Senior Security Advisor

About SANS

Founded in 1989, SANS Institute (SANS) began as a cooperative research and education organization. Over the next 25 years, it grew to become the most trusted and widely recognized provider of information security training and certification in the world. Today, SANS has served more than 300,000 cybersecurity professionals around the world, with more than 60,000 earning Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) security certifications-the leading certification that provides assurance to employers that their people and prospective hires can do the job.

At the heart of SANS is a community of practitioners, from auditors and network administrators to CISOs, who share their lessons learned and collaborate on solutions to the challenges they face. These experts, working across corporations, government agencies, and universities, come together to support and strengthen the global information security community.

Why SANS?

At SANS, our culture is defined by three pillars: Mission, Brand, and People.

• Our Mission is to hire people who understand the importance fighting against cybersecurity threats.
• Our Brand reflects a commitment to delivering the highest quality training.
• Our People are grounded in a culture of fairness, honesty, customer focus, and a pragmatic approach.

What You'll Achieve at SANS

We are seeking a Senior Security Advisor to join our Sales Engineering team. This role plays a key part in

serving as a trusted advisor, solutions architect, and strategic thought leader across North America. This role bridges the technical, strategic, and community aspects of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, helping organizations navigate the evolving intersection of security, compliance, and AI adoption.

This role will support revenue generation by focusing on pre-sales activities while also assisting post-sale renewal opportunities and training voucher consumption. The Senior Security Advisor will partner closely with sales, marketing, and delivery teams to drive growth, cultivate relationships, and build trust with strategic and hard-to-reach accounts. This individual will also act as a highly visible evangelist of SANS across customer interactions, media, and community events - from executive roundtables and workshops to keynotes and thought-leadership platforms.

As a Senior Security Advisor, you will:

• Strategic Sales Engineering and Advisory
  
  
  
  • Serve as a senior technical and strategic advisor for enterprise and federal customers, aligning SANS solutions with customer goals and security maturity.
  • Partner with account executives throughout the sales lifecycle including early discovery, RFP, trials, and proposal strategy.
  • Design and deliver tailored solution architectures, aligning SANS education, tools, and advisory services to the customer's mission, regulatory needs, and security priorities.
  • Lead technical deep dives, executive briefings, and proposal strategy for complex, high-value accounts.
  • Act as a liaison between SANS technical teams, sales leadership, and customers to ensure continuity, satisfaction, and measurable outcomes.
  
  
  
  
• AI Strategy and Evangelism
  
  
  
  • Act as an
    AI subject-matter expert and strategist for sales, positioning SANS's AI training, certifications, and solutions to customers and partners.
  • Translate complex AI and security concepts into clear, actionable narratives for executive and technical audiences.
  • Provide strategic input on AI curriculum, product positioning, and customer enablement initiatives.
  • Represent SANS in the AI and cybersecurity ecosystem through media appearances, podcasts, thought-leadership content, and community-building efforts.
  
  
  
  
• Executive Engagement and Community Building
  
  
  
  • Lead and facilitate high-impact executive education experiences such as Jeffersonian Dinners, CISO workshops, and fireside chats that foster deep dialogue and trust across the security community.
  • Participate as a keynote speaker and panelist at major industry events to reinforce SANS's leadership in cybersecurity and AI education.
  • Build trusted relationships with CISOs, AI leaders, and government stakeholders, helping them understand and operationalize modern AI and cybersecurity frameworks.
  
  
  
  
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Every SANS employee brings something unique. For this role, we're looking for candidates with:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Information Security, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years in customer-facing pre-sales, sales engineering, or strategic advisory roles.
• Proven success building relationships and driving sales strategy in enterprise and/or federal accounts.
• Demonstrated experience bridging technical depth and executive
  communication,
  translating complex topics into actionable business outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, AI governance, and emerging technology trends.
• Excellent presentation, storytelling, and interpersonal skills with executive presence and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, global environment with frequent travel (up to 60%) for training events, trade shows, and customer meetings.
• Unrestricted authorization to work in the USA; visa sponsorship is not available.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Previous experience as a Field CISO, Advisory CISO, Chief Evangelist or Principal Sales Engineer for a security focused organization.
• Deep understanding of the AI ecosystem, including governance, risk, and regulatory landscapes.
  
• Demonstrated success in executive engagement, thought leadership, or industry evangelism.

Benefits and Perks of Working at SANS

We're committed to fair and equitable compensation. The expected salary range for this position is [$150,000 - $180,000], depending on geographic location, skills, and experience. At SANS, pay equity and transparency are priorities.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your total well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• Financial Benefits: Competitive base salary, bonus opportunities, and a 401(k) plan with company match.
• Health & Wellness: Robust medical, dental, and vision plans; company-provided short term disability; optional long-term disability, supplemental life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents; voluntary benefits including accident insurance and identity theft protection; fitness and wellness programs; and a company paid employee assistance program (EAP).
• Time Off & Flexibility: Generous paid time off, including volunteer time.
• Learning & Development: Access to professional development and SANS training opportunities.

Flexibility and Balance at SANS

We support our colleagues with the tools and flexibility they need to thrive, both professionally and personally. As a primarily remote work environment, we are committed to maintaining strong connections, collaboration, and a vibrant culture across virtual teams. While most roles operate remotely, some positions may require occasional in-person presence depending on role-specific or business needs.

SANS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

SANS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact SANS Human Resources.

US Job Seekers: Click here to view the "Know Your Rights" poster.

SANS complies with all applicable state and local laws regarding the consideration of applicants with arrest or conviction records. For positions governed by federal and/or state banking regulations, SANS will adhere to relevant requirements when evaluating candidates with criminal histories.

Employment eligibility in the United States is required. SANS does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.