Assistant Director - Data Protection & Privacy

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead our Data Protection & Privacy practice. This is a senior leadership role for a market-facing, technically credible and commercially minded professional who can scale a high-growth cyber capability across data protection, privacy, AI data risk, Microsoft Purview, DSPM, DLP/CASB, PKI, privacy operations and managed services.

The successful candidate will help shape the next chapter of the practice as a Data Risk & AI Protection growth engine, supporting clients as they govern, protect, monitor and evidence control over sensitive data across AI, cloud, regulatory and emerging technology environments.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the growth strategy for the Data Protection & Privacy practice across advisory, implementation and operate services.
• Build market-facing propositions across AI Data Risk Governance, DSPM and Purview for AI, Privacy Protection & Operate, PQC/Crypto Agility and sector-specific data risk solutions.
• Partner with client teams, sector leaders, alliance partners and senior stakeholders to shape pursuits, solution themes and delivery models.
• Oversee complex client engagements across privacy, data protection, DLP/CASB/DSPM, Purview, PKI, encryption, RoPA, DSR, consent, DPIA and privacy controls.
• Drive development of reusable assets, accelerators, demo environments, reference architectures and delivery playbooks.
• Build and mentor high-performing teams across privacy, data protection engineering, Microsoft Purview, PKI, DSPM and AI-enabled data protection.
• Strengthen practice quality, delivery governance, solution consistency and measurable client outcomes.

Skills and attributes for success

• 14+ years of experience in cyber security, data protection, privacy, data security, privacy engineering, cloud security, GRC or technology consulting.
• Proven experience leading large client programmes, practices, portfolios or globally distributed delivery teams.
• Strong understanding of data protection and privacy domains including DLP, CASB, DSPM, data discovery, classification, data governance, lineage, encryption, PKI, RoPA, DSR, consent and privacy controls.
• Experience with Microsoft Purview, privacy technologies, data security platforms, cloud ecosystems or managed services.
• Strong appreciation of AI-era data risks, including AI governance, AI-ready data labelling, DSPM for AI, AI DLP, secure AI adoption and emerging regulatory expectations.
• Executive presence, commercial orientation, structured communication and the ability to influence senior internal and client stakeholders.
• Relevant certifications such as CIPP, CIPM, CIPT, CISSP, CISM, CISA, ISO 27001, cloud security or Microsoft Purview-related credentials are preferred.