus on rigour and optimisation
• Proven ability to keep your cool under pressure and think clearly in moments of chaos
• Ability to convey security messages to management and executives
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English in a professional context, with strong analysis and synthesis skills
• Autonomy, proactivity and leadership, with the drive to make things evolve
• Ability to work in an international environment with offshore teams
• Discretion when handling sensitive matters

Nice to have skills

• Experience in the transport, shipping or logistics industry
• Experience working in consulting or client-facing environments
• Experience building or maintaining incident response plans and playbooks for multi-site or international organisations

At Sopra Steria, we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and to nurture a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and supported. We are committed to fighting all forms of discrimination and building an environment where every individual can thrive. We warmly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. If you require accommodations at any stage of the selection process, we will be happy to provide them upon request.

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. We truly appreciate the time and effort you put into applying.