AVP / Head of Security Architecture

Optional executive layer

Career Explorer · Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust · Security Architecture Management

M5 · AVP / Head ofIndividual contributorAVP / Head of

Optional executive layer

What the role involves

Autonomy: Major function / geography
Scope: Major function / geography
Time horizon: 2-4 years
Expertise and judgement: Translates enterprise strategy into a major operating domain
Expected impact: Strategic outcomes across a major domain

Expected skills (22)

Grouped as human, professional and technical. Target proficiency uses the P1–P5 scale, and each row says what that level means for that particular skill.

Human (11)

Skill	Importance	Target	What that level looks like
Coaching Collaboration & Leadership	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Decision making Thinking & Judgment	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Delegation Collaboration & Leadership	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Executive communication Communication & Influence	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Feedback delivery Collaboration & Leadership	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Risk judgment Thinking & Judgment	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Stakeholder management Communication & Influence	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Strategic thinking Thinking & Judgment	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Talent development Collaboration & Leadership	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Conflict resolution Communication & Influence	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Inclusive leadership Collaboration & Leadership	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.

Professional (4)

Skill	Importance	Target	What that level looks like
Business acumen Business & Strategy	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Financial acumen Business & Strategy	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Performance management Business & Strategy	Core	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Resource management Program, Risk & Sustainability	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.

Technical (7)

Skill	Importance	Target	What that level looks like
Cyber risk management Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Incident response Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Privacy by design Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Security architecture Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Security compliance Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Security engineering Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.
Security operations Cybersecurity, Privacy & Trust	Supporting	P4	Sets standards, integrates the skill across teams and resolves novel or high-impact problems.

Career ladder

Reached from

Senior Director, Security ArchitectureM4

Next steps

Vice President, Security ArchitectureM6Management promotion
Move from major-domain leadership to VP enterprise scope; shape company-level strategy, capital allocation, organization design and external commitments.

People management requires sustained evidence of coaching, performance management, staffing judgment and organizational leadership - not simply greater individual expertise.

What changes to advance

Move from major-domain leadership to VP enterprise scope; shape company-level strategy, capital allocation, organization design and external commitments.

Source: SFIA; PMI; Microsoft Careers · MF067-M5