Sr Dir, Policy and Government Affairs

Company Description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.

Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

FLEXWORK is an employee-centric reimagining of how we work. We built FLEXWORK based on employee feedback – it is about flexibility, trust, and choice whenever possible. It’s been a journey of disruption that has yielded the best of our values. We offer as much flexibility as possible, and choices that enable you to be most productive, including benefits that meet your needs and learning opportunities that you feel passionate about.

Our Approach to Work

At Palo Alto Networks, we believe in the power of collaboration and value in-person interactions. This is why our employees generally work from the office three days per week, leaving two days for choice and flexibility to work where you feel most effective. This setup fosters casual conversations, problem-solving, and trusted relationships. While details may evolve, our goal is to create an environment where innovation thrives, with office-based teams coming together three days a week to collaborate and thrive, together!

Job Description

Your Career

The Sr. Director, EMEA Public Policy and Government Affairs will expand and manage the company’s EMEA policy practice. You will develop and execute a public affairs strategy that will help strengthen Palo Alto Networks’ engagement and relationship with EU / EMEA institutions and key EU / EMEA member states. You will engage in the development of strategic public policies, build/maintain  influential relationships and enable strategic business opportunities. The position will focus primarily on the institutions of the European Union (EU) in Brussels but will also support individual EU / EMEA countries as needed.

The role is based in Belgium and requires a considerable amount of travel to Brussels.

Your Impact

• Build upon existing relationships and identify new key EU / EMEA officials, organizations, and other stakeholders with whom Palo Alto Networks should engage to increase the visibility of the company in cybersecurity related and other key tech policy communities - Develop and execute a detailed plan for engagement
• Monitor and engage on current and emerging public policy issues impactful to the company and our customers, including on cybersecurity, AI, certifications, data localization, cloud, privacy and other policies in the EU / EMEA and priority countries, and develop and execute strategies to engage on these policies in the company’s interest
• Work with Palo Alto Networks’ public sector teams in EMEA and facilitate business conversations with senior government officials, cybersecurity stakeholders, and purchasing influencers of public sector organizations and EU institutions, including NATO and others
• Partner closely with the EMEA legal and policy team members, as well as with the U.S.-based Public Policy and Government Affairs colleagues, to ensure consistent approaches
• Liaise internally with other corporate functions and geographic business leadership to identify key areas of focus and provide timely public policy positions, insights, and written materials in relation to those identified areas, related business initiatives, and government regulatory activities
• Advise internal business leaders and work collaboratively with business units (including marketing, product management, sales, and others) to ensure that Palo Alto Networks has the information needed to make strategic decisions with critical impact on the company’s business goals
• Help Palo Alto Networks continue to build our brand as a strategic partner to EU / EMEA officials and as a thought leader committed to the EU’s cybersecurity agenda
• Present company’s policy positions via written position papers and comments with the support and/or in coordination with internal and external resources, in meetings, through briefings, technical exchanges, and via multiplier organizations (e.g. trade and industry associations) and present at conferences and related opportunities
• Support senior executives in their efforts to increase company name recognition and operational relationships
• Identify thought leadership opportunities and operational partnerships appropriate for the company’s EMEA CSOs, Unit 42 threat research team, and other internal experts
• Contribute to speeches and public facing materials for senior executives and sales teams
• Manage local representation (