Sr. Partner Program Manager

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!

This role is remote, but distance is no barrier to impact. Our hybrid teams collaborate across geographies to solve big problems, stay close to our customers, and grow together. You will be part of a culture that values trust, accountability, and shared success where your work truly matters.

Job Summary

As a Senior Partner Program Manager, you will serve as the global program owner for one or more strategic partner programs. A key program within this portfolio may include CYBERFORCE, an elite recognition and enablement program for top-performing Partner SEs.  

You will lead the strategic design, operational governance, and continuous evolution of assigned programs while ensuring alignment across key partner routes to market, including Reseller, MSP/MSSP, GSI, CSP, Distribution, Referral, Services, and partner recognition initiatives.

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.  You will lead complex, high-visibility initiatives focused on scaling partner programs, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing partner experience through data-driven insights, automation, and modern workflow technologies.You will be the central point of accountability for eliminating process gaps and ensuring your program(s) are competitive, scalable and valuable to partners and PANW.

This is a senior individual contributor role that operates through cross-functional influence rather than direct organizational authority. Success requires the ability to independently lead program initiatives, drive alignment among global senior stakeholders, and balance strategic evolution with operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Program Leadership & Lifecycle Governance

• Program Ownership & Scale: Define, manage, and evolve global partner programs that drive partner engagement, profitability, operational efficiency, and strategic alignment with PANW priorities across multiple partner business models.

• Executive Communication & Influence: Deliver clear, data-driven updates to leadership regarding program performance, strategic risks, operational dependencies, and recommended decisions.

• Operational Governance: Serve as the global subject matter expert for assigned programs, ensuring operational consistency, policy clarity, KPI tracking, process integrity, and measurable business impact.

• Incentive & Recognition Governance: Ensure program incentives, rewards, and recognition structures are aligned with broader partner program strategy, business objectives, and measurable partner/customer value.

• Program Adoption & Value Realization: Develop and execute program adoption, communication, and measurement strategies that demonstrate program effectiveness and business value. 

• Program Messaging & Enablement: Partner with cross-functional teams to develop scalable program documentation, enablement assets, operational guidance, and partner communications.

2. Operational Scalability & Automation 

• Workflow Optimization: Leverage automation, AI-enabled technologies, and modern productivity tools to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual processes, and scale program administration. 

• Data & Insights: Partner with analytics and operations teams to leverage data-driven insights that improve decision-making, identify operational risks, and inform program enhancements. 

• Scalable Communications: Utilize modern content and