AVP, Application Security & AI Security

Tential Solutions; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Tential Solutions is seeking an AVP-level leader to drive AppSec and AI Security programs, partnering with technology and business leaders to embed security across the development lifecycle. The role requires strong leadership, deep security expertise and strategic vision to scale security capabilities in a rapidly evolving technology environment.

The candidate will lead security programs, establish governance, and develop metrics and reporting for senior leadership, while nurturing a culture

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading AppSec/ Product Security/ Security Eng functions.
• Experience building or transforming security programs and teams.
• Strong understanding of modern application development and SDLC.
• Working knowledge of AI Security and generative AI security implications.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management.
• Experience with cloud technologies; Azure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve AppSec and AI Security programs across value streams.
• Provide leadership to AppSec engineering resources aligned to development teams.
• Establish goals, processes and performance expectations.
• Develop security metrics, dashboards and executive reporting.
• Partner with technology and business leaders to embed security in development lifecycle.
• Establish training and development programs for security and engineering teams.
• Translate strategy into executable programs with security architects.

Skills

AppSec leadership

Security program leadership

Cloud security

Executive communication

Tools

Azure

Job description

About The Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking AVP, Application Security & AI Security to lead the continued development of two rapidly evolving security functions: Application Security (AppSec) and AI Security. This is a unique opportunity for a proven security leader who enjoys building, leading and executing, rather than simply managing an established organization. The ideal candidate will bring strong Application Security experience, a solid understanding of emerging AI security risks, and the ability to work effectively across technology, engineering and business leadership. This role will play a critical part in establishing the organization's next-generation security capabilities as the use of AI, cloud technologies and modern application development continues to expand.

What You'll Do

• Lead and evolve the organization's Application Security and AI Security programs.
• Build and mature security capabilities across multiple technology and development value streams.
• Provide leadership and direction to AppSec engineering resources aligned to development teams.
• Establish program goals, priorities, operating processes and performance expectations.
• Develop and maintain meaningful security metrics, dashboards and executive reporting.
• Partner closely with technology, engineering, development, infrastructure and business leaders to embed security into the development lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain appropriate training and development programs for security and engineering teams.
• Work closely with architecture leaders and security architects to translate technical strategy into executable programs.
• Provide leadership around emerging AI security risks, governance and controls.
• Partner with AI and technology leaders to understand how AI is being developed, adopted and embedded across the organization.
• Help establish appropriate security practices around AI development, AI-enabled applications, developer use of AI tools, citizen development and AI capabilities embedded within SaaS platforms.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and security risks and determine how they should be addressed within the broader security strategy.
• Communicate security priorities, risks, progress and recommendations to senior technology and business leadership.
• Build a culture of security that enables innovation rather than unnecessarily restricting it.
• Recruit, develop and lead high-performing security professionals as the organization continues to scale.

We are looking for a working leader—someone who can operate at both the strategic and tactical levels.

The Successful Candidate Will Bring

• Significant experience leading Application Security / Product Security / Security Engineering functions.
• Experience building or transforming security programs and teams.
• Strong understanding of modern application development and the software development lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of AI Security, generative AI and the security implications of rapidly emerging AI technologies.
• The ability to speak credibly about both Application Security and AI Security, while recognizing that these are distinct and evolving disciplines.
• Experience working with cloud technologies; Azure experience is strongly preferred, although strong experience in another major cloud environment may be considered.
• Strong understanding of cloud security, infrastructure and modern development technologies.
• Experience partnering directly with software engineering and development organizations.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to establish strategy while remaining close enough to the technology and execution to make sound decisions.
• A track record of building organizations, processes and programs rather than simply managing mature environments.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate technical security issues into business impact and actionable recommendations.

The Ideal Candidate

• Director / Senior Director of Application Security
• Director of Security Engineering
• Product Security leader
• Application Security executive
• Deputy CISO or similar security leader

We are particularly interested in high-potential security leaders who are ready to take the next step in their careers. Our client is open to a strong AppSec leader who may not yet have deep AI Security management experience. AI Security is evolving rapidly, and the right leader will have the curiosity and ability to learn, adapt and grow into this area. What matters most is having the technical credibility, leadership maturity, business orientation and desire to build something significant.

Leadership Style

This is not a role for someone who wants to operate exclusively at the executive level and delegate the details. The AVP will be expected to roll up their sleeves when necessary, but the majority of the role will focus on leadership, program execution and business partnership.

The Successful Leader Will Be Comfortable

• Getting into the technical details when needed
• Leading through influence
• Managing and developing people
• Establishing goals and accountability
• Working directly with senior executives
• Partnering with development and value-stream leaders
• Navigating ambiguity
• Building programs that are still taking shape
• Adapting as AI and security technologies continue to evolve

Why This Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join an organization investing heavily in its technology and security capabilities at an important point in its evolution. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build and shape the organization's AppSec and AI Security strategy, develop teams, establish new capabilities and work directly with senior technology leadership. For the right person, this role also represents a meaningful career path toward broader VP-level technology and security leadership. If you are a security leader who wants to build, influence and help shape the future of Application and AI Security—not simply manage an existing program—this is an opportunity worth exploring.

#DICE