Director, GCS Business Operations and Strategic Execution

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.

Who We Are

We take our mission of protecting the digital way of life seriously. We are relentless in protecting our customers and we believe that the unique ideas of every member of our team contributes to our collective success. Our values were crowdsourced by employees and are brought to life through each of us everyday - from disruptive innovation and collaboration, to execution. From showing up for each other with integrity to creating an environment where we all feel included.

As a member of our team, you will be shaping the future of cybersecurity. We work fast, value ongoing learning, and we respect each employee as a unique individual. Knowing we all have different needs, our development and personal wellbeing programs are designed to give you choice in how you are supported. This includes our FLEXBenefits wellbeing spending account with over 1,000 eligible items selected by employees, our mental and financial health resources, and our personalized learning opportunities - just to name a few!

Job Description

Your Career

Palo Alto Networks is looking for a Director, GCS Business Operations and Strategic Execution to work in the GCS Operations organization, to drive the execution of critical new business models and innovative capabilities that accelerate our customers’ success. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading every stage of business transformation - from project inception, to mobilization, execution and close-out, with a laser focus on building the operating the right cadence and rigor to measure and manage business results as a result of transformation initiatives.  This position will report to the VP of GCS Operations and is a great opportunity for a talented individual who has the desire to associate with a fast-growing company in a truly international environment.

Your Impact

This position calls for someone who is organized, collaborative, a strong communicator and works proactively to drive results. This person is a self-starter, flexible, has a high level of integrity and is action and goal-oriented in a fast-paced, team-oriented, collaborative environment.

• Drive initiatives by mobilizing project teams, charters, project plans, contingencies, success metrics and ROI measurements

• Ensure program scope provides clear insight to achievable objectives and milestones

• Orchestrate internal teams to increase visibility, collaboration, and alignment with program needs

• Be accountable for all phases of program success, including initiation, planning, mobilization, execution and close-out

• Develop and lead the program status reporting cadence

• Align program with other GCS initiatives and manage cross-program dependencies

• Recommend and manage the alignment and prioritization of initiatives based on business strategy and simplification to meet key objectives

• Participate in strategic program leadership ensuring alignment of overall governance approach

• Lead and drive escalations and communications, collaborating with internal teams to resolve identified challenges

• Establish successful working relationships and foster collaboration amongst project teams

• Report and present regularly to senior leadership across GCS

• Collaborate with business stakeholders on project definition, mobilization and execution efforts

Qualifications

Your Experience 

• A well-rounded business leader with 10+ years project related work experience preferably in a professional services, customer success or global support organization

• 7+ years’ track record of successfully defining, mobilizing & leading high-profile strategic programs in a complex, global corporate setting

• Strong preference for candidates with either a business consulting background, or prior experience in business operations or sales strategy/operations leadership roles

• Demonstrated success as a transformational leader & problem-solver

• Proven ability to confidently lead a team through ambiguity, and to establish context where little/none exists

• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with all levels of an organization, including senior e