Associate Director

Associate Director or Senior Manager Opportunity - Cyber, Data Management and AI Focus

Growing Multinational Firm | Accelerated Career Path to Director | Diverse FS, ASX Listed and Government Client Base | Varied Engagement Types | Hybrid & Family Friendly Workplace | Progressive Wellbeing Policies & Benefits.

The Company

Robert Half Executive Search has been exclusively retained to identify an accomplished Sydney-based senior consulting professional with strong technology assurance and advisory experience in Cyber, Data and AI governance in regulated environments. Our client is hiring at the Associate Director and Senior Manager level in the Sydney practice and welcomes expressions of interest for either opportunity.

Our client offers an accelerated career path for ambitious high-achievers and is open to hiring aspirational and driven individuals committed to building high-performing teams in an entrepreneurial and autonomous culture. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, technical execution, and business resilience—ideal for an individual who thrives in advising organisations through complex challenges and elevating their overall security posture in a dynamic digital landscape.

This globally respected firm offers an entrepreneurial boutique-style business environment locally, as well as the deep subject matter expertise, world-class methodologies and financial backing that comes with being part of a large well-established global firm.

This independent firm's consultancy solutions span Cybersecurity, Security & Privacy, IT Audit, Technology Risk and Operational Resilience, Risk and Compliance Advisory, Internal Audit and Business Performance Improvement.

Working with an inspiring and diverse Leadership Team who are committed to their teams' development, employees of this firm enjoy the freedom to generate exciting and challenging pieces of work in their areas of interest without the frustration of external audit conflicts rendering many clients off-limits due to conflicts of interest.

Our client promotes a flexible, family-friendly work environment, progressive wellbeing policies and global internal networking groups, a holistic suite of benefits and a competitive remuneration package including a competitive performance related bonus component.

The Role

The primary focus of this key role will be helping organisations strengthen their technology resilience and transform cyber, data and AI risk into a strategic advantage. This team develops, implements, and manages end‑to‑end next‑generation security, data and AI solutions that protect every layer of a client's organisation while enabling secure innovation and business growth.

The successful candidate will lead engagements across the firm's cybersecurity, data and AI capability set, including data protection, cybersecurity governance, data governance and AI governance. They will help clients understand and actively manage cyber data and AI risks, identify vulnerabilities, and implement actionable remediation strategies that strengthen overall technology risk posture.

Operating in an environment where technology is rapidly evolving, the Associate Director will help guide organisations through the complexities of modern threats and regulatory obligations. They will support clients in developing and refining cyber, data and AI strategies, uplifting maturity, building governance frameworks, and enhancing readiness to detect, respond to, and recover from incidents.

A key part of this role includes delivering independent assurance services, validating security data and AI controls, evaluating resilience, and ensuring alignment with regulatory and contractual requirements.

At a leadership level, the Associate Director will build trusted executive relationships, serve as a strategic advisor to CISOs, CIOs and other technology leaders, and contribute to the firm's growing reputation as a leading cyber, data and AI consulting partner. Additionally, they will shape roadmaps, oversee multidisciplinary delivery teams, and ensure solutions are tailored, pragmatic, and aligned with both organisational goals and emerging industry threats.

Your Profile

The Ideal candidate is an ambitious, articulate and accomplished technology consulting professional from a Big 4 consulting firm, a large technology consulting business or a boutique specialist consulting practice. Our client is also keen to meet individuals who may currently be working in industry and are seeking a return to the consulting world.

Our client will create tailored career plans to ensure the cadence of an accelerated career plan to the next level for each team member and is keen to consider current Associate Director, Senior Manager (or similar) level individuals who are passionate about Cybersecurity and have a proven track record of delivering technology assurance and advisory services across Cyber, Data Management and AI.

Embodying a proactive mindset, anticipating threats, leveraging quantitative risk modelling, and embracing next‑generation technologies to improve resilience, the incoming Associate Director can effectively blend strategic thinking with technical depth ensuring they can deliver high‑impact solutions that secure organisations and support business transformation.

Additionally, key competencies sought include expertise in some of the following areas:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity).
• 5+ years in a related field, with recent professional services experience.
• Relevant Professional Certification such as CISSP, CISA, CISM, CDMP, AIGP, ISO / NIST / DAMA, CIPM.
• Cyber Risk Assessment & Strategy:
  Skilled in assessing cybersecurity posture, prioritising risk, and developing strategic roadmaps aligned with business objectives and maturity models.
• Data Protection & Privacy:
  Knowledge of protecting sensitive data, managing compliance requirements, and aligning security controls with regulatory frameworks.
• Cyber Governance & Operating Models:
  Experience developing governance frameworks, policies, and operating models that strengthen organisational resilience.
• Data Governance & Management:
  Skilled in data governance and management risk and developing data governance frameworks and policies.
• Artificial Intelligence Governance & Management:
  Experience developing AI governance frameworks, policies and operating models to manage risks associated with AI technologies.
• Regulatory & Compliance Expertise:
  Awareness of cyber‑related regulatory requirements and frameworks impacting Australian organisations (ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC2, NIST).
• Technology Assurance and information systems:
  Knowledge of assurance processes and methodologies.
• Privacy controls assurance experience:
  Advantageous but not essential.
• Assurance Review Leadership
• scope, plan, and execute assurance reviews (e.g. health checks, deep dives, control assessments). Experienced in developing meaningful lines of inquiry, conducting stakeholder interviews, synthesizing evidence, and driving outcomes.
• Experience in contributing to growing revenues
  through leveraging commercial contacts.
• Prior exposure to supervising
  in a team environment, coaching strong teams and fostering interpersonal connections.

What this firm can offer to prospective Employees

• Tailored progression and promotion planning.
• Varied projects and engagements across a diverse client base, including some of Australia's largest organizations.
• A career with the opportunity to learn, inspire and advance within a collaborative and diverse company culture.
• Consistent recognition as a great place to work by employees, peers and external research organizations.
• Flexible work arrangements to suit individual needs, recognizing the importance of work-life balance.
• A strong track record and appetite for growth nationally and globally.

Benefits

• Attractive compensation including bonus earning potential.
• Professional membership reimbursements and study assistance.
• Generous Leave policies.
• National and International diversity, equity and inclusion networking groups.
• Global Mobility program.