Director Security Operations

LT Harper Recruitment Group; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 175,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Job summary

LT Harper Recruitment Group is seeking an Advanced Cyber Defence Lead (Senior Manager) to help build and scale an advanced cyber defence capability across Europe. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery in a hybrid setup, with travel about 25% to the UK and Germany as needed.

You would shape the capability, take it to market, and progressively build a delivery team. The position offers strong growth toward Director level and a dynamic, innovation-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience building or scaling security operations or cyber defence capabilities.
• Background as Head of SOC, Head of Cyber Defence, Senior Security Operations Leader, or senior consultant from MSSP/MDR.
• Strong understanding of SOC operating models, detection and response strategies.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled cyber defence tools and agentic SOC concepts.
• Excellent consultative and client-facing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Consult with clients on advanced cyber defence strategy and act as trusted advisor.
• Design modern SOC and cyber defence operating models, including agentic SOC concepts.
• Sell and deliver cyber defence services into clients.
• Build and lead a delivery team as the capability grows.
• Support delivery and growth across the European market.

Skills

Security operations leadership

SOC design and improvement

AI in cyber defence

Client-facing advisory

European market experience

Tools

AI tooling

Job description

Advanced Cyber Defence Lead (Senior Manager)

£150,000 - £180,000 + benefits | Netherlands preferred, wider Europe & UK considered

Working pattern: Hybrid | Travel approximately 25%

I'm supporting a growing global consultancy that is looking to hire an Advanced Cyber Defence Lead to help build and scale an advanced cyber defence capability for its clients across Europe.

This is a hybrid technical and consultative leadership role. It would suit someone who has already run, built or significantly improved a security operations or cyber defence programme, and who now wants to replicate that success in a high-growth, commercially focused environment where AI and innovation are genuinely embraced.

The role

Sitting at Senior Manager level within a global resilience structure, you would help shape the capability, take it to market, and build a team around you over time. There is a genuine route to Director level within around 18 months for the right performer, with the potential to build a substantial new business area.

This is a rare chance to be at the forefront of how cyber defence is evolving. You would have real scope to be innovative and help design and build an agentic SOC from the ground up, deploying AI-enabled tooling into live SOC environments in a business that is genuinely up for pushing the boundaries of what modern security operations can look like.

• Consult with clients on advanced cyber defence strategy and act as a trusted advisor
• Design modern SOC and cyber defence operating models, including agentic SOC concepts
• Sell and deliver cyber defence services into clients
• Build and lead a delivery team as the capability grows
• Support delivery and growth across the European market

What they are looking for

• Proven experience building or scaling a security operations or cyber defence capability, someone who has "done it before" and can bring a proven blueprint
• A background such as Head of SOC, Head of Cyber Defence, Senior Security Operations Leader, or a senior manager from a consultancy or MSSP/MDR environment
• Strong understanding of SOC operating models, detection and response strategy, and advanced security operations
• Familiarity with AI in cyber defence, including agentic SOC concepts and deploying AI-enabled tooling into SOC environments, with genuine enthusiasm for building something new in this space
• Strong consultative and client-facing ability, credible with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Willingness to be hands-on in building the capability, with the appetite to build something substantial
• Strong European market experience and the ability to travel across the region

You do not need to be purely technical, but you must be credible with technical teams and clients.

Package

• £150,000 - £180,000 (may flex by location, seniority and local market)
• Clear growth path to Director level within around 18 months, subject to performance
• Travel approximately 25%, primarily to the UK and Germany as required

This would suit someone who wants ownership of a capability from an early stage, enjoys the mix of selling and delivering, is excited by AI and innovation, and is motivated by building a team and a business area rather than stepping into a finished one.