Director, Global Partner Programs

Palo Alto Networks•Portland, OR

22h•$194,000 - $266,500•Remote

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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
Ability to link program design to long-term business outcomes and partner profitability.
A "systems-thinker" who can use modern AI tools to drive consistency and predictability into programs and processes and build scalable, durable solutions.
Exceptional executive-level verbal and written communication skills. Experience influencing senior stakeholders and aligning VP-level leaders across functions
High comfort level with data integrity, reporting logic, and financial reconciliation.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in data analytics or consulting a plus

Responsibilities

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.
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.
Ensure program incentives, rewards, and recognition structures are aligned 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, such as CyberArk/ Idira, to ensure business continuity.
Partner with analytics and operations teams to leverage data-driven insights that improve decision-making, identify operational risks, and inform program enhancements.
Manage cross-functional steering committee to facilitate discussion that ensure key stakeholders provide guidance for operationalizing and accelerating delivery of successful initiatives.
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.
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.