Reporting to the Group Head of Offensive Security, the Head of Assurance holds a key operational leadership position, contributing to the growth of the Assurance practice through effective day-to-day management of the established team and providing ongoing technical leadership to drive product quality and delivery excellence.
A major function of the role is to ensure all offensive assurance projects are delivered within allocated effort budgets whilst maintaining exceptional quality standards through outstanding project management, team leadership, and consistently delivering engagements on time and to specification.
Leveraging deep technical and security experience, the Head of Assurance is integral in operationally leading Cline's Offensive Assurance delivery - encompassing both strategic and BAU projects and deliverables, whilst ensuring alignment with best practice security methodologies and industry standards.
The Head of Assurance will be responsible for ensuring successful project delivery and team performance for customers.
Key to this role will be the ability to lead by example, using strong technical aptitude and leadership skills to drive the established Assurance team to consistently high performance through upskilling, methodology implementation, and mentorship.
This hands-on leadership role requires overseeing and assisting with mentoring team members in offensive testing against client applications and network assets.
You will collaborate with the Group Head of Offensive Security and Sales team, drawing on your extensive industry knowledge of assurance best practices, principles, and standards to support evolving customer requirements and delivery excellence.
Responsibilities
This role encompasses four key areas of responsibility, balancing operational leadership with hands-on technical delivery and team management.
The Head of Assurance Services will drive team performance, delivery excellence, and operational efficiency across Cline's Assurance division.
Service Delivery
Lead activities across the complete project lifecycle from SOW handover through to delivery, ensuring projects are completed on time and within allocated effort budgets
Oversee end-to-end delivery of all offensive assurance services including penetration testing, red team engagements, and security assessments
Maintain exceptional project management standards for internal stakeholders and customers through rigorous quality assurance and technical oversight
Establish and maintain technical standards, testing methodologies, and deliverable templates that ensure consistent, high-quality output across all engagements
Support the Project Management Office in resolving complex project issues and handling escalations
Develop and monitor team SLAs, metrics, reporting, and engagement management processes
Technical Leadership
Drive continuous improvement in offensive security methodologies, tools, and techniques by staying current with emerging threats and industry best practices
Plan and oversee effective assurance engagements delivered by team members
Foster a culture of research and knowledge sharing within the team
Analyse security outcomes and provide strategic vulnerability remediation and mitigation recommendations
Support the development and management of the Assurance division's technical assets
Business Support
Drive continuous improvement in offensive security methodologies, tools, and techniques by staying current with emerging threats and industry best practices
Plan and oversee effective assurance engagements delivered by team members
Foster a culture of research and knowledge sharing within the team
Analyse security outcomes and provide strategic vulnerability remediation and mitigation recommendations
Support the development and management of the Assurance division's technical assets
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of offensive security consultants,



ensuring continuous skill development and career progression
Manage consultant allocation, project scheduling, and capacity planning to optimise team utilisation
Support recruitment, training, mentoring, and professional development initiatives
Set and monitor specific, measurable team goals and objectives for direct reports
Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, and mutual support
Ensure team members successfully deliver customer projects while advancing their capabilities
The ideal candidate will combine solid technical expertise in offensive security with proven operational leadership experience and strong project management capabilities.
This role requires both hands‐on security skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts effectively across various levels of diverse organisations spanning every industry vertical.
Experience and Leadership
4-6 years of progressive experience in offensive security consulting roles
Minimum 3 years in leadership positions managing offensive security teams
Demonstrated experience implementing cyber security practices in operational contexts
Proven ability to lead and develop teams effectively
Technical Expertise
Extensive hands-on experience in penetration testing across web applications, internal infrastructure, and external environments
Proficiency with diverse penetration testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies (both commercial and open source)
Red team or adversarial simulation experience highly regarded
Solid understanding of information security standards and frameworks (ISO *****, NIST, OWASP)
Communication and Operational Skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to present technical concepts to diverse audiences
Demonstrated experience preparing security reports and technical presentations
Proven track record building relationships with clients, team members, and key stakeholders
Strong analytical and organisational capabilities with experience in resource planning and project coordination
Qualifications
Tertiary qualification in computer science, cybersecurity, or equivalent experience
Two advanced offensive security certifications (such as OSCP, CPTS, OSCE, CREST CRT/CCT, GIAC)
Additional recognised security certifications (CISSP, CISM, CRISC) advantageous
Skills and Attitudes:
Degree qualified in marketing, business or communications preferred
Minimum 3 year marketing experience in technology industry, or relevant internship may be considered
Experience with SFDC and Pardot or other marketing automation platforms highly regarded
Experience/knowledge of SEO best practice preferred
Experience/knowledge of Drupal preferred
Experience/knowledge of Google Analytics preferred
Highly organized with attention to detail
Understanding of integrated marketing tactics
Previous marketing campaign management experience including digital, email and social will be highly regarded
Proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Suite including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
Align and embody our core business values
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong operational leadership qualities combined with technical excellence and effective team management skills.
These personal attributes are essential for driving team performance, managing complex projects, and adapting to the evolving cyber security landscape.
Leadership and Management




Proven operational leadership capabilities with experience mentoring and developing high‐performing teams
Strong team management skills across technical and project delivery contexts
Ability to set clear goals, motivate team members, and identify individual development opportunities
Hands‐on leadership approach with willingness and capability to personally deliver technical engagements when required
Communication and Commercial Acumen
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to influence and persuade in commercial contexts
Natural ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with prospects, clients, and internal teams
Commercial awareness with understanding of market dynamics and competitive positioning
Capable of translating technical capabilities into clear business value propositions
Professional Excellence
Outstanding time management and organisational capabilities
Strong project delivery skills with high attention to detail
Demonstrated accountability and ownership mentality
Ability to perform effectively under pressure whilst maintaining quality standards
Adaptability and Growth Mindset
High aptitude for learning emerging technologies and industry developments
Flexibility and adaptability to changing operational requirements
Willingness to embrace new challenges and innovative approaches
Openness to understanding and implementing current technologies and processes
Collaboration and Autonomy
Ability to work autonomously whilst contributing effectively to collaborative team environments
Experience working within agile delivery methodologies
Strong sense of responsibility for driving issues to resolution
Measurables:
Success in this role will be measured across five key performance areas that demonstrate both individual excellence and positive operational impact.
The following outcomes reflect the Head of Assurance Services' ability to deliver operational leadership, drive team performance, and achieve measurable results for Cline's Assurance division.
Delivery excellence
Deliver projects securely, on time, and within allocated effort budgets while maintaining exceptional quality standards
Support scoping activities, providing accurate technical input that aligns with customer needs
Maintain exceptional project management standards and exceed client expectations through rigorous quality assurance
Develop tools and templates to improve delivery efficiency across the Assurance team
Technical Leadership
Plan and oversee effective assurance engagements delivered by team members
Stay current with latest testing and ethical hacking methods through research and development
Deliver innovative penetration testing services and best practice solutions
Provide comprehensive insights into penetration testing methodologies and outcomes
Operational Impact
Achieve operational efficiency targets through effective resource management and project delivery
Create professional communications on technical findings and risks for business stakeholders
Develop technical reports covering security assessments and vulnerability landscapes
Collaborate effectively on cross‐functional projects across the business
Team Development
Manage and grow a highly engaged team of security consultants focused on continuous improvement
Facilitate skills transfer both internally and with customers
Ensure team members successfully deliver customer projects while advancing their capabilities
Uplift local security capability and expertise through training and mentorship programs
Compliance and Standards Management
Maintain internal security standards and customer confidentiality requirements
Conduct regular internal reviews and assessments to support both compliance and continuous improvement
Support organisational review of security processes and procedures
Ensure maintenance of team compliance to key certifications such as CREST through training plans and certification achievements

📌 Head Of Assurance (Melbourne)
🏢 EPG Payroll & HR Australia
📍 Melbourne