Director of Communications, Reputation

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is seeking a seasoned leader to head reputation communications, overseeing global crisis management, issues, and proactive brand protection.

You will lead a high-agency, low-ego team to safeguard trust with customers, partners, media, and the public. In this role you will navigate regulatory and data security challenges, drive rapid-response messaging, and collaborate across Legal, Information Security, Product, Public Policy, and Executive Leadership to deliver clear,

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in crisis communications, corporate PR, or issues management.
• Proven ability to lead high-stakes, cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills; translate complex issues into clear messaging.
• Strong relationships with senior executives, legal counsel, and engineering.
• Hybrid work model with Santa Clara office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global crisis communications strategy and execution.
• Protect and enhance corporate reputation across markets.
• Partner with Legal, Information Security, Product, Public Policy, and Exec Leadership.
• Manage media inquiries and act as spokesperson when needed.
• Maintain crisis playbooks, FAQs, and response frameworks.
• Draft high-impact executive statements and talking points.

Skills

Crisis communications

Corporate PR

Issues management

Executive communications

Media relations

Cross-functional collaboration

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!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

We are looking for a talented, strategic, and unflappable leader to head Palo Alto Networks reputation communications. You will join our high-agency, low-ego communications team to architect and execute our global crisis communications, issues management, and proactive brand protection strategies. The ideal candidate is a seasoned corporate communications expert who thrives in high-stakes environments, values deep cross-functional relationships, and understands how to protect and enhance corporate reputation in the fast-moving enterprise technology and cybersecurity landscape.

In this role, you are the guardian of our corporate narrative during critical moments. From navigating complex regulatory landscapes and data security issues to driving rapid-response messaging, you will bring steady leadership and sharp strategic instincts to ensure Palo Alto Networks maintains trust with customers, partners, media, and the public. This position plays a critical role within a company that deeply values its communications team and relies on us to navigate ambiguity with clarity and integrity.

Your Impact

• Crisis & Issues Management: Lead the global strategy and execution for high-stakes, fast-moving communication issues, ensuring rapid, accurate, and transparent messaging across all external audiences.
• Reputation Stewardship: Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate potential reputational risks before they elevate, safeguarding Palo Alto Networks' brand equity in the global market.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work skillfully across the company—partnering deeply with Legal, Information Security, Product, Public Policy, and Executive Leadership—to synthesize complex technical or legal situations into clear, human-centric communications.
• Media Relations & Spokespersonship: Serve as a primary point of contact and trusted advisor for high-profile media inquiries. Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier business, tech, and security journalists.
• Preparedness & Governance: Own, update, and scale our global crisis communications playbooks, FAQs, and response frameworks, ensuring internal stakeholders are trained and ready for rapid deployment.
• Strategic Messaging: Draft precise, high-impact statements, talking points, and executive communications that maintain corporate transparency while managing legal and regulatory boundaries.
• Steely Execution: Act as the steady anchor for the communications team during times of heightened external attention, managing multiple moving pieces with speed, precision, and absolute discretion.

Qualifications

• Enterprise Tech Expertise: 12–15+ years of experience in crisis communications, corporate PR, or issues management, with a strong background in enterprise software, cloud technology, or cybersecurity.
• High Agency, Low Ego: A proven track record of taking accountability and driving definitive outcomes during critical events, while maintaining a collaborative, supportive, and grounded team-first attitude.
• Battle-Tested Leader: Demonstrated experience managing high-profile corporate crises and turning complex, high-pressure situations into calm, structured execution.
• Master Communicator: Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal skills, with a proven ability to translate highly technical milestones, legal constraints, and security events into clear, consumer-forward prose.
• Relationship Driven: A natural ability to build deep trust quickly with senior executives, legal counsel, and engineering teams, guiding alignment when viewpoints diverge.
• Media Savvy: Extensive experience engaging directly with tier-one media outlets and comfortably serving as a public corporate spokesperson when required.
• Location: Ability to work out of our Santa Clara office in our hybrid model.

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.

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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.