Senior Manager, Employee Relations

Our Mission At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real‑world problems with cutting‑edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place. Who We Are In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real‑world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us! We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real‑time problem‑solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes. Job Summary Your Career As a Senior Manager, Employee Relations, you will be an integral part of the People team community, part of a team of Employee Relations (ER) professionals who specialize in preventing and resolving workplace issues that interfere with our positive workplace environment and culture. We are dedicated to providing a workplace that is safe, respectful, and empowers every employee to achieve their personal best. In this role, you will use your experience and knowledge of applicable policies, regulations, and industry best practices to establish and follow appropriate protocol for employee relations issues and investigations within the Americas region. As a thought leader in this area, you will also have the opportunity to develop and deliver enablement to help create a workplace free from behavioral issues and distractions. We are looking for an experienced leader and innovative HR/ER professional with a passion for coaching employees and managers. You should be comfortable working with all levels of employee, and have a knack for reading situations and finding creative solutions to people‑related challenges. This is an in office role 3 days/week in our HQ, Santa Clara, CA. Your Impact Lead a small team of ER Partners in the Americas regions, responsible for coaching and mentoring team members to build their capacity in handling ER matters effectively. Provide strategic guidance to leaders and PBPs on sensitive employee relations matters including performance management, involuntary exits, interpersonal conflicts, leaves, and accommodations. Tailor strategy to the complexity, risk and sensitivity of the case. Drive restructuring initiatives in collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, mitigated risk, and comprehensive support for leaders and employees throughout the process. Conduct investigations into complex and nuanced employment matters. Partner with PBPs, Legal and other parties to adhere to investigative best practices, reaching the optimal outcomes for our organization and employees. Use HR analytics and data to identify trends, diagnose issues and make data‑driven recommendations to the leadership team and People team colleagues. Balance strategic thinking with technical expertise, compassion, and a commitment to acting with integrity. With the support of the Global Head of Employee Relations, assist in defining and executing on the ER strategy for the Americas, ensuring ER practices and processes support PANW’s organizational objective and culture. Lead, and contribute to, ER projects as necessary. Act as an advocate for equitable and fair treatment; ensure our practices continue to align to our company’s core values: Disrupt. Execute. Inclusion. Collaboration. Integrity. Qualifications Your Experience 8 plus years of employee relations experience gained in either a PBP or ER role, or equivalent experience as an employment attorney practicing employment law. Experience leading, managing, and scaling teams. Extensive practical experience advising on a wide range of sensitive and complex employee relations issues, including performance management, involuntary exits, interpersonal conflicts, investigations, and leaves/accommodations. Demonstrated experience executing on change management programs and restructures, with the ability to balance the efficient project‑management of complex processes with empathy and care. Track record of effectively coaching leaders to action in sensitive or ambiguous situations, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with maturity, discretion and professionalism. Excellent interpersonal skills, strong emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust, rapport and influence across all levels of the company. Strong understanding of employment law, compliance and ER best practice, and the ability to pragmatically apply this knowledge in a commercial environment. Commitment to execution and operational excellence, with the ability to set priorities, stay focused, and manage time in a fast paced environment. Exceptional analytical and problem solving skills with a passion for using data and insights to make a positive impact on the business. Capable of challenging the status quo and flexing solutions to changing demands. Preferred Skills Bachelor’s degree required; JD, MBA or other Advanced Degree preferred. Experience of leading an ER team within a tech organization. Global employee relations experience. Project management experience. 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/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. $151,000.00 - $244,000.00/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. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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. Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position. #J-18808-Ljbffr