Executive Assistant, VP, Strategy & Planning (Hybrid)

Cisco•San Jose, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and trusted Executive Assistant to support the VP of Strategy & Planning, supporting our Enterprise Networking and Collaboration businesses. This is not your traditional admin role - it’s a strategic, fast-paced position requiring exceptional judgment, outstanding organizational skills, and a deep understanding of executive priorities and cross-functional dynamics. You’ll serve as a critical extension of the VP, helping to manage day-to-day operations, internal and external communications, and high-priority projects with clarity and confidence. You’ll work in lock step with the Chief of Staff and broader leadership team to ensure coordination across multiple time zones, stakeholders, and executive levels—driving alignment and keeping the business moving forward.

Requirements

5+ years’ experience in administrative environment.
A minimum of 2 years of experience supporting a principal who was at the director level or above.
Expert level knowledge of Windows desktop computer applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Experience in calendar management, planning meetings and coordinating travel.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to connect with all levels of Executive/Senior staff and clients.
You have experience providing support at the VP level.
You take initiative, can handle a full desk with ease and thrive in a lively environment.
You have high-energy with a passion for thinking bigger and broader than the role itself.
This position requires strong interpersonal skills, independent judgment, utmost integrity and ability to balance both strategic and tactical actions.
You have outstanding attention to detail and the ability to handle confidential information.
You enjoy a collaborative environment, are committed to improvement, solve problems and make decisions.

Nice To Haves

Past work experience in the high-tech industry is desired, prior Cisco experience preferred.
Associates degree

Responsibilities

Handles VP's calendar by prioritizing schedules and meetings. You may decide who gets on the principal’s calendar, which meetings are attended, and who can attend in their place.
Handles a running list of VP’s engagements and works closely with communications team to ensure content needs are understood and set in motion so VP is prepared for each engagement.
Assists VP in planning and organizing meetings by being responsible for the assembling of the agenda, location, meeting technology based upon participant needs, and all other meeting logistics. May further prepare meeting briefing documents by taking and disseminating notes and formulating post meeting action item list.
Build travel packs for international trips as well as large domestic events such as Cisco Live, etc. This work includes combining all event information in addition to coordinated logistics of travel and also customer/team asks.
Supports VP by acting as proxy for communications and approvals as authorized. Answers general questions as needed and refers routine matters to appropriate parties and follows up to ensure accurate completion. Takes the initiative to resolve issues within specified policies and guidelines and provides mentoring to administrative community members on problem solving. Figures out when executive action is required and supplies a recommendation where appropriate.
Responsible for making in-depth global travel arrangements for VP. Carefully considers and decides the optimum travel arrangements and itinerary for calendared meetings while handling Cisco expenses. Works diligently to go above and beyond, working with the airlines directly to accommodate Global Services benefits for upgrades whenever they are available.
Provides analytical support to assist executives on special projects. Research issues, analyzes problems, compiles data, and prepares reports.
Prepare and brief itinerary as well as accompany VP for large Corporate Events such as GSX, where EA's are used for executive support.
Candidate will deal professionally with sensitive and confidential matters and materials.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
grants of Cisco restricted stock units
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
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees (non-exempt)
flexible vacation time off program (exempt)
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
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
annual bonuses