Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London
Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity

Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead operational success in cybersecurity advisory, ensuring high-quality client outcomes.
  • Company: ISTARI, a strategic cybersecurity advisory company with a bold vision.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, comprehensive benefits, and hybrid working model.
  • Other info: Opportunity to work with senior stakeholders and evolve service portfolios.
  • Why this job: Join a dynamic team shaping the future of cybersecurity resilience.
  • Qualifications: Experience in cybersecurity or advisory, strong commercial acumen, and governance skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

About Us

ISTARI is a strategic cybersecurity advisory company with a bold vision: to curate the defining cybersecurity ecosystem of our time - uniting enterprise, academia, government, and innovators to build collective resilience. At the heart of this mission, ISTARI helps clients achieve lasting organisational cyber resilience by convening and applying world-class talent, expertise, and innovation through a uniquely powerful network - with ISTARI as the central orchestrator.

The Opportunity

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.

Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London employer: ISTARI

ISTARI is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, where employees are empowered to build frameworks and drive operational success in the fast-evolving field of cybersecurity. With a strong focus on professional growth, ISTARI offers competitive salaries, performance-related bonuses, and comprehensive benefits, all while promoting a hybrid working model that values flexibility and collaboration. Joining ISTARI means being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to enhancing organisational cyber resilience through a powerful network of talent and expertise.
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Contact Detail:

ISTARI Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the cybersecurity field. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of landing that Advisory Operations Director role.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in governance and operational success. Share specific examples of how you've improved service delivery or managed resources effectively.

✨Tip Number 3

Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies like ISTARI through our website. Express your interest in the Advisory Operations Director position and share how you can contribute to their mission.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of current cybersecurity trends and challenges. Be ready to discuss how you would manage client engagements and ensure high-quality outcomes. Confidence is key!

We think you need these skills to ace Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London

Governance Framework Implementation
Quality Assurance (QA)
Advisory Delivery Management
Engagement Management
Resource Allocation
Commercial Acumen
Service Catalogue Management
Operational Reporting
Cybersecurity Knowledge
Risk Management
Stakeholder Engagement
CRM/PSA Platforms (e.g. Salesforce, Confluence)
Metrics-Driven Approach
Adaptability in Fast-Moving Markets

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Advisory Operations Director role. Highlight your experience in cybersecurity and how it aligns with ISTARI's mission. We want to see how you can contribute to our vision of building collective resilience!

Showcase Your Governance Skills: Since governance is a key part of this role, be sure to emphasise any relevant experience you have in implementing QA frameworks or managing service portfolios. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their ability to maintain high standards and protect reputations.

Highlight Your Commercial Acumen: This position requires strong commercial awareness, so don’t shy away from discussing your experience with budget management and profitability. Share examples of how you've successfully balanced demand and resources in previous roles – we’re all about that operational success!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at ISTARI!

How to prepare for a job interview at ISTARI

✨Know Your Cybersecurity Stuff

Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity. Understand how advisory services are structured and delivered, as well as the importance of governance frameworks. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the industry but also passionate about it.

✨Showcase Your Operational Skills

Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed operations or governance in a fast-paced environment. Highlight your ability to balance demand and resources while ensuring high-quality outcomes. This will demonstrate that you can handle the hands-on nature of the role.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Think about how you would approach working with senior stakeholders and partners. Be ready to discuss how you’ve navigated challenging conversations in the past and maintained alignment. This is crucial for the role, so showing your interpersonal skills will be key.

✨Be Metrics-Driven

Familiarise yourself with metrics that matter in advisory roles, such as margin management and utilisation rates. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions and improve service delivery. This will highlight your operational discipline and commercial acumen.

Advisory Operations Director, Cybersecurity in London
ISTARI
Location: London

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