Cyber Operations Advisor- Identity Security | Remote, USA

This position will be fully remote and can be hired anywhere in the continental U.S.

Optiv is seeking a Cyber Operations Advisor to join Optiv Security's 24x7x365 Security Operations Center as a member of the Advanced Fusion Center (AFC) team. The Optiv AFC line of business consists of providing security operations expertise to a robust and growing client base. Our team is comprised of highly technical individuals capable of delivering managed services to clients in all industry verticals. The Optiv AFC specializes in custom-tailored security solutions delivered primarily through three practice teams: Client Engagement, Engineering Operations, and Detection and Response Operations. These teams work in tandem to assist our clients in reaching their security maturity goals.

The Cyber Operations Advisor (COA) is a senior technical leader and strategic partner responsible for driving measurable security outcomes, operational maturity, and client value through data-driven insights. The COA combines deep expertise in an assigned cybersecurity domain, with this position specializing in Identity Security, with broad cyber operations knowledge and advisory capabilities to lead complex technical engagements across multiple clients. This role focuses on metrics-driven performance, proactive risk management, and continuous improvement by defining, analyzing, and optimizing KPIs, KRIs, SLAs, maturity scores, roadmap progress, evidence quality, and service metrics to value. Acting as a trusted advisor, the COA translates business requirements into actionable security strategies and collaborates with internal engineering and threat teams to implement corrective actions and systemic enhancements that elevate client satisfaction and operational efficiency.

The Cyber Operations Advisor believes and lives the Cyber Operations guiding principles:

• Deliver quality security outcomes

• Drive efficient and timely operations

• Actualize continual improvement and innovation

• Protect the customer

How you'll make an impact

• Independently lead multiple technical engagements simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of measurable security outcomes and operational improvements across client environments 

• Convert client business requirements, risk priorities, and Identity Security needs into actionable strategies and roadmaps across IAM, PAM, IGA, authentication, federation, identity lifecycle management, cloud identity, Zero Trust, and Identity Threat Detection and Response 

• Develop and mature roadmaps, defining the path from the customers’ current maturity level to the next level.  

• Drive service and client capability maturity by conducting evidence-based assessments; analyzing KPIs, KRIs, SLAs, governance artifacts, control performance, and operational trends; and converting findings into prioritized recommendations and measurable improvement plans. 

• Evaluate and align security solutions and recommendations with client requirements, risk profiles, and strategic objectives; distinguish delivery gaps from missing evidence, client constraints, and out-of-scope capabilities; and document defensible scoring rationale. 

• Assist in the documentation of business requirements, use cases, and ROI analyses to support informed decision-making and demonstrate value 

• Act as a technical advisor during pre-sales and post-sales engagements, ensuring solution alignment and client confidence 

• Provide technical expertise for proposals, contracts, and service descriptions; compare contractual commitments with actual delivery; identify misalignment; and recommend corrective action or change-order review with Program Management, Operations, Sales, and delivery leadership

• Recognize and recommend cross-sell and up-sell opportunities across AFC services
• Lead or support security initiatives from planning through execution
• Provide advisory expertise across IAM, PAM, IGA, authentication, federation, identity lifecycle, cloud identity, Zero Trust, and Identity Threat Detection and Response, while maintaining broad awareness of EDR, MDR, SIEM, SOAR, and related cross-domain dependencies

• Analyze patterns and anomalies to identify potential advanced threats and recommend proactive mitigation strategies

• Conduct Identity Security architecture and operating-model reviews covering authoritative identity sources, joiner-mover-leaver processes, access governance, privileged access, MFA and conditional access, federation, service and machine identities, cloud identity, monitoring, ownership, and control evidence

• Assess and recommend custom detection logic, automation, or tool enhancements to address evolving threats and operational needs

• Assess and recommend platform configuration, control, detection, workflow, and automation improvements, and partner with accountable engineering and delivery teams for implementation

• Build and develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Identify and assess engagement and service-delivery risks; document severity, owner, mitigation or remediation plan, target date, status, and client communication evidence in the applicable RAID log or recommendation tracker

• Validate project scope, service deliverables, supporting evidence, client constraints, and contractual commitments; escalate discrepancies and drive documented accountability through the Program Manager and Operations Manager. Validate project scope, service deliverables, supporting evidence, client constraints, and contractual commitments; escalate discrepancies and drive documented accountability through the Program Manager and Operations Manager

• Represent Optiv in client meetings; facilitate discovery and evidence-validation workshops; and present maturity baselines, gaps, risks, roadmaps, and progress during executive reviews and QBR or QPR discussions. Represent Optiv in client meetings; facilitate discovery and evidence-validation workshops; and present maturity baselines, gaps, risks, roadmaps, and progress during executive reviews and QBR or QPR discussions

• Collaborate with team members to identify issues, develop strategies, and drive continuous improvement 

• Provide support for projects spanning multiple functional groups by identifying collaborative opportunities, enhancing existing deliverables, and strengthening Optiv's value to our clients

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards, meeting or exceeding client expectations

What we're looking for

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) and a minimum of 8 years in cybersecurity operations, with proven advisory and leadership responsibilities

• Demonstrated success in leading client-facing engagements and managing strategic security programs in professional services or consulting settings

• Advanced analytical skills and demonstrated experience conducting maturity assessments, facilitating stakeholder interviews, gathering and validating evidence, applying consistent scoring criteria, documenting scoring rationale, and translating findings into prioritized security roadmaps

• Deep knowledge of Identity Security operating models, IAM, PAM, IGA, authentication and federation, identity lifecycle, cloud identity, Zero Trust, and Identity Threat Detection and Response, with working knowledge of SOC, MDR, EDR, SIEM, SOAR, incident response, vulnerability management, network, and threat analysis dependencies. 

• Hands-on experience with Identity Security platform management and leading technologies such as Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Ping Identity, SailPoint, Saviynt, CyberArk, Delinea, BeyondTrust, or equivalent platforms. 

• Comprehensive understanding of NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-63, Zero Trust principles, CIS Controls, MITRE ATT&CK, evidence-based maturity models, and key regulatory frameworks such as PCI, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.

• Senior-level security certifications preferred, such as CISSP, CISM, or GCIH (or equivalent)

• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to craft and deliver executive-level reports and compelling security narratives

• Proven ability to establish trust and maintain strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and cross-functional internal teams

• Expertise in cloud security across AWS, Azure, and GCP, with working knowledge of virtualization and containerization technologies

• Working knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, PMI) and experience coordinating recommendation ownership and follow-through with Program Managers, Operations Managers, Sales or solution stakeholders, engineering teams, and client stakeholders without replacing their delivery accountability

• Familiarity with common Large Language Models and their impact on Security Operations

• Preferred experience in security architecture, risk mitigation, disaster recovery planning, compliance testing, data loss prevention, and network security strategies, with familiarity in ITIL, COBIT, ISO standards, PCI, and SOX

• Skilled in addressing client inquiries and resolving issues with professionalism and clarity

• Proficient in creating client-ready assessment workbooks, maturity scorecards, executive summaries, roadmap visuals, QBR or QPR content, remediation trackers, presentations, and technical content that adhere to organizational standards and clearly communicate complex concepts

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What you can expect from Optiv

• A company committed to our inclusive value through our Employee Resource Groups
• Work/life balance
• Professional training resources
• Creative problem-solving and the ability to tackle unique, complex projects
• Volunteer Opportunities. “Optiv Chips In” encourages employees to volunteer and engage with their teams and communities.
• The ability and technology necessary to productively work remotely/from home (where applicable)

EEO Statement

Optiv is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age 40 and over, marital status, genetic information, national origin, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

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