Microsoft secure ai consultant / associate manager

At Avanade, our Microsoft Secure AI Associate Managers help clients adopt and scale AI securely by designing, implementing, and governing Microsoft's AI, Security, Identity, and Data Protection technologies across enterprise environments. In this client-facing consulting role, you will help organisations unlock business value from Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and other AI capabilities while ensuring security, compliance, data protection, and identity controls are embedded from the outset. You will work with clients to assess AI readiness, establish secure AI operating models, implement governance controls, and design architectures aligned to Zero Trust principles. Join a curious and diverse team that's passionate about next-generation technology and establish yourself as a leader in one of the fastest-growing areas in cybersecurity and AI. Together, let's transform how organisations securely adopt AI.

Key Responsibilities

As a member of Avanade's Security Practice, you will work across both Avanade and Accenture clients, supporting medium-sized organisations through to large global enterprises. You will contribute to client delivery, solution development, thought leadership, and the evolution of Avanade's Secure AI offerings. This is an opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in Secure AI, Microsoft Security, and Data Protection. You will help clients safely accelerate AI adoption while leveraging Microsoft's Security, Compliance, Identity and AI ecosystem.

You will work with clients to design and implement secure AI and Zero Trust architectures using Microsoft technologies, including:

• Secure AI & Microsoft Copilot Assess organisational readiness for Microsoft Copilot and AI adoption. Design secure deployment approaches for Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio. Define governance models, security controls, and operating procedures for enterprise AI solutions. Support clients in identifying, mitigating, and managing AI-related security and compliance risks. Deliver Secure AI workshops, maturity assessments, and roadmap engagements. Advise on AI security best practices aligned to Microsoft guidance and industry frameworks.
• Microsoft Purview & Data Security Design and implement Microsoft Purview capabilities to support AI governance and data protection. Configure Information Protection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), Insider Risk, and Compliance solutions. Identify and remediate data exposure risks that may affect AI deployments. Establish data classification, labelling, and protection strategies. Support clients with regulatory and compliance requirements relating to AI and sensitive information.
• Identity & Zero Trust Design and implement secure identity architectures using Microsoft Entra. Deploy Conditional Access, Identity Protection, Privileged Identity Management (PIM), and Identity Governance capabilities. Define Zero Trust strategies supporting AI, cloud, and hybrid environments. Assess identity risks and implement controls to reduce privilege exposure and unauthorised access.
• Azure AI & Foundry Security Design security architectures for Azure AI Foundry and Azure AI services. Implement identity, access, networking, monitoring, and governance controls for AI workloads. Advise clients on secure model development, deployment, and lifecycle management. Support threat modelling and risk assessments for AI platforms and use cases. Define secure patterns for integrating AI services with enterprise systems and data sources.
• Advisory & Consulting Conduct Secure AI and Microsoft Security assessments. Define target-state architectures, operating models, and transformation roadmaps. Lead client workshops and executive discussions. Produce architecture documentation, governance frameworks, implementation designs, and adoption plans. Contribute to solution development, innovation initiatives, blogs, whitepapers, and thought leadership activities. Support business development, pre-sales engagements, and proposal development.

Essential

Experience delivering Microsoft Security, Compliance, Identity, or Data Protection solutions. Strong understanding of Zero Trust security principles. Experience with Microsoft Purview, including Information Protection, DLP, Compliance, or DSPM capabilities. Experience with Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access, Identity Protection, PIM, or Identity Governance. Understanding of Microsoft Copilot security and governance considerations. Experience conducting security assessments, workshops, and advisory engagements. Strong client-facing consulting and stakeholder management skills. Ability to produce high-quality architecture documentation and technical designs.

Desirable

Experience with Microsoft 365 Copilot deployments. Experience with Copilot Studio or Agent-based AI solutions. Experience with Azure AI Foundry and Azure AI Services. Knowledge of AI security frameworks and emerging AI governance standards. Security certifications such as SC-100, SC-200, SC-300, SC-400, AZ-500, or equivalent. Experience in regulated industries such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Government, or Energy.