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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Identity Specialist

💰 $95,000 - $160,000

ITCybersecurityIdentity and Access Management

🎯 Role Definition

An Identity Specialist is the cornerstone of an organization's security posture, acting as the digital gatekeeper for all corporate resources. In this role, you are entrusted with ensuring that the right individuals have the right level of access to the right systems at the right time—and nothing more. You will design, implement, and meticulously manage the frameworks that control user identities and access privileges across a complex technological landscape. This position sits at the critical intersection of IT operations, cybersecurity, and business process, requiring a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic thinking to protect sensitive data while enabling seamless business productivity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • IT Support Engineer / Helpdesk Analyst
  • Systems Administrator
  • Junior Cybersecurity Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Identity Specialist
  • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Architect
  • Cybersecurity Manager or IAM Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Cloud Security Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Compliance Analyst
  • Privileged Access Management (PAM) Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, deploy, and maintain the organization's Identity and Access Management (IAM) infrastructure, including identity providers, directory services, and federation technologies.
  • Manage the complete user lifecycle process, from automated onboarding and role-based access provisioning to timely access modifications and secure offboarding.
  • Develop, enforce, and refine access control policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with security best practices and compliance requirements.
  • Administer and serve as the subject matter expert for Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) solutions to fortify user authentication.
  • Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex identity and access-related incidents and service requests, acting as a key escalation point for the IT support team.
  • Conduct and coordinate regular user access reviews and certification campaigns to ensure access rights remain appropriate and adhere to the principle of least privilege.
  • Integrate new enterprise applications, whether on-premise or cloud-based (SaaS), into the central IAM framework for consistent policy enforcement and user experience.
  • Collaborate closely with business unit leaders, application owners, and HR to accurately define access requirements and translate them into technical role-based access control (RBAC) models.
  • Automate routine IAM tasks and processes using scripting languages like PowerShell or Python to improve efficiency, accuracy, and response times.
  • Manage and maintain core directory services, including Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), ensuring their health, security, and integrity.
  • Implement and manage identity federation protocols such as SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect (OIDC) to enable secure access between disparate systems.
  • Proactively monitor IAM systems for anomalous activities, security threats, and potential unauthorized access attempts, and contribute to threat modeling exercises.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all IAM processes, system configurations, architectural diagrams, and operational runbooks.
  • Provide expert technical guidance and thought leadership to project teams and colleagues on all matters related to identity management and security best practices.
  • Actively participate in the security incident response team, providing critical analysis and remediation support for incidents involving identity compromise or privilege escalation.
  • Administer and govern Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, overseeing the lifecycle of privileged accounts and ensuring their secure use.
  • Evaluate emerging IAM technologies, industry trends, and tools, providing recommendations to leadership for strategic enhancements to the identity program.
  • Ensure that all IAM solutions and processes are designed and operated in a way that meets regulatory and compliance mandates like SOX, GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA.
  • Manage the provisioning, governance, and de-provisioning of identities and access within cloud environments, including IaaS/PaaS platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
  • Develop and manage a robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) model, working with business stakeholders to define roles and their associated permissions.
  • Perform root cause analysis for service interruptions, security events, or system outages related to the identity infrastructure and implement corrective actions.
  • Partner with the security compliance team to gather evidence, respond to audit inquiries, and demonstrate the effectiveness of identity controls.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to user access patterns.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data governance and cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data access needs into tangible engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies within the cybersecurity and IT teams.
  • Participate in internal and external audit processes, providing evidence and explanations for access controls.
  • Assist in developing and delivering security awareness training focused on identity hygiene and password best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep proficiency with major IAM platforms and Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solutions such as Okta, Azure Active Directory, Ping Identity, or ForgeRock.
  • Extensive hands-on experience with core directory services, particularly Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and Azure AD, including group policy and domain administration.
  • Strong understanding of and practical experience with identity federation and modern authentication protocols, including SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and SCIM.
  • Competency in scripting and automation using languages like PowerShell, Python, or Shell scripting to manage IAM operations at scale.
  • Experience with Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools and concepts (e.g., CyberArk, Delinea, BeyondTrust).
  • Knowledge of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) platforms like SailPoint or Saviynt for managing access certifications and role mining.
  • Familiarity with securing cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) and managing cloud identities and permissions (e.g., AWS IAM roles).
  • Understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, firewalls) and how they relate to access control and security.
  • Experience with API security and using REST APIs for system integration.
  • Knowledge of compliance frameworks and regulations (SOX, GDPR, HIPAA) and how they apply to identity and access management.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities to diagnose and resolve complex, often ambiguous, access issues.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in access provisioning and policy enforcement.
  • A highly collaborative mindset, with a proven ability to work effectively across different teams, including IT, security, HR, and business units.
  • Strong sense of ownership and accountability for the security and stability of the identity ecosystem.
  • Adaptability and a willingness to learn in a fast-paced, constantly evolving technological landscape.
  • Customer-centric focus, dedicated to providing a secure yet seamless user experience.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • A Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent professional experience demonstrating mastery of the required skills.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field, coupled with professional certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or vendor-specific identity certifications (e.g., Okta Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Information Technology
  • Management Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of direct, hands-on experience in an Identity and Access Management, Systems Engineering, or related cybersecurity role.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated experience managing identity in a large, complex enterprise environment.
  • Proven experience in a hybrid environment that includes both on-premise infrastructure and multiple cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS).
  • A track record of successfully leading or significantly contributing to IAM-related projects, such as an SSO rollout, MFA implementation, or IGA deployment.
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