SEM Strategist
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
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Job summary
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is seeking a curious and highly analytical SEM Strategist to lead and evolve paid search programs across its global cybersecurity portfolio.
This role sits within the Global Digital Marketing team and focuses on high-intent demand, aligning search with pipeline and revenue goals. The SEM Strategist will own regional search strategies across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Naver, and Yahoo Japan, collaborating with global campaigns, field marketing, product marketing,
Qualifications
- 6+ years of digital marketing experience with at least 4+ years managing SEM/PPC programs in a B2B technology environment (SaaS or cybersecurity preferred).
- Hands-on experience managing campaigns in Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising (Bing).
- Experience using Google Search Ads 360 (SA360) for campaign management, bid strategy optimization, budget pacing, and performance reporting.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate performance data into actionable insights.
Responsibilities
- Own and evolve search strategy across priority solutions and regional markets to drive high-intent demand.
- Translate campaign insights into recommendations to improve demand capture, lead quality, and marketing effectiveness.
- Build, launch, and manage paid search campaigns across multiple markets with ongoing optimization.
- Analyze campaign performance data to uncover trends, opportunities, and competitive insights.
- Influence content, SEO, and landing page strategy using search insights to move buyers forward.
- Collaborate with Product Marketing, Global Campaigns, Field Marketing, and Sales for alignment.
- Collaborate with agencies and internal teams to ensure strong execution and continuous improvement.
- Test new bidding strategies, keywords, creatives, and landing pages to optimize results.
Skills
Tools
Job description
We are looking for a curious and highly analytical SEM Strategist to help lead and evolve our paid search programs across Palo Alto Networks’ global cybersecurity portfolio. This role sits within the Global Digital Marketing team and plays a key part in capturing high‑intent demand and translating search visibility into measurable business outcomes including pipeline and revenue.
The SEM Strategist will own and drive search strategy across priority solutions and regional markets, working closely with global campaigns, field marketing, product marketing, analytics, and agency partners to ensure search programs align with business objectives and buying group engagement. The ideal candidate views search as a strategic growth channel, not just a media tactic. They combine hands‑on platform expertise with strong business acumen and curiosity to continuously test, innovate, and evolve search programs in response to changing market dynamics, including the rapid evolution of AI‑driven search experiences (AIO / generative search). They will help ensure Palo Alto Networks stays ahead of changes in how buyers discover, research, and evaluate cybersecurity solutions in search environments.
- Develop and execute regional search strategies across platforms including Google Ads, Microsoft Ads (Bing), Naver, and Yahoo Japan to drive high‑intent demand capture aligned with business priorities.
- Ensure campaigns are structured to support global growth objectives while accounting for regional search behaviors, language nuances, and market dynamics across JAPAC.
- Connect search performance to real business outcomes including pipeline, opportunity creation, and revenue influence.
- Translate campaign insights into recommendations that improve demand capture, lead quality, and overall marketing effectiveness—not just media performance metrics.
- Build, launch, and manage paid search campaigns across multiple markets while continuously optimizing campaign structures, bidding strategies, targeting, and messaging to improve performance and efficiency.
- Work directly within advertising platforms to implement optimizations and scale successful strategies.
- Analyze campaign performance data to uncover trends, keyword opportunities, competitive insights, and demand signals.
- Translate findings into clear recommendations that influence both search investment strategy and broader marketing initiatives.
- Leverage search insights to inform content development, messaging, and landing page strategy, helping ensure that high‑intent queries are matched with relevant experiences that move buyers further along the decision journey.
- Partner with content, SEO, and web teams to improve search visibility and engagement across key product and solution categories.
- Partner closely with Product Marketing, Global Campaigns, Field Marketing, and Sales teams to ensure search programs align with product launches, regional demand generation priorities, and integrated marketing campaigns.
- Serve as the search subject matter expert in cross‑functional conversations.
- Collaborate with external agency partners and internal marketing teams to ensure strong execution, alignment with strategy, and continuous performance improvement.
- Influence stakeholders and represent the search function in regional discussions when needed.
- Continuously test new approaches across bidding strategies, keyword expansion, audience targeting, ad creative, and landing page experiences.
- Stay ahead of evolving search trends including AI‑driven search results, AIO experiences, automation, and changing buyer research behaviors, ensuring Palo Alto Networks adapts quickly to new opportunities.
- Develop performance summaries and strategic insights for weekly and monthly reporting, highlighting trends, opportunities, and recommendations that support marketing and business goals.
- Provide clear insights that help leadership understand how search contributes to broader growth initiatives.
- 6+ years of digital marketing experience with at least 4+ years managing Search Engine Marketing (SEM/PPC) programs in a B2B technology environment (SaaS or cybersecurity preferred).
- Hands‑on experience managing campaigns in Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising (Bing). Experience with regional platforms such as Naver or Yahoo Japan is a plus.
- Experience using Google Search Ads 360 (SA360) for campaign management, bid strategy optimization, budget pacing, and performance reporting.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate performance data into actionable insights that drive business outcomes.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets (pivot tables, data analysis, reporting) required.
- Experience working with analytics platforms such as Adobe Analytics, Tableau, or Google Analytics to interpret performance data and connect marketing metrics to pipeline and revenue outcomes.
- Experience supporting search campaigns across multiple regions (NAMS, EMEA, JAPAC) with an understanding of localization, regional search behavior, and market nuance.
- Comfortable leveraging AI tools, automation platforms, and emerging search technologies to streamline workflows, improve reporting, and identify new optimization opportunities as search continues to evolve.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present performance insights and strategic recommendations to cross‑functional stakeholders and agency partners.
- A curious mindset with a desire to challenge conventional approaches and continuously experiment with new strategies that improve performance and business impact.
- Highly organized and detail‑oriented with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, markets, and priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.
Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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