Strategy & Planning Manager

Cisco’s Strategy & Planning Manager supports Business Development and Partnerships by designing and managing operational processes, improving cross-functional visibility, and supporting strategic partnership design and launches. The role also helps define partnership priorities, set business goals, and track initiatives with stakeholders and BD leadership.

Responsibilities

Build and manage operational processes to track internal and external partnership-related workstreams and deliver strategic insights to key stakeholders

Work with BD and cross functional Cisco teams to design and implement a best-in-class experience for our partners

Develop and manage cross-functional engagement processes to align Business Development with Cisco teams, ensuring visibility, strategic alignment, and participation in key business cadences

Support BD leadership in defining partnership focus areas, setting business goals, and tracking key initiatives to drive business impact and execution

Preferred

MBA or advanced degree in Business, Strategy, or a related field

Experience working in an internal strategy and/or operations role at a tech company or at a strategy firm with expertise in strategic planning and operational execution

Understanding of GTM motions in SaaS software industry

Understanding of product development lifecycles

Experience working with AI technology, SaaS software or hyperscalers

Ability to craft clear, compelling narratives in written, verbal, and visual formats (e.g., PowerPoint)

Skilled at driving processes and demonstrable progress in dynamic, fast-moving environments with a high degree of ambiguity

Proactive self-starter who takes initiative, anticipates needs, and acts with urgency to drive outcomes

Capable of building scalable operational frameworks that enhance alignment and execution across teams

Adept at driving alignment, engagement, and collaboration across teams and leadership levels

Effective team player skilled at fostering strong partnerships across functions to enhance teamwork and drive shared success

MBA

Advanced Degree

Business Strategy

Strategic Planning

Operations

Technology Company Experience

Strategy Firm Experience

SaaS Go-to-Market

SaaS Industry Knowledge

Product Development Lifecycle

AI Technology Experience

SaaS Software Experience

Hyperscaler Experience

Visual Communication

Process Management

Progress Tracking

Dynamic Environment Experience

Operational Framework Design

Scalable Operations

Cross-Team Execution

Clear Communication

Narrative Crafting

Initiative

Proactiveness

Urgency

Adaptability to Ambiguity

Stakeholder Alignment

Relationship Building

Teamwork

Benefits

Remote U.S.-based role, requiring work within the West Coast Time Zone.

U.S. employees are offered medical, dental and vision insurance, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules.

A 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.

Paid parental leave.

Short- and long-term disability coverage.

Basic life insurance.

Eligible employees may receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco.

Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees.

Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, subject to availability and some business limitations.

80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next.

Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members.

Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer.

For non-sales roles, employees are eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Company

Networking and security solutions for organizations

San Jose, California, USA

http://www.cisco.com/

Founded in 1984

10001+ employees

Qualifications

Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or​ Masters + 6 years of related experience or ​equivalent relevant work experience​. Relevant experience includes but is not limited to; business operations, business development, product management, internal strategy, and/or go-to-market strategy

Experience building and managing projects and workflows from ideation to delivery using tools such as Airtable, PowerPoint and/or Salesforce

Experience designing and managing business processes and operating cadences, such as initiative tracking, stakeholder reviews, or cross-functional planning

Experience preparing executive-facing written communications and presentation materials, including quarterly business reviews (QBRs), business readouts, and updates on strategic initiatives or operational performance

MBA or advanced degree in Business, Strategy, or a related field

Experience working in an internal strategy and/or operations role at a tech company or at a strategy firm with expertise in strategic planning and operational execution

Understanding of GTM motions in SaaS software industry

Understanding of product development lifecycles

Experience working with AI technology, SaaS software or hyperscalers

Ability to craft clear, compelling narratives in written, verbal, and visual formats (e.g., PowerPoint)

Skilled at driving processes and demonstrable progress in dynamic, fast-moving environments with a high degree of ambiguity

Proactive self-starter who takes initiative, anticipates needs, and acts with urgency to drive outcomes

Capable of building scalable operational frameworks that enhance alignment and execution across teams

Adept at driving alignment, engagement, and collaboration across teams and leadership levels

Effective team player skilled at fostering strong partnerships across functions to enhance teamwork and drive shared success

Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or​ Masters + 6 years of related experience or ​equivalent relevant work experience​. Relevant experience includes but is not limited to; business operations, business development, product management, internal strategy, and/or go-to-market strategy.

Required skills

Business Operations, Business Development, Product Management, Internal Strategy, Go-to-Market Strategy, Airtable, PowerPoint, Salesforce, Business Process Design, Operating Cadence Management, Strategic Planning, SaaS Industry Knowledge, Product Development Lifecycle, AI Technology

Preferred skills

Understanding of GTM motions in SaaS software industry, Understanding of product development lifecycles

Experience

6+ years