Director, Global Partner Programs

Socket.dev; Oregon (WI); Hybrid; USD 194,000 - 267,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Director of Global Partner Programs to lead the CSP, Referral, Cyberforce Rewards, and partner incentives. You will oversee strategy, governance, and evolution, while coordinating with the Ecosystems team for acquisitions and new product introductions.

You will drive data‑driven decisions, automate processes, and ensure scalable programs that deliver value to partners and PANW, with a heavy emphasis on cross‑functional execution and stakeholder alignment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in partner programs, channel operations, sales programs, or related business operations roles within enterprise technology, SaaS, or cloud environments.
• BA/BS degree or higher in Business Administration or similar field or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage automation, analytics, and modern AI productivity technologies to improve personal and team operational scalability and efficiency.
• Proven track record designing, building, and launching programs addressing various indirect routes to market
• Experience in data analytics or consulting a plus

Responsibilities

• Oversee and evolve CSP, Referral, CYBERFORCE, and Rewards Incentives Programs to drive partner engagement, profitability, and measurable partner and customer value.
• Model personal AI fluency in daily tasks while elevating team capabilities for AI-driven execution and scalable program capacity.
• Ensure program incentives, rewards, and recognition structures align with broader partner program strategy, business objectives tied to RUNN, and measurable partner/customer value.
• Lead ecosystem integration for mergers and acquisitions, serving as the primary lead for large integration tracks to ensure business continuity.
• Data & Insights: Partner with analytics and operations teams to leverage data‑driven insights that improve decision‑making and inform program enhancements.
• Collaboration: Manage cross‑functional steering committee to facilitate discussion that ensure key stakeholders guidance for operationalizing delivery.
• Multi‑Year Planning: Own the multi‑year strategic ecosystem program roadmap by liaising with Ecosystems Strategy to translate goals into an operational framework.
• New Product Introduction: Focus upstream to connect with Product teams and serve as the lead integration point into Ecosystems Programs to ensure ecosystem needs are built into the NPI process.

Skills

Strategic Agility

Operational Rigor

Communication

Analytical Mindset

Flexibility

Education

BA/BS degree in Business Administration or similar field

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting‑edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real‑world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

This role is remote, but distance is no barrier to impact. Our hybrid teams collaborate across geographies to solve big problems, stay close to our customers, and grow together. You will be part of a culture that values trust, accountability, and shared success where your work truly matters.

Job Summary

Job Description

As the Director of Global Partner Programs, you will manage a team responsible for the strategic design, operational governance, and continuous evolution of the Cloud Service Provider (CSP), Referral, Partner Rewards and CYBERFORCE recognition Partner Programs. You and your team will also be the primary integration point for the Ecosystems team for company acquisitions and new product introductions (NPI).

This role operates at the intersection of strategy, operations, and cross‑functional execution, requiring expertise in partner program management, incentive governance, operational scalability, stakeholder alignment, and go‑to‑market program delivery. Your team will focus on scaling partner programs, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing the partner experience through data‑driven insights, automation, and modern workflow technologies. In addition, you will be the central point of accountability for eliminating process gaps, driving consistency, and ensuring our programs are competitive, scalable, and valuable to partners and PANW.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Ownership & Scale: Oversee and evolve the Cloud Service Provider (CSP), Referral, CYBERFORCE and Rewards Incentives Programs to drive partner engagement, profitability, and measurable partner and customer value.
• Workflow Optimization: Model personal AI fluency in daily tasks while systematically elevating team capabilities from individual productivity to collaborative AI‑driven execution, with a vision for agentic workflows to drive operational efficiency and scale program capacity.
• Incentive & Recognition Governance: Ensure program incentives, rewards, and recognition structures are aligned with broader partner program strategy, business objectives tied to RUNN, and measurable partner/customer value.
• Acquisition Integration: Lead ecosystem integration for mergers and acquisitions, serving as the primary lead for large integration tracks, such as CyberArk/ Idira, to ensure business continuity.

Additional Responsibilities

• Data & Insights: Partner with analytics and operations teams to leverage data‑driven insights that improve decision‑making, identify operational risks, and inform program enhancements.

Collaboration & Planning

• Collaboration: Manage cross‑functional steering committee to facilitate discussion that ensure key stakeholders provide guidance for operationalizing and accelerating delivery of successful initiatives.
• Multi‑Year Planning: Own the multi‑year strategic ecosystem program roadmap by liaising with Ecosystems Strategy to translate corporate goals into an operational framework that connects to and aligns all partner programs.
• New Product Introduction: Focus upstream to connect with Product teams and serve as the lead integration point into Ecosystems Programs to ensure ecosystem needs are built into the NPI process.

Qualifications

• 8 + years of experience in partner programs, channel operations, sales programs, or related business operations roles within enterprise technology, SaaS, or cloud environments.
• BA/BS degree or higher in Business Administration or similar field or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage automation, analytics, and modern AI productivity technologies to improve personal and team operational scalability and efficiency.
• Proven track record designing, building, and launching programs addressing various indirect routes to market
• Experience in data analytics or consulting a plus
• Core Competencies:
  • Strategic Agility: Ability to link program design to long‑term business outcomes and partner profitability.
  • Operational Rigor: A "systems‑thinker" who can use modern AI tools to drive consistency and predictability into programs and processes and build scalable, durable solutions.
  • Communication: Exceptional executive‑level verbal and written communication skills. Experience influencing senior stakeholders and aligning VP‑level leaders across functions
  • Analytical Mindset: High comfort level with data integrity, reporting logic, and financial reconciliation.
  • Flexibility: Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, ambiguous environment with competing priorities.

Success Measures

Success in this role may be measured through:

• Cross‑functional execution effectiveness
• Program adoption and engagement
• Operational efficiency and scalability improvements
• KPI attainment and reporting accuracy
• Partner satisfaction and experience
• Reduction in manual processes and operational gaps
• Program compliance and governance effectiveness

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non‑sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com‑missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$194,000.00 - $266,500.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

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 [e-mail].

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.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.