Sr. Director, IT New Product Introduction

Our Mission

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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 every day - 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!

At Palo Alto Networks, we believe in the power of collaboration and value in-person interactions. This is why our employees generally work full time from our office with flexibility offered where needed.

This setup fosters casual conversations, problem-solving, and trusted relationships. Our goal is to create an environment where we all win with precision.

Your Career

We are seeking a visionary Senior Director to lead our IT NPI team, with accountability for the IT systems and processes integral to the New Product Introduction (NPI) lifecycle.

This individual will lead a team of NPI product managers and Business System Analysts, collaborating closely with Product Line Leaders to drive the successful intake, prioritization, and roadmap planning of new cybersecurity products.

The role demands expertise in managing a complex portfolio of cybersecurity products encompassing hardware, software, and cloud / SaaS products.

The Senior Director will be tasked with optimizing IT systems, including CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote), Order Management & Fulfillment, Licensing, and Product Activation mechanisms, while streamlining, standardizing, and automating NPI processes to significantly enhance NPI velocity.

Additionally, the leader will build strong cross-functional relationships across Product, business and IT teams, develop KPI metrics, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Your Impact

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of NPI product and program managers within the cybersecurity domain, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Cultivate an environment that motivates, challenges, and supports professional growth and development.
• Collaborate with Product Line Leaders to understand and prioritize new product launches.
• Oversee the intake, prioritization, and roadmap planning for NPI projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market demands.
• Partner with cross-functional IT teams to enable and integrate systems related to CPQ, Order Management & Fulfillment, Licensing, and Product Activation.
• Ensure alignment of IT systems with product requirements and market strategies for successful product launches.
• Partner with PMO as necessary to drive delivery excellence - Also ensure key project artifacts are created like the PRD, FSD, any design docs, Test Plan, etc.
• Drive the standardization and automation of NPI processes to improve efficiency and reduce cycle times.
• Implement best practices to streamline the launch of new cybersecurity products and enhance overall NPI velocity.
• Develop and monitor a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) with targets to measure NPI effectiveness and efficiency.
• Use KPI data to identify areas for improvement and implement process enhancements with minimal friction.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Product teams, IT stakeholders, and other relevant parties within the cybersecurity industry.
• Serve as a liaison to ensure effective communication and collaboration across teams.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements specific to cybersecurity NPI and implement solutions that enhance execution and reduce friction.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in cybersecurity to apply innovative solutions to NPI challenges.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or a related field or equivalent military experience required - Advanced degree (MBA, MSc, etc.) preferred.
• 15+ years of experience, with a minimum of 10 years in IT leadership roles, with significant experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) and managing complex IT systems - Experience with Product Operations is a plus.
• Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and managing large-scale projects.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to inspire and guide a high-performing team.
• Expertise in IT systems related to CPQ, Order Management & Fulfillment, Licensing, and Product Activation.
• Deep understanding of cybersecurity products and go-to-market strategies.
• Excellent strategic planning and execution capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to streamline processes, standardize practices, and drive automation.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in developing and managing KPI metrics.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships across various levels of the organization.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and capable of navigating a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Innovative thinker with a passion for driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales / commissioned roles) is expected to be between $260,000 / yr to $357,500 / yr.

The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that take risks and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple : we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, 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 [email protected].

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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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