📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, NAM Partner Marketing
🔹 Company: Palo Alto Networks
🔹 Location: Santa Clara, California
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-28
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/week in-office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies for North America Partners and Ecosystems
- Driving multi-million dollar pipeline and revenue through targeted, integrated marketing campaigns
- Shaping the strategic direction of NAM partner marketing and acting as a trusted advisor to senior sales executives
- Cultivating a high-performing team of 12+ marketing professionals
- Optimizing marketing investments using a data-driven approach
- Ensuring seamless collaboration and brand consistency across global and regional teams
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the technology partner ecosystem.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and execute strategic marketing plans to drive demand, increase market share, and accelerate revenue growth for Palo Alto Networks through North American partners and ecosystems
✅ Collaborate with partner sales leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with global and regional business objectives
✅ Lead a team of 12+ marketing professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and accountability
✅ Optimize marketing investments by leveraging a data-driven approach to maximize ROI and continuous improvement
✅ Ensure seamless collaboration and brand consistency across global and regional teams, amplifying Palo Alto Networks' message and market presence through critical alliances
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and excellent communication skills to manage a team and collaborate with various stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree or master's degree in business, marketing, or technology (preferred)
Experience: 12+ years of demonstrated success leading marketing organizations for a tech company, with a proven track record in partner ecosystems
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in generating new and innovative approaches to problems
- Deep and wide knowledge and relationships within the technology partner/ecosystem space
- Solid experience inclusively communicating to ensure diversity of voice is heard, considered, and enabled while empowering others to do the same
- Proven ability to plan, organize, schedule, and budget in an efficient, productive manner with a focus on key priorities
- Solid understanding of funnel metrics and actions to continuously improve conversion at each stage of the funnel
- Ability to develop people and set goals, drive team performance and excellence
Preferred Skills:
- Sales or partner sales background
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in marketing, with a focus on partner ecosystems and a proven track record of driving revenue growth.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $204,000 - $281,500/YR (based on experience and qualifications)
Benefits:
- Wellbeing Spending Account
- Mental Health Resources
- Financial Health Resources
- Personalized Learning Opportunities
- Restricted Stock Units
- Bonus
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week), with approximately 30% travel required
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a director-level marketing role with 10+ years of experience in the technology sector.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Palo Alto Networks is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, protecting tens of thousands of organizations across clouds, networks, and mobile devices. They operate in the competitive and fast-paced computer and network security industry.
Company Size: Palo Alto Networks has 10,001+ employees, making it a large enterprise with significant resources and a complex organizational structure.
Founded: Palo Alto Networks was founded in 2005 and has since grown into a global cybersecurity leader.
Company Description:
- Palo Alto Networks is committed to being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting the digital way of life
- The company helps address the world's greatest security challenges with continuous innovation in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration
- Palo Alto Networks delivers an integrated platform and empowers a growing ecosystem of partners to protect tens of thousands of organizations across clouds, networks, and mobile devices
Company Specialties:
- Security Operating Platform
- Cloud Security
- SaaS Security
- Network Security
- Next-Generation Firewall
- Cybersecurity
- Threat and Malware Prevention
- URL Filtering
- Threat Intelligence
- Enterprise Security Platform
- Endpoint Security
- Threat Research
- Unit 42
- NextWave Partners
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform
- VMware NSX
- Application Framework
- Behavioral Analytics
- Logging Service
- Network Security Management
- LIVE Community
- Cybersecurity Canon
- Fuel User Group
- Cyber Threat Alliance
Company Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com
ASSUMPTION: Palo Alto Networks is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement in the cybersecurity industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the director level, reporting directly to the SVP of Marketing, North America.
Reporting Structure: The Director will lead a team of 12+ marketing professionals and collaborate with partner sales leadership and cross-functional teams.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, requiring approximately 30% travel and 3 days/week in the office.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a senior leadership role within the marketing organization
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and initiatives
- Chance to develop leadership and strategic planning skills
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the company's success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Palo Alto Networks has a modern, collaborative office environment with a focus on in-person interactions.
Office Location(s): Santa Clara, California
Geographic Context:
- Santa Clara is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, with a thriving tech industry and numerous networking opportunities
- The cost of living in Santa Clara is relatively high compared to other areas in the United States
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural attractions, dining options, and outdoor activities
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), with approximately 30% travel required
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and office location in Santa Clara provide a good balance between work-life integration and access to a vibrant tech industry.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth behavioral and situational interview with the marketing team
- Final interview with the SVP of Marketing, North America
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Leadership and team management skills
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Understanding of the technology partner ecosystem
- Alignment with Palo Alto Networks' mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of the technology partner ecosystem and Palo Alto Networks' business
- Prepare examples of your strategic marketing plans and their outcomes
ATS Keywords: Partner Marketing, Strategic Planning, Demand Generation, Revenue Growth, Team Leadership, Data-Driven Approach, Collaboration, Brand Consistency, Communication, Problem Solving, Innovation, Funnel Metrics, Coaching, Goal Setting, Performance Measurement, Stakeholder Management, Change Management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership, and communication skills, as well as their understanding of the technology partner ecosystem.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for marketing professionals and can be learned quickly by candidates with relevant experience.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Problem solvers that take risks and challenge the cybersecurity status quo
- Collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Focus on continuous learning and innovation
- Commitment to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on driving results and continuous improvement
- Collaborative and inclusive, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and open communication
- Focus on work-life integration and employee well-being
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and enjoy taking on new challenges?
- Are you comfortable working in a collaborative, inclusive team and contributing to an open communication culture?
- Do you have a strong commitment to continuous learning and innovation, and are you eager to take on new responsibilities as they arise?
ASSUMPTION: Palo Alto Networks values candidates who are strategic thinkers, strong communicators, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team of 12+ marketing professionals and ensuring consistent performance and excellence
- Navigating a complex, matrixed organization and collaborating with various stakeholders
- Keeping up with the fast-paced, ever-evolving cybersecurity industry and adapting marketing strategies accordingly
- Balancing the demands of a hybrid work arrangement and approximately 30% travel
ASSUMPTION: This role presents significant challenges, but also offers substantial opportunities for growth and impact.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other director-level marketing roles, this position offers a broader scope of responsibilities and a greater impact on revenue growth
- In the technology partner ecosystem, this role is unique in its focus on driving demand and customer acquisition through strategic marketing campaigns
- Career path comparison: This role offers a clear path to senior leadership within the marketing organization, with potential opportunities to expand into other areas of the business
ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its focus on the technology partner ecosystem and offers significant growth potential for the right candidate.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a multi-million dollar marketing campaign to drive revenue growth through a strategic alliance with a major cloud service provider
- Collaborating with partner sales leadership to create targeted, co-branded content and assets that drive pipeline and revenue growth
- Optimizing marketing investments by analyzing funnel metrics and adjusting campaign strategies to improve conversion rates and ROI
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, data-driven approach required for success in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the strategic direction of the NAM partner marketing team and how this role fits into that vision?
- How does the marketing team collaborate with partner sales leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with business objectives?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I make a significant impact on the team's success?
- How does Palo Alto Networks support the growth and development of its employees, and what opportunities are there for professional advancement in this role?
- What is the work-life balance like for this role, and how does the company support employees in maintaining a healthy work-life integration?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions will help you better understand the role's priorities, the company's culture, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role, with a focus on strategic planning, leadership, and collaboration
- Prepare examples of your strategic marketing plans and their outcomes to demonstrate your ability to drive demand and revenue growth
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
