Senior Director, EU Public Policy

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.

We have the vision of a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. These aren’t easy goals to accomplish – but we’re not here for easy. We’re here for better. 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.

Disruption is at the core of our technology and on our way of work to meet the needs of our employees now and in the future through FLEXWORK, our approach to how we work. We’re changing the nature of work from benefits to learning, location to leadership, we’ve rethought and recreated every aspect of the employee experience at Palo Alto Networks. And because it FLEXes around each individual employee based on their individual choices, employees are empowered to push boundaries and help us all evolve, together.

Your Career

The Director/ Senior Director, EU Public Policy, will expand and manage the company’s EU and EMEA policy practice. You will develop and execute a public affairs strategy that will help strengthen Palo Alto Networks engagement and relationship with EU institutions and key EU member states. You will support strategic business, engage on strategic policies, and build/maintain strategic relationships for the company. The position will focus primarily on Brussels but will support individual EU/EMEA countries as needed.

Your Impact

• Strategic relationships/engagement – build upon existing relationships and identify new key EU officials, organizations, and other stakeholders with whom Palo Alto Networks should engage to increase the visibility of the company in cybersecurity related communities; develop and execute a detailed plan for engagement

• Strategic policies - Monitor and engage on current and emerging public policy issues impactful to the company and our customers, including on cybersecurity, certifications, data flows, cloud, privacy and other policies in the EU and priority countries, and develop and execute strategies to engage on these policies in the company’s interest

• Strategic business facilitation - Work with Palo Alto Networks public sector teams in the EU and facilitate business conversations with senior government officials, government CIOs, cybersecurity stakeholders and purchasing influencers of public sector organizations, EU institutions, NATO and others

• Partner/coordinate closely with Global Policy team members in Germany and the UK 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 legal, regulatory, 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 officials and as a thought leader/ committed to the EU’s cybersecurity agenda

• Present company’s policy positions via written position papers and comments, meetings, briefings, technical exchanges, and via multiplier organizations (e.g. trade and industry associations); present at conferences and related opportunities

• Support VP, Cybersecurity Strategy and Global Policy, CSO team, and other 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 experts

• Contribute to speeches and materials for senior executives, as needed

• Manage local representation (e.g. local lobbyists, trade and other business associations), as needed

• As Covid-19 restrictions ease, you are expected to travel regionally, and to our corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California as needed

Your Experience

• 
  10-15+ years of relevant public policy experience

• Track record supporting sales teams and passion for building strategic business relationships

• Strong background engaging on cybersecurity, data flows, data localization, and related government policies in jurisdictions in the EU

• Extensive network of EU government, academic, and other and influencers

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships and consensus with a variety of constituencies both inside and outside an organization

• Experience in building and managing large, cross-functional, and globally dispersed teams, projects, and programs

• High degree of entrepreneurship, leadership, independent negotiation, and decision-making skills

• Excellent communication skills: writing, verbal, and presentations

• Excellent interpersonal, relationship management, team, and diplomatic skills

• Excellent business judgment, strategic thinking skills, superior work ethic, attention to detail and quality, able to manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure

• Able to work across multiple time zones, countries, and cultures

• Degree in international relations, public policy, or related field preferred

• Very good English language proficiency in speaking and writing. Additional European languages are an asset

The Team

The Cyber Strategy and Global Policy team works with governments, companies and organizations around the world to prevent and mitigate cyber attacks. They foster operational partnerships across industry and government by sharing actionable cyber information to counter malicious actors, develop strategic relationships with key government officials, and advise governments on public policy and legislation.

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

Palo Alto Networks is evolving and changing the nature of work to meet the needs of our employees now and in the future through FLEXWORK, our approach to how we work. From benefits to learning, location to leadership, we’ve rethought and recreated every aspect of the employee experience at Palo Alto Networks. And because it FLEXes around each individual employee based on their individual choices, employees are empowered to push boundaries and help us all evolve, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.