Distribution Business Manager - Africa

Palo Alto Networks; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cybersecurity company is seeking a Distribution Business Manager to enhance Sales & Channel engagement across the Africa region. The ideal candidate will be responsible for driving distributor relationships, managing business execution, and setting regional strategies. Applicants should have extensive experience in distribution and channel management, excellent communication and leadership skills. This position offers the opportunity to work remotely across multiple countries in Africa.

Qualifications

• 5 – 7 years of distribution or channel management experience.
• 2 – 3 years of channel sales management experience in vendor environments.
• Ability to develop complex partner and territory plans.

Responsibilities

• Drive Sales & Channel engagement with distributors across the Africa region.
• Lead regular Business Review meetings with stakeholders.
• Manage all processes related to Distribution Development Funds.

Skills

Distribution or channel management experience

Channel sales management experience

Selling technology solutions

Influencing senior-level executives

Developing partner territory plans

Strong presentation skills

Effective communication

Leadership skills

Time management skills

Public speaking skills

Job description

Overview

This role can be based remotely in Egypt, Kenya, South Africa or Nigeria

Your Career

As a Distribution Business Manager (DBM) at Palo Alto Networks, you will drive our entire Sales & Channel engagement with distributors across the NextWave partner ecosystem across the Africa region. You will own the overall GTM relationship, defining the evolution of distributors’ businesses, headcount, investments, and go-to-market strategies each year based on regional priorities. Your role includes overall business execution and performance management with the distributor, augmenting the Enterprise & Commercial Segment needs with your DBM peers and associated sales segment leads.

Your Impact

• Provide necessary data and reports to distributors to set plan targets and KPIs.
• Schedule, prepare, and lead recurring Business Review meetings (QBRs) at least three times per year with cross-functional audience
• Meet with Distributors to update the annual business plan with previous quarter’s results and set targets for the new quarter
• Establish senior executive relationships and leverage rapport with distributors’ executives to influence investments
• Lead monthly updates with the distributor(s) to cover relevant new company information
• Increase the distributor’s quoting utilization and provide adequate training
• Manage semi-annual NextWave Program Compliance efforts for Distribution Managed Partners
• Work closely with the Renewals team and distributors to improve renewals process efficiency
• Build and monitor plans with distributors to drive attendance to important events
• Give face-to-face presentations to distributors at the start of each quarter
• Facilitate cadence of 'Peering' between local management teams
• Handle escalations related to day-to-day order processing and Distributor Credit situations
• Be onsite at a local distributor at each end of month / EOQ
• Manage the Distribution Rebates by setting targets and defining MBOs
• Manage all processes and documentation related to Distribution Development Funds (DDF)
• Lead weekly forecast call with each local distributor

Qualifications

Your Experience

• 5 – 7 years of distribution or channel management experience
• 2 – 3 years of channel sales management experience in vendor environments
• Working knowledge and experience selling technology solutions
• Proven experience influencing senior-level partner executives
• Ability to develop complex partner and territory plans and strategies
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to describe market transitions
• Proven ability to communicate effectively and professionally
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and manage virtual sales teams
• Strong time management, organizational, and negotiation skills
• Professional IT Sales and business development experience
• Strong public speaking skills

Additional Information

The Team

The channel organization at Palo Alto Networks is a strategic pillar for our continued growth within cybersecurity, and a critical component to accomplishing our mission. Channel development is an extension of the territory sales team, with the ultimate goal to train and enable our channel partners to become empowered in the use and sales of our products.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that 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.