District Sales Manager - Workforce & Agentic Identity

Palo Alto Networks; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks seeks a high-energy District Sales Manager to lead the Idira specialized sales team across Sub-Saharan Africa. You will drive Workforce Identity and Agentic Identity adoption, develop regional GTM plans, and build trusted C-suite alliances with partners and customers.

In this role, you will manage an international overlay sales team, shape regional sales and marketing strategies, and scale Idira’s footprint across a dynamic market while traveling 30–40% of the time.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of enterprise software sales leadership across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Domain expertise in Workforce Identity (IAM/IGA) and/or Agentic Identity is preferred.
• Proven history of negotiating and closing complex enterprise software agreements with large accounts.
• Experience leveraging GSIs, local VARs, and strategic tech alliances to scale regional GTM.
• Strong analytical, forecasting, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, and scale an international overlay sales team across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Develop and execute regional GTM plans, forecasts, and marketing strategies with senior leadership.
• Drive revenue growth by enabling VARs and partner ecosystems and coordinating quarterly business reviews.

Skills

Team Leadership

Enterprise software sales

IAM/IGA knowledge

C-suite engagement

Channel partnerships

Forecasting & analytics

Executive communication

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.

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!

Job Summary

As organizations accelerate their digital and AI transformations, securing identity has evolved beyond traditional boundaries. Workforce Identity protects human access across IAM, IGA, and Endpoints, while Agentic Identity safeguards non-human entities, securing Secrets Management, Workload Identities, and autonomous AI Agents executing critical tasks in real time. Together, the Idira Workforce and Agentic Identity portfolio delivers an end-to-end, unified identity security foundation built for modern enterprise architectures.

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a high-energy District Sales Manager to lead our Idira specialized sales team, driving the Workforce Identity and Agentic Identity adoption across the Sub Saharan Africa. This District Sales Manager role is pivotal to Palo Alto Networks' growth strategy in EMEA. As the Sub Saharan Africa market rapidly adopts cloud-native and AI-driven infrastructure, this leader will spearhead regional expansion, build trusted C-suite alliances, and anchor Idira’s go-to-market execution across one of our most dynamic regions.

In this role, you will direct an international team of overlay sales specialists, execute strategic go-to-market plans, and foster ongoing team development. Working closely with our META VP and leadership team, you will scale Idira's market footprint and shape regional sales and marketing strategies.

What You’ll Do

• Team Leadership: Direct, mentor, and scale an international team of specialized overlay sales specialists across the Sub Saharan Africa region. Operate as an effective, collaborative leader in a matrixed enterprise organization.
• Strategic Execution: Develop and execute regional GTM plans, accurate sales forecasts, and targeted marketing strategies in close partnership with the META VP.
• Partner Ecosystem & Business Growth: Drive revenue expansion for the Idira portfolio by actively enabling and motivating local Value-Added Resellers (VARs). Transfer domain knowledge to reseller leadership and account teams, co-host joint marketing events, and drive alignment through structured quarterly business reviews with key regional partners and tech alliances.

Qualifications

• Sales Leadership & Overlay Experience: 5+ years of enterprise software sales leadership, with a proven track record of managing, coaching, and driving high-performing overlay sales teams across the region.
• Domain Expertise: Commercial background in Workforce Identity (IAM, IGA, Endpoint Security) and/or Agentic Identity (Secrets Management, Workload Identity, AI Agents) is preferred.
• Enterprise Execution: Demonstrated history of cultivating, negotiating, and closing complex enterprise software agreements with Fortune 1000 accounts.
• Executive Engagement: Proven ability to establish C-suite relationships (CIOs, CISOs, DevOps leaders) and navigate multi-stakeholder enterprise buying centers.
• Ecosystem & Channel Mastery: Experience leveraging top Global Systems Integrators (GSIs), local VARs, and strategic tech alliances to scale regional GTM.
• Operational Excellence: Strong analytical, forecasting, and organizational skills, with advanced proficiency in critical thinking and complex problem-solving.
• Communication & Mobility: Executive-level written and verbal presentation skills, with the willingness to travel 30–40% across the territory.

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.