Events Experience Manager

Job Summary

We're looking for an Event Experience Manager to join our growing Global Events organization. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced event professional who thrives equally in creative ideation and operational excellence. You'll help shape some of our most visible global marketing programs, serving as the experience architect behind unforgettable moments while ensuring flawless execution from strategy through onsite delivery.

This role will lead portions of Palo Alto Networks' proprietary event portfolio, including Cyber Week, executive programs, and premier industry events.

The ideal candidate is equal parts producer, strategist, operator, and storyteller. You are energized by solving complex challenges, obsessed with attendee experience, and passionate about transforming ideas into moments that people remember long after the event concludes.

This position reports directly to the Head of Global Events.

If you're looking to build experiences that shape one of the world's leading cybersecurity brands, collaborate with an exceptional team, and grow your career while delivering industry-defining events, we'd love to meet you.

Your Impact

Lead the end-to-end planning, design, and execution of global proprietary events, delivering exceptional experiences from concept through post-event closeout.

• Serve as the experience architect for assigned programs by designing innovative attendee journeys, immersive activations, and memorable moments that elevate customer, partner, and prospect engagement.
• Translate business objectives into comprehensive event strategies, operational plans, and scalable execution frameworks that deliver measurable business impact.
• Own all operational aspects of assigned events, including venue management, production, food and beverage, audiovisual, signage, branding, transportation, giveaways, staffing, and onsite logistics, and more.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, workback schedules, critical milestones, and cross-functional dependencies to ensure flawless execution across multiple concurrent programs.
• Lead cross-functional planning with Marketing, Sales, Product Marketing, Customer Success, Executive Leadership, Corporate Communications, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Security, and external partners to drive alignment and execution excellence.
• Partner with internal creative teams and agency partners to develop compelling event environments, experiential activations, branded touchpoints, and customer engagement opportunities that differentiate Palo Alto Networks.
• Manage venues, production companies, agencies, and strategic vendors to deliver best-in-class experiences while maximizing quality, innovation, and budget efficiency.
• Own event budget forecasting, purchase orders, expense tracking, invoice reconciliation, and ongoing financial stewardship throughout the event lifecycle.
• Lead onsite event operations, serving as the operational leader responsible for execution, issue resolution, executive support, staffing coordination, and delivering an exceptional attendee experience.
• Identify operational risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and proactively solve complex challenges while maintaining project timelines and quality standards.
• Develop comprehensive event documentation, including master planning decks, operational playbooks, run-of-show documents, staffing guides, executive briefs, and post-event recaps.
• Partner with the Global Events Center of Excellence to align event strategy, audience personas, business objectives, and success metrics while applying program insights to continuously improve future experiences.
• Stay informed on emerging trends in experiential marketing, audience engagement, and experience design, bringing fresh ideas and innovative approaches that continue to elevate Palo Alto Networks' events.
• Leverage AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to improve planning efficiency, streamline communications, and enhance team productivity.
• Travel approximately 20% domestically and internationally to support planning activities, site inspections, and onsite event leadership.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of the Global Events organization by identifying opportunities to improve processes, governance, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Assume additional responsibilities as necessary for the continued success of the team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience supporting corporate, experiential, or B2B marketing events, including large-scale productions, executive programs, and industry conferences.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Hospitality, or a related field.
• Cybersecurity or enterprise technology industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional event programs from strategy through flawless execution.
• Exceptional project management, organizational, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong strategic thinker with outstanding attention to detail and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrated success collaborating and influencing global stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience building strong partnerships with agencies, venues, production companies, and external vendors.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience using AI tools to improve productivity is a plus.
• Financial acumen with experience managing event budgets, forecasting expenses, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, adapting to changing priorities, and making thoughtful decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Creative, collaborative, resourceful, and passionate about designing exceptional customer experiences.
• Positive, self-motivated, and results-oriented with a continuous learning mindset and a desire to innovate.
• Flexibility to work extended hours during peak planning cycles and onsite event execution.
• Ability to work onsite at our Santa Clara headquarters.

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Pay and benefits

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/com-missioned 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.

$119,000.00 - $192,500.00/yr

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.

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

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.