Director of Communications, Reputation
Crisis & Issues Management
Lead the global strategy and execution for high-stakes, fast-moving communication issues, ensuring rapid, accurate, and transparent messaging across all external audiences.
Reputation Stewardship
Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate potential reputational risks before they escalate, safeguarding Palo Alto Networks' brand equity in the global market.
Cross-Functional Alignment
Work skillfully across the company—partnering deeply with Legal, Information Security, Product, Public Policy, and Executive Leadership—to synthesize complex technical or legal situations into clear, human-centric communications.
Media Relations & Spokespersonship
Serve as a primary point of contact and trusted advisor for high-profile media inquiries. Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier business, tech, and security journalists.
Preparedness & Governance
Own, update, and scale our global crisis communications playbooks, FAQs, and response frameworks, ensuring internal stakeholders are trained and ready for rapid deployment.
Strategic Messaging
Draft precise, high-impact statements, talking points, and executive communications that maintain corporate transparency while managing legal and regulatory boundaries.
Steely Execution
Act as the steady anchor for the communications team during times of heightened external attention, managing multiple moving pieces with speed, precision, and absolute discretion.
Qualifications
- Enterprise Tech Expertise: 12–15+ years of experience in crisis communications, corporate PR, or issues management, with a strong background in enterprise software, cloud technology, or cybersecurity.
- High Agency, Low Ego: A proven track record of taking accountability and driving definitive outcomes during critical events, while maintaining a collaborative, supportive, and grounded team-first attitude.
- Battle-Tested Leader: Demonstrated experience managing high-profile corporate crises and turning complex, high-pressure situations into calm, structured execution.
- Master Communicator: Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal skills, with a proven ability to translate highly technical milestones, legal constraints, and security events into clear, consumer-forward prose.
- Relationship Driven: A natural ability to build deep trust quickly with senior executives, legal counsel, and engineering teams, guiding alignment when viewpoints diverge.
- Media Savvy: Extensive experience engaging directly with tier-one media outlets and comfortably serving as a public corporate spokesperson when required.
Location
Ability to work out of our Santa Clara office in our hybrid model.
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 the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.
Our Commitment
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.
Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?
No.