Job Description
Description
Avanade operates through direct Avanade relationships and through the Accenture Microsoft Business Group (AMBG), our joint channel with Accenture and Microsoft. AMBG helps clients address critical business and technology challenges by combining Avanade's Microsoft expertise, Accenture's industry reach and Microsoft's security platform innovation.
This Director grade role is a senior cyber defence architecture role within AMBG Security. The role focuses on shaping, selling and delivering Microsoft-led security operations transformation, with particular depth in Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365, Defender for Cloud Apps, MXDR operating models, detection engineering, threat hunting, automation and managed security services.
The successful candidate will operate as a market-facing leader and trusted advisor for enterprise clients. They will help clients modernise their SOC, consolidate SIEM and XDR capability, improve response outcomes, and realise the value of Microsoft Security investments through practical, scalable and commercially strong solutions.
Key Responsibilities
The AMBG Senior Cyber Defence Architect will own and lead cyber defence solutioning and delivery across the AMBG channel. The role blends market development, client advisory, solution architecture, delivery assurance, capability development and thought leadership.
- Lead the architecture of Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and MXDR solutions for large enterprise clients, from strategy and business case through to design, mobilisation and delivery assurance.
- Shape modern SOC and SecOps transformation programmes, including operating model design, tooling consolidation, incident management, detection engineering, automation, threat hunting and continuous improvement.
- Define and evolve AMBG cyber defence offerings, accelerators and go-to-market assets that align to Microsoft Security priorities and client demand.
- Support sales development and conversion by leading client workshops, qualification, solution shaping, estimation, proposal development and executive-level presentations.
- Provide technical and architectural direction to security architects, consultants and delivery teams, ensuring solutions are robust, deliverable and commercially viable.
- Act as a senior escalation point for complex delivery challenges across Sentinel, Defender, MXDR and managed security services engagements.
- Build trusted relationships with client security leaders, Microsoft, Accenture and internal Avanade stakeholders to drive growth and delivery excellence.
- Contribute to demand management, capability planning, certification pathways and skills development for the AMBG Security team.
- Represent AMBG Security in the market as a credible cyber defence thought leader and ambassador for Avanade's Microsoft Security business.
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What you’ll do:
Thought leadership and market presence
- Develop a clear point of view on unified security operations, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and AI-enabled cyber defence.
- Create compelling client-facing narratives, reference architectures and reusable assets that help position Avanade as a leading Microsoft Security partner.
- Represent AMBG Security in senior client conversations, Microsoft engagements, industry forums and internal leadership discussions.
Sales, solutioning and delivery
- Lead cyber defence solutioning for complex Microsoft Security opportunities, balancing technical quality, delivery feasibility and commercial outcomes.
- Translate client pain points into practical roadmaps covering SIEM and XDR integration, Defender deployment, Sentinel optimisation, automation, use case engineering and managed detection and response.
- Provide delivery assurance for major engagements and ensure architectural decisions support measurable security outcomes.
Offerings and capability development
- Create and evolve repeatable offerings for Sentinel modernisation, Defender XDR integration, MXDR mobilisation, SOC optimisation, attack path-informed detection and managed security services.
- Build the skills, methods and quality standards required for AMBG Security to deliver cyber defence work consistently at enterprise scale.
- Identify new market opportunities created by Microsoft Security platform changes, client consolidation pressures and managed service growth.
Leadership and collaboration
- Influence across a highly matrixed organisation, working with Avanade, Accenture and Microsoft stakeholders to progress strategic opportunities.
- Coach and guide architects and consultants, strengthening technical depth, client presence and commercial confidence across the team.
- Contribute to an inclusive, high-performance culture that attracts, develops and retains strong security talent.
Skills and experiences
- Extensive experience leading Microsoft cyber defence, SOC modernisation, SIEM, XDR, MXDR or managed security services programmes for enterprise clients.
- Deep hands-on and architectural knowledge of Microsoft Sentinel, including data connectors, analytics rules, automation, workbooks, KQL, content management, cost optimisation and operational governance.
- Strong expertise across Microsoft Defender XDR and the Microsoft Defender suite, including Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Cloud Apps.
- Ability to design integrated SIEM and XDR architectures that improve detection, triage, investigation, response, hunting and reporting across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- Credible experience with SOC operating models, threat-led use case development, detection engineering, incident response processes, SOAR playbooks and service transition into managed operations.
- Strong commercial and client-facing skills, with the ability to engage CISOs, security operations leaders, infrastructure leaders and procurement stakeholders.
- Proven ability to shape complex opportunities, create clear solution narratives, estimate delivery effort, manage risk and support sales conversion.
- Experience creating new offerings from ideation through to market launch, including assets, accelerators, delivery methods and enablement material.
- Advanced Microsoft Security certifications such as SC-100 and SC-200. SC-300, AZ-500 or related Microsoft certifications are beneficial.
- Industry-recognised certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, GIAC or equivalent are beneficial.
- Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards such as MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, GDPR and SOC operating model good practice.
- Ability to lead in a matrixed environment, build followership and develop people while maintaining a strong focus on growth, delivery quality and client outcomes.
About you
- You are a senior cyber defence leader who can operate comfortably between board-level security strategy and detailed platform architecture.
- You understand how enterprise SOC teams actually operate, where tooling programmes fail, and how to turn Microsoft Security capability into measurable operational improvement.
- You can lead high-value client conversations with authority, simplify complex technical choices and create confidence with executive stakeholders.
- You are commercially minded, delivery-aware and able to build solutions that Avanade can sell, deliver and scale safely.
- You invest in others, share knowledge openly and help build a strong, inclusive cyber defence capability across AMBG Security.
Measures of success
- Growth in qualified and converted cyber defence pipeline across AMBG Security.
- Successful delivery of Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and managed security services engagements with strong client satisfaction.
- Clear, reusable AMBG cyber defence offerings and assets that accelerate sales and improve delivery consistency.
- Improved capability depth across the team, including certifications, delivery methods and architectural quality.
- Stronger strategic relationships with client security leaders, Microsoft, Accenture and Avanade stakeholders.
Enjoy your career
Some of the best things about working at Avanade and AMBG:
- Opportunity to work for Microsoft's Global Alliance Partner of the Year, with exceptional development and training, including paid certifications.
- Real-time access to technical and skilled resources globally.
- A dedicated career advisor to encourage your growth.
- Engaged and helpful colleagues who are genuinely interested in you.
- The opportunity to work on some of the largest and most cutting-edge Microsoft Security engagements in the world.
A great place to work
As you bring your skills and abilities to Avanade, you’ll get distinctive experiences, limitless learning, and ambitious growth in return. As we continue to build our diverse and inclusive culture, we become even more innovative and creative, helping us better serve our clients and communities. You’ll join a community of smart, supportive collaborators to lift, mentor, and guide you, and to lean on your expertise. You get a company purpose-built for business-critical, leading-edge technology solutions, committed to improving the way humans work, interact, and live. It’s all here, so take a closer look!
We work hard to provide an inclusive, diverse culture with a deep sense of belonging for all our employees. Visit our Inclusion & Diversity page.
Create a future for our people that focuses on
• Expanding your thinking • Experimenting courageously • Learning and pivoting
Inspire greatness in our people by
• Empowering every voice • Encouraging boldness • Celebrating progress
Accelerate the impact of our people by
• Amazing the client • Prioritizing what matters • Acting as one
Learn more
To learn more about our Avanade X team check out these videos:
Avanade X - Make What Matters
Avanade X - People First
Interested in knowing what’s going on inside Avanade? Check out our blogs:
Avanade Insights – exchange ideas that drive tomorrow’s innovation
Inside Avanade – explore what life is like working at Avanade
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