Senior Consulting Director, AI Security, Proactive Services (Unit 42)

About the role

Provide strategic leadership and vision for Unit 42’s global AI Security Assessment services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, customer needs, and emerging threat trends.
Own and drive success across all AI Security Assessment service line KPIs, including revenue growth, delivery excellence, utilization, customer satisfaction, and Security Transformation Program (STP) contribution.
Lead the continual maturation and innovation of AI Security Assessment methodologies, deliverables, and tooling by integrating industry best practices, threat intelligence, and customer feedback.
Serve as the executive sponsor, strategic advisor and delivery lead for complex, high-impact AI Security engagements, ensuring delivery quality, client satisfaction, and long-term value realization.
Deliver strategic guidance to CISOs, CTOs, and executive stakeholders on optimal security for generative AI technology implementation, agentic and CI/CD pipeline security and integrity, and AI governance and policies for safe AI usage and development standards.
Embed Palo Alto Networks technologies such as Cortex PrismaAIRS, Koi Agentic Security, XDR, XSIAM, and XSOAR into assessment and transformation engagements to drive measurable security outcomes.
Own delivery staffing and capacity planning to ensure the right mix of talent, availability, and expertise across concurrent engagements.
Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Directors and consultants, fostering career growth, technical depth, and leadership capability.
Collaborate with GTM teams to shape messaging, identify new opportunities, and support the successful closing of AI Security Assessment engagements through solutioning and executive engagement.
Lead and contribute to complex scoping and quoting efforts, ensuring accurate effort estimates, appropriate resourcing, and alignment to customer goals.
Build and nurture trusted advisor relationships with key customers, especially Unit 42 retainer accounts, to drive repeat business and long-term strategic value.
Represent Unit 42 as a AI Security subject matter expert at key industry events, roundtables, webinars, and forums to enhance thought leadership and market credibility.
Author and contribute to whitepapers, blogs, and internal enablement materials to advance the team’s knowledge and influence in the AI/ML Security domain.
Champion a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration, fostering a positive and inclusive environment that attracts, retains, and develops top talent.
Collaborate across product, sales, and delivery teams to influence service roadmap, product alignment, and market positioning.
Continuously monitor the evolving security operations landscape, including adversary techniques, AI Security tooling trends, and customer challenges, to evolve service offerings and maintain relevance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for Unit 42’s global AI Security Assessment services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, customer needs, and emerging threat trends.
• Own and drive success across all AI Security Assessment service line KPIs, including revenue growth, delivery excellence, utilization, customer satisfaction, and Security Transformation Program (STP) contribution.
• Lead the continual maturation and innovation of AI Security Assessment methodologies, deliverables, and tooling by integrating industry best practices, threat intelligence, and customer feedback.
• Serve as the executive sponsor, strategic advisor and delivery lead for complex, high-impact AI Security engagements, ensuring delivery quality, client satisfaction, and long-term value realization.
• Deliver strategic guidance to CISOs, CTOs, and executive stakeholders on optimal security for generative AI technology implementation, agentic and CI/CD pipeline security and integrity, and AI governance and policies for safe AI usage and development standards.
• Embed Palo Alto Networks technologies such as Cortex PrismaAIRS, Koi Agentic Security, XDR, XSIAM, and XSOAR into assessment and transformation engagements to drive measurable security outcomes.
• Own delivery staffing and capacity planning to ensure the right mix of talent, availability, and expertise across concurrent engagements.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Directors and consultants, fostering career growth, technical depth, and leadership capability.
• Collaborate with GTM teams to shape messaging, identify new opportunities, and support the successful closing of AI Security Assessment engagements through solutioning and executive engagement.
• Lead and contribute to complex scoping and quoting efforts, ensuring accurate effort estimates, appropriate resourcing, and alignment to customer goals.
• Build and nurture trusted advisor relationships with key customers, especially Unit 42 retainer accounts, to drive repeat business and long-term strategic value.
• Represent Unit 42 as a AI Security subject matter expert at key industry events, roundtables, webinars, and forums to enhance thought leadership and market credibility.
• Author and contribute to whitepapers, blogs, and internal enablement materials to advance the team’s knowledge and influence in the AI/ML Security domain.
• Champion a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration, fostering a positive and inclusive environment that attracts, retains, and develops top talent.
• Collaborate across product, sales, and delivery teams to influence service roadmap, product alignment, and market positioning.
• Continuously monitor the evolving security operations landscape, including adversary techniques, AI Security tooling trends, and customer challenges, to evolve service offerings and maintain relevance.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with 5+ years leading AI/ML-related services or operations (e.g. AI / agentic development, AI consulting, etc).
• 7+ years managing consulting delivery teams or security operations teams, ideally at the Director level or higher.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML implementations and security.
• Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards (MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, etc.).
• Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling consulting services.
• Strong executive presence and comfort engaging with CISOs, CTOs, and Boards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a record of influencing clients and internal stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Palo Alto Networks products (e.g. Cortex suite) and how they support best in class security operations.
• Ability to travel as needed to meet business demands (on average 25%).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity, or equivalent professional experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, GIAC, etc.) preferred.
• Proven experience managing diverse teams of business and technical consultants.
• Experience advising CISOs and other senior stakeholders on strategic planning, resource prioritization, capability development, and cybersecurity roadmaps.
• Proven experience managing diverse teams of business and technical consultants.
• Experience in scripting, automation, or use of command-line tools in assessments is a plus.
• Public speaking, training, and enablement experience is strongly preferred.

Pay

$236,000.00 - $275,000.00/yr

Schedule

Remote

Benefits

N/A

Skills

Required: 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with 5+ years leading AI/ML-related services or operations (e.g. AI / agentic development, AI consulting, etc); 7+ years managing consulting delivery teams or security operations teams, ideally at the Director level or higher; Deep understanding of AI/ML implementations and security; Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards (MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, etc.); Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling consulting services; Strong executive presence and comfort engaging with CISOs, CTOs, and Boards; Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a record of influencing clients and internal stakeholders; Knowledge of Palo Alto Networks products (e.g. Cortex suite) and how they support best in class security operations; Ability to travel as needed to meet business demands (on average 25%); Bachelor’s Degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity, or equivalent professional experience required.

Preferred: Master’s Degree or cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, GIAC, etc.); Proven experience managing diverse teams of business and technical consultants; Experience advising CISOs and other senior stakeholders on strategic planning, resource prioritization, capability development, and cybersecurity roadmaps; Experience in scripting, automation, or use of command-line tools in assessments; Public speaking, training, and enablement experience is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

Required: 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with 5+ years leading AI/ML-related services or operations (e.g. AI / agentic development, AI consulting, etc); 7+ years managing consulting delivery teams or security operations teams, ideally at the Director level or higher; Deep understanding of AI/ML implementations and security; Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards (MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, etc.); Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling consulting services; Strong executive presence and comfort engaging with CISOs, CTOs, and Boards; Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a record of influencing clients and internal stakeholders; Knowledge of Palo Alto Networks products (e.g. Cortex suite) and how they support best in class security operations; Ability to travel as needed to meet business demands (on average 25%); Bachelor’s Degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity, or equivalent professional experience required.

Preferred: Master’s Degree or cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, GIAC, etc.); Proven experience managing diverse teams of business and technical consultants; Experience advising CISOs and other senior stakeholders on strategic planning, resource prioritization, capability development, and cybersecurity roadmaps; Experience in scripting, automation, or use of command-line tools in assessments; Public speaking, training, and enablement experience is strongly preferred.