Strategic Account Director – Large Enterprise, Australia and New Zealand
About Us:
Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.
How We Work:
At Proofpoint you’ll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values:
Bold in how we dream and innovate
Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities
Accountable for results and best in class outcomes
Visionary in future focused problem-solving
Exceptional in execution and impact
The Role
Proofpoint is seeking a Senior Strategic Account Director - Large Enterprise to drive growth across ANZ’s largest and most complex enterprise accounts through a solution-led, advisory approach.
This role is centred on engaging executive stakeholders - CIO, CTO, CISO, Chief Data and Digital leaders-on their most critical priorities: secure AI adoption, data governance, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.
The successful candidate will operate as a trusted advisor, helping customers navigate the intersection of people, data, and emerging AI-driven systems, and translating these complex challenges into clear, strategic programs that deliver measurable risk reduction and business value.
This is not a product-led sales role; it requires the ability to shape demand, define problems, and lead transformation conversations that result in large, multi-year engagements across complex enterprise environments.
Your Day-to-Day
Executive Engagement & Strategic Advisory
- Engage CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, Chief Data Officers, and other senior executives on enterprise-wide challenges spanning:
- AI adoption, governance, and operationalisation
- Data security, privacy, and lifecycle management
- Cyber risk, insider threats, and operational resilience
- Regulatory compliance and risk management
- Lead with insight, challenging conventional thinking and helping customers define strategic priorities before requirements are established.
- Establish credibility as a trusted advisor and executive partner across technology, security, data, risk, and business functions.
- Influence decision-making at executive and board levels by connecting technology investments to business outcomes, including risk reduction, compliance, efficiency, resilience, and growth.
AI, Data & Risk Transformation Leadership
- Lead strategic discussions on the real-world implications of AI adoption, including:
- Governance of AI models and agentic systems
- Data exposure, misuse, and privacy risks
- Human interaction with AI and emerging threat vectors
- Help customers define secure operating models that balance innovation, governance, and risk management.
- Position Proofpoint as a strategic enabler of trust across human and machine interactions, supporting broader AI, data, and risk transformation initiatives.
Account Strategy & Opportunity Development
- Translate complex business and technology challenges into outcome-driven solution strategies.
- Build and execute multi-year account plans aligned to customers' transformation priorities.
- Proactively originate and shape large, strategic opportunities through insight-led engagement.
- Maintain a high-quality pipeline with strong deal progression, forecast accuracy, and disciplined sales execution.
Complex Enterprise Sales Leadership
- Lead large, complex enterprise sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders, significant deal values, and extended time horizons.
- Align Proofpoint solutions to strategic business objectives rather than point-in-time technical requirements.
- Drive significant revenue growth across strategic enterprise accounts through consultative, value-based engagement.
Ecosystem & Partner Engagement
- Navigate complex stakeholder environments, aligning priorities across IT, security, risk, compliance, and business units.
- Collaborate with cloud providers, global systems integrators (GSIs), consulting firms, and strategic partners to support customer transformation programs.
- Ensure Proofpoint is embedded within broader AI, cloud, data modernisation, and security initiatives rather than positioned as a standalone solution.
Success Measures
- Revenue growth across strategic enterprise accounts.
- Executive engagement quality and influence.
- Creation and advancement of large, strategic opportunities.
- Pipeline health, forecast accuracy, and deal conversion.
- Expansion of Proofpoint's role within AI, data, security, and risk transformation programs.
What You Bring to the Team
Enterprise Sales & Consulting Experience
- 10-15+ years of experience in enterprise sales, consulting, or advisory roles within technology, cybersecurity, data, or digital transformation.
- Proven success leading large, complex opportunities involving multiple stakeholders, extended sales cycles, and significant deal values.
- Experience selling into large enterprise organisations across ANZ. Experience within Financial Services is highly regarded but not essential.
- Demonstrated record of exceeding revenue targets and driving strategic account growth through multi-year customer engagements.
Executive Advisory & Strategic Thinking
- Ability to engage, challenge, and influence CIO, CTO, CISO, CDO, and other senior executives on business and technology transformation.
- Skilled at framing strategic problems, shaping customer thinking, and defining outcomes before proposing solutions.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate business strategy into revenue opportunities and measurable customer value.
AI, Cybersecurity & Data Expertise
- Strong understanding of:
- AI adoption, governance, and risk management
- Data security, privacy, and information governance
- Cyber risk, resilience, and compliance frameworks
- Ability to confidently lead executive-level discussions on balancing innovation, governance, and risk.
- Understanding of complex enterprise operating models, regulatory environments, and governance requirements.
Partner & Stakeholder Leadership
- Experience collaborating with hyperscalers, GSIs, consulting partners, and broader transformation ecosystems.
- Ability to operate effectively in influence-based environments, coordinating diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Proven capability to build consensus and drive outcomes across technology, security, risk, compliance, and business teams.
Key Success Attributes
- Executive advisory presence and credibility.
- Strategic problem-solving and opportunity shaping.
- Strong storytelling and narrative development across AI, data, human risk, and cybersecurity.
- Ability to influence without authority and orchestrate complex stakeholder groups.
- Results-oriented mindset with a demonstrated history of delivering measurable business impact.
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Why Proofpoint?
At Proofpoint, we believe that an exceptional career experience includes a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Here are just a few reasons you’ll love working with us:
Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits
Career success on your terms
Flexible work environment
Annual wellness and community outreach days
Always on recognition for your contributions
Global collaboration and networking opportunities
Our Culture:
Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.
We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [email protected].
How to Apply
Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!