Director, Associate General Counsel: Product Legal

Cisco•Austin, NC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cisco is seeking a strategic, technology-focused attorney to lead Product Legal support for its Security Business Group (SBG). The role reports to the Sr. Director, Associate General Counsel for Cisco’s Security, Observability and Data Platform organization and serves as the principal Product Legal partner to the leader of SBG. The position leads the legal professionals who provide front-line counsel across SBG’s product development and go-to-market activities, supporting software, hardware, and SaaS offerings in areas including network security, zero-trust identity, cloud and application protection, and threat detection. The Director advises senior leaders and cross-functional partners, translating complex legal issues into practical business guidance. The role leads and develops the legal team, sets priorities, and delivers coordinated legal support through a period of innovation, growth, and organizational integration. It also develops scalable legal strategies and operating models that support innovation and growth while managing legal and business risks across security software, cloud, data, AI, and platform products. Cisco’s Legal organization partners across product, engineering, marketing, finance, operations, sales, and executive leadership. Members of the Legal organization at select locations generally follow a hybrid work model, with two days of in-office attendance each week and limited exceptions. The application window is expected to close on 11/19/2026.

Requirements

Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree.
Active bar membership in good standing in at least one jurisdiction.
10–12+ years of relevant legal experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal department, including meaningful experience advising enterprise technology, software, cloud services, cybersecurity, or observability businesses.
5+ years of experience leading attorneys and other legal professionals, including team development, performance management, prioritization, and delivery of legal services across a sophisticated organization.
Demonstrated experience advising senior executives on sophisticated product development and go-to-market matters involving intellectual property, licensing, data, privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, regulatory requirements, and technology transactions.
Experience leading legal support for global product portfolios or business units, assessing sophisticated legal and business risks, and providing practical, business-focused mentorship.

Nice To Haves

Deep knowledge of enterprise security, cybersecurity, SaaS, or platform technologies and their associated business models and regulatory environments.
Experience serving as legal advisor to senior executives and participating in business leadership teams within a large, global technology company.
A consistent track record of leading through transformation, business integration, and evolving product and go-to-market strategies.
Strong people leadership skills and a record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and developing legal professionals.
Outstanding judgment, executive presence, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, modesty, and a solutions-oriented approach to sophisticated challenges.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and inspire legal teams supporting SBG, establishing priorities and ensuring coordinated, high-quality legal support.
Advise senior business leaders on product development, technology strategy, go-to-market models, regulatory requirements, intellectual property, commercial matters, and significant legal and business risks.
Guide legal support for SBG products and services throughout their lifecycles, including composition and development, product readiness, launch, commercialization, integration, and compliance.
Develop scalable legal strategies and operating models that enable innovation and growth while managing risk across security software, cloud, data, AI, and platform offerings.
Collaborate across Product Legal and with legal subject-matter teams and cross-functional partners, including product management, engineering, sales, marketing, finance, operations, privacy, security, regulatory, AI governance, competition, intellectual property, and corporate development.
Serve as the principal Product Legal partner to the leader of the Security Business Group.
Build trusted relationships with senior executives and cross-functional partners, and provide practical business guidance on complex legal issues.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, subject to plan eligibility rules.
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Basic life insurance.
Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to eligibility and continued employment conditions.
Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
Paid day off for employee’s birthday.
Paid year-end holiday shutdown.
Paid personal wellness days.
Vacation time for non-exempt employees; exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time-off program with no defined limit, subject to availability and business limitations.
Sick time off, including carryover of unused sick time subject to the stated limits.
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues.
Optional paid volunteer days.
Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies.
Sales incentive compensation for employees on sales plans, subject to the applicable Cisco plan.