Technical Director UK

Technical Director UK

Full-Time 100000 - 130000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Trend Micro

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead AI security strategy and drive commercial success across the UK and Ireland.
  • Company: Join TrendAI™, a global leader in AI security with a unique culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a progressive work environment, career development, and recognition for your contributions.
  • Other info: Collaborative team culture that values diversity and innovation.
  • Why this job: Shape a safer AI-powered future while making a real impact in the tech industry.
  • Qualifications: Strong business acumen and experience in technology leadership required.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.

TrendAI™, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. At TrendAI™, we’re always seeking exceptional talent; people who want to collaborate with the best and push boundaries together. Here, your work goes beyond building a career. You will help protect what matters and play a vital role in shaping a safer, more trustworthy AI-powered future.

The Technical Director for UK & Ireland is the business-aligned technology leader for the market, accountable for turning platform strategy into measurable commercial impact and long-term customer value across UKI. The role is responsible for shaping strategy, driving commercial outcomes, and owning the business rationale behind technical decisions.

Your primary mandate will be to drive revenue growth (ARR / NRR), protect the installed base (GRR), reduce churn, and accelerate platform adoption, with Vision One at the core, while addressing UKI market dynamics and regulatory requirements.

Strategic and commercial accountabilities
  • ARR & NRR growth: Defines the technical growth plays and platform strategies that expand Annual Recurring Revenue and improve Net Revenue Retention across the UKI market.
  • GRR & churn mitigation: Owns the approach to protecting the installed base: identifying at-risk accounts, defining retention plays, and ensuring platform value realisation prevents churn before it materialises.
  • Vision One attach: Sets the strategy and business rationale for accelerating Vision One attach rates across the customer lifecycle, tying every expansion conversation to measurable customer outcomes.
  • Cross-sell & upsell: Prioritises cross-sell and upsell opportunities across the platform portfolio: which plays to run, in which segments, and why.
  • Lighthouse & strategic deals: Leads technical strategy and executive engagement on lighthouse opportunities and strategic deals that expand footprint and set competitive benchmarks in UKI.
Market and go-to-market strategy
  • Defines and owns the technical market strategy aligned to UKI growth priorities, industry plays, and customer maturity levels.
  • Shapes platform positioning and differentiated value propositions to support new logo acquisition and competitive displacement.
  • Drives the initiatives required to win in priority segments, verticals, and key accounts.
  • Aligns technical go-to-market plays with Sales, Channel, and Marketing for coherent execution across the customer lifecycle.
Sovereignty, compliance and regulatory strategy
  • Defines the platform's strategic positioning against UK and Irish regulatory frameworks, data residency, and sovereignty requirements.
  • Determines which sovereignty-related capabilities and messaging are required to win in public sector, critical infrastructure, and regulated industries.
  • Owns the business case for sovereign delivery models or in-country service capabilities where these are key buying factors.
Executive and ecosystem engagement
  • Builds trusted advisor relationships with senior customer stakeholders (CISOs, CTOs, Board-level).
  • Leads executive briefings, transformation discussions, and C-level engagements that position the platform as a strategic investment.
  • Drives strategic collaboration with ecosystem partners (MSSPs, GSIs, Telcos, Alliances), defining partnership and co-development opportunities in-market.
Team architecture and Solution Engineering leadership
  • Designs the shape of the UKI SE team around business need rather than fixed structure: sizing, specialisation, pooled versus dedicated coverage, and how the team reconfigures as market priorities shift.
  • Builds a bench that can flex to demand, moving capacity toward the segments, verticals, and strategic pursuits that matter most at any given time, and reprioritising when business needs change.
  • Connects people with complementary skills across reporting lines to respond to opportunities, rather than being constrained by the org chart.
  • Owns resource allocation, territory coverage, and workload balance aligned to sales priorities.
Present and future skill needs
  • Maintains a live view of the team's current capability against what the market demands: platform depth, Vision One, sovereignty and regulated-market readiness, and emerging AI-security skills.
  • Identifies the skill gaps that will matter twelve to twenty-four months out, and builds the pipeline (hiring, enablement, certification, internal development) to close them before they bite.
  • Builds skill benches at each level so the team has depth and succession, not single points of failure.
Delivery, pipeline and operational health
  • Drives execution across demos, Proof of Concepts, workshops, and technical validations with consistent delivery quality; owns technical qualification and solution strategy across active UKI opportunities.
  • Drives competitive positioning and technical closing through hands-on deal support; manages escalations and critical interventions, deploying the right resources at the right time.
  • Builds scalable playbooks, demo standards, and methodologies; tracks operational KPIs (win rates, PoC success, evaluation conversion, time-to-impact, SE utilisation) and sustains a high-performance culture.
Success measures
  • ARR / NRR growth acceleration in UKI.
  • GRR improvement and churn reduction.
  • Vision One attach rate acceleration.
  • Strategic and lighthouse deal wins.
  • Platform adoption and expansion.
  • Sovereignty-aligned market success in regulated UKI sectors.
  • Scalable, high-quality technical sales execution and field readiness.
Experience & Competencies Required:
  • Business and commercial acumen: Translates technology into revenue and retention outcomes; prioritises on business impact, not technical elegance.
  • Strategic clarity: Articulates why a play matters, not just what to do; balances platform strategy with UKI market realities.
  • Platform and solution thinking: Thinks in platform plays and lifecycle attach pathways rather than isolated products.
  • Executive influence: Credible at C-level and Board; leads transformation conversations, not just sales cycles.
  • Regulatory sensitivity: Integrates sovereignty, data residency, and compliance into strategy as a UKI differentiator.
  • Operates at altitude, dives when needed: Moves fluidly between boardroom strategy and hands-on technical validation, the defining trait for this blended role.
  • Leads and develops teams: Builds, coaches, and retains a high-performing SE team; creates clarity in ambiguity.
  • Closes the customer feedback loop to Product: Systematically captures customer experience and pain points from the field and feeds them back to PM as structured signal, not anecdote, so the platform roadmap reflects UKI market reality.
  • Aligns tightly with Sales, Channel and Marketing leadership: Builds fearless, trust-based working relationships with GTM leadership so technical strategy and field execution move as one.
  • Recognised as an external thought leader: Seen as a credible voice in the UKI market: shapes the conversation with customers, partners, analysts, and at industry forums, not just inside deals.

TrendAI provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. TrendAI does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, pregnancy and childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care leave status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

TrendAI is a progressive employer with a very special and unique culture. Here at Trend you will work with the best. When you join us, you have direct access to any level, and freedom to make an impact and influence. We expect leadership, not management. With Trend, you drive your own development. We encourage thought leadership and advocate internal opportunity. Trend is like nowhere else. We embrace all of our differences and are motivated by challenge. We’re not just all about the money. You are recognised for your passion to succeed, and can be the best part of yourself here.

Technical Director UK employer: Trend Micro

At TrendAI™, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Our employees enjoy a dynamic work environment where they can grow their careers while making a meaningful impact in the AI security landscape. With a commitment to employee development and a diverse workforce, we empower our team members to push boundaries and achieve their full potential in a supportive atmosphere.

Trend Micro

Contact Details:

Trend Micro Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Technical Director UK

Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community

Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!

Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions

Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Trend Micro, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.

Tailor Your Online Presence

Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!

Apply Directly Through Trend Micro

Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Trend Micro. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.

We think you need these skills to ace Technical Director UK

Business and Commercial Acumen
Strategic Clarity
Platform and Solution Thinking
Executive Influence
Regulatory Sensitivity
Team Leadership and Development
Customer Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!

Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!

Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Trend Micro insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.

Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Trend Micro that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.

How to prepare for a job interview at Trend Micro

Sharpen Your Technical Skills

For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect the interviewers at Trend Micro to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Highlight Your Certifications

Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Trend Micro.

Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity

Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.