Identity and Security Automation Specialist – Enterprise Information Technology (EIT)

Saint Mary's University; Halifax; On-site; CAD 81,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Defined contribution pension plan

Vacation

Personal days

Flexible workplace

Professional development

Holiday closure

Summer hour schedule

Transit EPass discount

Job summary

Saint Mary's University is seeking an Identity and Security Automation Specialist to join the Enterprise Information Technology (EIT) team in Halifax. The role focuses on IAM, SSO/MFA support, access governance, and automation across university systems.

You will collaborate with applications teams and People & Culture to streamline onboarding, role changes, and offboarding while aligning with security policies and privacy requirements.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of IAM operations, systems administration, service desk/security ops, or similar role.
• Experience with Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD).
• Experience in a ticketing/ITSM environment and change control.

Responsibilities

• Support IAM services including user provisioning/deprovisioning and access changes per approved requests.
• Troubleshoot SSO and MFA access issues and escalate complex problems within the team.
• Monitor identity platform health (e.g., AD and Entra ID) and escalate remediation.
• Perform periodic access reviews and support audit requests with evidence and remediation tracking.
• Onboard applications to IAM standards and maintain access documentation.
• Advance automation for onboarding/role changes/offboarding across systems.

Skills

IAM operations

SSO MFA

Active Directory

Microsoft Entra ID

RBAC

Access provisioning

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Customer service

Education

IT/CS degree or diploma

Tools

SIEM

SOAR

Defender

Firewalls

PowerShell

Python

Azure AD

Job description

Date Posted: October 21st, 2026

Posting Deadline: Until Filled

Department: Enterprise Information Technology (EIT)

Type of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time

Group Affiliation: APC Group, Group 7 ($80,889 - $104,245 annually)

At Saint Mary's University, you will be surrounded by a talented and dedicated team of professionals committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success. We are currently looking to fill the position of Identity and Security Automation Specialist to join our Enterprise Information Technology (EIT) team.

What We Offer

As a team member at Saint Mary's, we are proud to offer many benefits. Some of these include:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan
• Vacation
• Personal days
• Flexible Workplace
• Professional development
• Holiday closure
• Summer hour schedule
• Discounted Employee Transit EPass through Halifax Transit

Job Information And Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Manager, Systems and Cybersecurity, the Identity and Security Automation Specialist will:

• Support IAM services, including user account provisioning/deprovisioning, role management, and access changes in alignment with approved requests and least privilege practices.
• Support single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), by troubleshooting access issues and escalating complex problems within the Systems and Cybersecurity team.
• Monitor identity platform health (e.g., Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID), investigate operational issues, and elevate remediation within the Systems and Cybersecurity team.
• Perform periodic access reviews and support confidential audit requests made by senior university leadership, by collecting evidence, validating access, documenting outcomes, and tracking remediation to closure.
• Partner with application owners to onboard applications to IAM standards and maintain accurate access documentation.
• Improve/create intelligent automation and workflows to ensure timely onboarding, role changes, and offboarding (joiner/mover/leaver) across systems and applications, working closely with People & Culture.
• Contribute automation and continuous improvement process enhancements that reduce manual effort and improve consistency.
• Evaluate, recommend, and provide guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation solutions across the university, ensuring alignment with institutional policies, privacy requirements, cybersecurity controls, and responsible AI practices.
• Review, develop and enhance enterprise IT security policies to ensure alignment with organizational objectives, emerging risks, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, providing strategic recommendations for CIO approval.
• Monitors systems, networks and software and reports security breaches to the appropriate manager, or as appropriate, to the CIO.
• Provide clear customer-focused support to internal stakeholders, communicate status and next steps, create/update knowledge articles, policies and standard operating procedures.

Key Technologies

Scripting and automation experience (e.g., PowerShell, Python) to streamline operational tasks and reporting.

• Security Scanning tools (BellCyber, Bitsight).
• Knowledge of security appliances like SIEM, SOAR, Defender and firewalls.
• Understanding of AI concepts.
• Knowledge and understanding of networking and protocols.
• Working knowledge of IAM concepts including identity lifecycle, least privilege, rolebased access control (RBAC), and segregation of duties.
• Understanding of authentication concepts and protocols (e.g., SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0) and common troubleshooting approaches.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Customer service mindset with the ability to explain technical access issues to nontechnical users and stakeholders.
• Ability to coordinate across teams (Applications, Client Services, Systems & Cybersecurity, vendors) and manage multiple priorities in a queue-based environment.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respectful collaboration in the workplace.

Experience And Education Requirements

To be the successful Identity and Security Automation Specialist you will have:

• Diploma or degree in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 2-5 years of recent, related experience in IAM operations, systems administration, service desk/security operations support, or a similar technical role.
• Experience with Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), including users, groups, and access assignments.
• Experience working in a ticketing/ITSM environment, including following change control and documenting work performed.
• Ability to keep abreast of latest trends and changes in the IT security threat landscape and new technology as required.
• Comfortable using Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Office Suite to collaborate, document and communicate effectively.

At Saint Mary's University equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we welcome applications from women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity and others who might contribute to the growth and enrichment of our community.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].