At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in cybersecurity advisory operations, ensuring top-notch client outcomes.
- Company: Dynamic cybersecurity firm focused on operational excellence and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, comprehensive health benefits, and hybrid work options.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of cybersecurity services while working with industry leaders.
- Qualifications: Experience in cybersecurity or advisory roles with strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
This is the operational and governance engine room of our Advisory practice and a hands-on role. You will build the frameworks, not just oversee them. You will own the end-to-end operational success of Advisory engagements across ISTARI internally and in collaboration with portfolio companies and strategic partners, ensuring disciplined execution, strong commercial performance, and consistent high-quality client outcomes. You will also own the governance, lifecycle management, and continuous evolution of ISTARI's Advisory capabilities, service catalogue, and associated roadmaps - keeping services current, relevant, and differentiated.
What You’ll Do
- Governance: Implement and enforce QA frameworks across the full advisory lifecycle, from opportunity scoping to final delivery. Maintain ISTARI's governance standards and protect the reputation of the practice.
- Advisory Delivery & Engagement Management: Coordinate internal teams, portfolio companies, and strategic partners to ensure seamless execution, knowledge transfer, and a consistently strong client experience.
- Traffic Control & Resourcing: Manage global allocation of internal FTEs, partners, and portfolio resources. Balance demand, specialist capability, and commercial objectives across all engagements.
- Expert Network Stewardship: Oversee onboarding, vetting, and governance of subcontractors and specialist partners. Ensure all third parties meet ISTARI standards on delivery quality, commercial terms, and client engagement.
- Commercial Hygiene: Monitor project budgets in real time. Ensure all engagements are properly scoped and priced to protect profitability.
- Service Catalogue & Capability Lifecycle: Own the Advisory Service Catalogue end to end. Ensure services are clearly defined, costed, packaged, and continuously refreshed to reflect new IP, regulatory developments, emerging threats, and market demand.
- Advisory IP, Knowledge & Industry Intelligence: Capture and curate advisory IP, methodologies, and client insights. Maintain a central, current knowledge base that underpins ISTARI's Advisory offering.
- Operational Reporting: Provide regular reporting to the Global Head of Advisory and ExCo on delivery performance, utilisation, margin, pipeline alignment, and service catalogue maturity.
What You’ll Bring
Experience in a cybersecurity, risk, technology, or professional services advisory environment, with a strong understanding of how high-value services are structured, delivered, and evolved. Proven ability to govern and evolve service portfolios and capability frameworks in fast-moving markets. Strong commercial acumen, fluent in margin management, utilisation, and partner cost dynamics. Metrics-driven and operationally disciplined, able to build structured governance in a scaling environment. Confident working with senior stakeholders across leadership, partners, and portfolio companies, able to challenge constructively and maintain alignment. Experience with CRM/PSA and knowledge management platforms (e.g. Salesforce, Confluence or similar). Scale-up mindset, comfortable building and running frameworks simultaneously as structures evolve.
Compensation and Benefits
Competitive base salary, benchmarked against industry practice in our hub locations. Performance-related annual bonus, linked to individual contribution. Comprehensive benefits: medical and dental cover, pension contributions, and life insurance. Hybrid working model - with willingness to travel for client engagements.
Director, Cybersecurity Advisory Operations employer: ISTARI
ISTARI is an exceptional employer for the Advisory Operations Director role, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the fast-paced cybersecurity sector. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, ISTARI provides comprehensive benefits, including competitive salaries, performance-related bonuses, and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. The company's commitment to maintaining high governance standards and delivering quality client outcomes ensures that employees are part of a mission-driven team dedicated to excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Cybersecurity Advisory Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the cybersecurity and advisory space. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your experience in governance, operational success, and advisory delivery. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can build frameworks and drive high-quality client outcomes.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s advisory practice. Understand their service catalogue and recent projects. When you walk in, you’ll not only impress them with your knowledge but also show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and ready to take on the challenges of the Advisory Operations Director role.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Cybersecurity Advisory Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in cybersecurity and advisory roles, focusing on how you've built frameworks and managed operations in similar environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Advisory Operations Director role. Mention specific examples of your past successes in governance and operational management.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen:Since this role requires strong commercial skills, be sure to include any relevant metrics or achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage budgets and drive profitability in previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at ISTARI
✨Know Your Governance Inside Out
Make sure you understand the QA frameworks and governance standards that are crucial for this role. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented similar frameworks in past positions, and think of examples where you maintained high-quality client outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Advisory Delivery Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in coordinating teams and managing engagements. Highlight specific instances where you ensured seamless execution and knowledge transfer, as well as how you handled challenges during advisory delivery.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Brush up on your understanding of margin management and project budgeting. Be prepared to discuss how you've monitored budgets in real-time and ensured profitability in previous roles, as this will be key to success in this position.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools and Platforms
Since experience with CRM/PSA and knowledge management platforms is essential, make sure you're comfortable discussing tools like Salesforce or Confluence. If you have specific examples of how you've used these tools to enhance operational reporting or service delivery, share them!
