Identity & Access Management (IAM) Senior Manager/Director

Job description

Role purpose Avanade UK Security is scaling fast, requiring a Director -level Identity & Access Management (IAM) Lead to build a Microsoft-first IAM growth engine across advisory, implementation, and managed services, with a strong bias toward repeatable offers, accelerated conversion, and delivery excellence. This role is also accountable for positioning Identity as the control plane for AI-era security, including Microsoft Agent 365, Copilot-driven workflows, and emerging agent-based architectures, ensuring UK Security is future proofed for the next generation of identity-centric security demand. This role reports to the UK Security Practice Lead and leads presales/solutioning with a technical Solution Architect and Presales Lead . Furthermore, this role owns IAM GTM, delivery quality, capability/IP build while feeding into the Identity MSS module as part of the broader MSS portfolio (separate accountability, tight interlock). Travel expected for key clients, Microsoft, and P ractice leadership commitments. Commercial expectations This role influences revenue and will carry a soft target aligned to the UK Security all-up plan: Year 1: $1–2m influenced growth Year 2: $ 2 – 3 m influenced growth Success is measured through supporting the sales team to generate pipeline, conversion of pipeline, expansion/attach of existing accounts, and repeatable delivery. Reporting line & operating model Reports to: UK Security Practice Lead Key peers: UK MSS Lead, UK Security Presales Lead, UK Security Solution Architects x2 ( UK Solution Architects from other practices 5 practices – Infrastructure, Software Engineering, Modern Workplace, Data & AI, and Business Applications ) People leadership: No formal line management initially. Expected to act as Career Advisor/People Lead for a small number of individuals (mentorship, development, high-performance standards). Matrix influence: The Identity Solution Architect will soft-report into the IAM Lead for practice-level IAM direction, consistency, and capability build while Security leadership team members continue to report to the Practice Lead. Success criteria: First 6 months A clear IAM “spine” for the practice: what we sell, how we sell it, how we deliver it, and what becomes service delivered across UK onshore, nearshore delivery centres, and offshore delivery centres. A repeatable presales motion for Entra-led IAM (workshops/assessments/pilots → scaled rollouts) that improves speed and win rate. Delivery governance and QA standards that reduce programme variability and escalations. 12 months A scaled, Microsoft-first IAM pipeline with a predictable conversion pattern. Demonstrable asset reuse (templates, reference architectures, automation patterns, delivery playbooks). A clear project-to-service pathway into Identity MSS (handover criteria, onboarding artefacts, operational KPIs etc ). 24 months UK recognised as a credible IAM leader in regulated industries, with external presence (clients/Microsoft/events) supporting sustained growth. Key responsibilities 1) IAM GTM & seller enablement (primary) Own the UK IAM narrative and differentiation: Microsoft Entra-first (Entra ID, Entra Suite/E7 positioning, Identity Protection, governance and lifecycle foundations etc. ). Own the UK Security narrative and capability for identity ‑ centric AI security, including Microsoft Agent 365, Copilot, and agent ‑ based workloads, where identity, permissions, and trust boundaries are the primary control mechanisms. Define how agent identities, agent permissions, human ‑ to ‑ agent and agent ‑ to ‑ agent trust, and data access are governed, monitored , and secured using Microsoft Entra and the broader Microsoft Security stack. Ensure IAM offerings explicitly address AI ‑ driven risk scenarios, including delegated agent access, over ‑ privileged identities, lateral agent movement, and non ‑ human identity sprawl. Position Identity as the foundational security layer for AI adoption, pulling through Entra, E7, Purview, Defender, and AI Security conversations as a single, coherent value proposition. Build IAM ‑ led GTM plays where AI security, Copilot adoption, and Agent 365 are anchored in identity governance, access control, and trust, positioning IAM as the entry point rather than an implementation afterthought. Build practical seller enablement: talk tracks, qualification prompts, value proof, commercial guardrails, “what good looks like” etc. Create repeatable plays by industry and account segment where identity is the control plane for transformation and AI adoption. 2) Presales leadership & solutioning Lead solutioning for complex IAM pursuits with UK IAM Solution Architect : scope, approach, commercials, delivery model, risks, and dependencies. Drive fast, outcome-led client entry motions (e.g., Entra security & resilience assessment, identity modernisation, governance quick starts etc ). Work with Microsoft where relevant to accelerate co-sell and secure sponsorship (without diluting Microsoft-first stance). 3) Delivery quality, escalation & governance (shared accountability) Own IAM delivery quality and programme health: QA gates, architecture assurance, delivery risk management, and escalation resolution (shared with delivery leads). Ensure delivery standards produce repeatable outcomes and strong client confidence (not bespoke reinvention). Embed modern identity security realities into delivery (identity threat, resilience, response readiness) beyond “implementation complete” to expand Microsoft security footprint . 4) Capability, assets & IP Build reusable assets across: assessment/diagnostics, reference architectures and design patterns, migration patterns (hybrid/legacy modernisation), automation (PowerShell, Graph/API patterns), runbooks and onboarding templates. Establish a clear lifecycle across project → asset → offer → service to compound capability and drive recurring revenue . 5) Identity MSS interlock ( modular component of wider MSS suite , separate accountability) Define the “handshake” from projects into Identity MSS: what must be true at handover, onboarding artefacts, operational KPIs / reporting, continuous improvement backlog and ownership boundaries. Partner closely with the MSS Lead to ensure Identity MSS is scalable and commercially viable , without blurring accountability. 6) Partner leverage (where supporting Microsoft-first outcomes) Build and support the Partner Ecosystem team to manage relevant partner alliances when needed (e.g., migration from non-Microsoft IDPs; selective IGA integration etc. ) always anchored to a Microsoft-first end state. 7) Culture, leadership & people development (mentorship) Act as a high-trust, high-autonomy, high-standards leader who raises quality, pace, and ambition. Provide mentorship and capability development through Career Advisor responsibilities and informal leadership especially for Solution Architects and emerging IAM talent. . Essential Experience Proven track record building and scaling IAM capability in a consulting environment: sell + solution + deliver + industrialise. However, this role primarily focuses on sell, solution and industrialise with minor delivery oversight. Deep Microsoft Entra leadership across: Entra ID security and configuration Conditional Access, authentication strength, Identity Protection Identity governance and lifecycle foundations (JML and provisioning patterns) X-to-Entra migrations, driving Microsoft first identity journeys. Demonstrated ability to translate emerging Microsoft platform shifts (e.g. Agent 365, Copilot, AI ‑ enabled security) into credible client narratives, offers, and delivery patterns, with Identity positioned as the primary security control. Strong understanding of workforce IAM and hybrid/legacy identity modernisation (AD and modern identity patterns). Senior stakeholder presence: able to operate credibly with CISOs/CIOs and internally influence sellers and architects. Desirable experience Security operations awareness: monitoring/logging patterns, identity investigations, and integration with broader security services. Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)/B2C experience. Non-negotiable behaviours (fit & performance) Microsoft-first mindset as an exclusive stance . “Start-up mentality”: hungry, creative, ambitious, pace-driven, ownership-led. Able to form and articulate a clear point of view on how identity, AI agents, and automation change the security model, rather than waiting for vendor ‑ led narratives. Builds through others: sets direction, creates clarity, removes blockers, demands quality without creating dependency. Comfortable operating in a high-ambition peer group with shared standards and high autonomy. Measures of success (how performance is judged) Influenced revenue against soft target (pipeline creation and conversion). Win rate and cycle time improvement for IAM pursuits. Delivery health: reduced escalations, stronger QA, predictable outcomes. Reuse rate and adoption of IAM assets/standard approaches. Successful, measurable conversion path from IAM projects into Identity MSS. .