Partner Director, Palo Alto Networks

NWN Carousel•Exeter, CA

2d•Remote

About The Position

NWN is seeking a Partner Director, Palo Alto Networks to own and scale one of NWN's high-growth technology partnerships. This role will serve as the primary point of contact for the Palo Alto Networks alliance, building joint go-to-market initiatives, managing partner programs, and spearheading new growth opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Marketing, or related field preferred
10+ years of experience managing strategic technology partnerships
Strong understanding of networking, security, and collaboration technology, partner programs, and go-to-market motions.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills
Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and technical teams
Results-oriented, with a track record of driving measurable business outcomes through partnerships

Nice To Haves

MBA degree preferred but not required
MSP, SI, or Cisco partner ecosystem experience preferred
Direct experience working with Palo Alto Networks' partner ecosystem (e.g., NextWave) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the central relationship manager for Palo Alto Networks' field, channel, and regional organizations.
Build and execute joint go-to-market strategies with Palo Alto Networks, ensuring alignment with NWN's overall business objectives.
Manage Palo Alto Networks' partner programs, NextWave tier requirements, and funding opportunities (e.g., MDF) to maximize partnership value.
Track and report on partnership performance metrics including partner-sourced pipeline, revenue, EMP attach rate, and specialization status.
Collaborate with NWN's cybersecurity practice, sales, marketing, and technical teams to enable and execute joint initiatives.
Act as an advocate for NWN within Palo Alto Networks, and for Palo Alto Networks within NWN.
Own the annual partner business plan and executive QBR cadence, driving cross-functional accountability against Palo Alto Networks commitments.
Manage NextWave partner-tier progression and specialization roadmap (e.g., platform, SASE, security-operations) to unlock deal registration incentives and MDF.
Stay current on Palo Alto Networks' partner program requirements, market trends, and the competitive landscape.