Leader, Incubation Partner Ecosystems
About The Position
Join Cisco’s Global GTM Incubation & Emerging Technologies team, which commercializes and scales new technology innovations. The team partners with Product leaders to develop, test, and validate early-stage go-to-market hypotheses, secure initial “lighthouse” customer wins, and build repeatable sales and partner playbooks for broader sales organizations. The Leader, Partner Sales will build and scale partner go-to-market for incubated products across GSI/advisory, SP/telco, ISV/OEM, hyperscaler/neocloud, and frontier-model provider routes. This position leads a dedicated team and the Incubation partner operating plan, setting goals for the partner portfolio, team performance, and investment priorities, with executive interlock into the category organization. The role focuses on the Incubation product practice and opportunities within existing partner relationships. It works closely with Portfolio and Specialist Partner Managers, Splunk Partner Managers, and partner relationship owners to incorporate Incubation products, offers, and execution into shared partner plans and account activity. The leader builds capability across Cisco teams and partner organizations, develops repeatable plays, supports dedicated partner practices, shapes segmentation and route-to-market choices, sponsors partner activation and managed-services efforts, coaches senior individual contributors, and oversees verified partner-sourced pipeline and bookings.
Requirements
- 12+ years of experience managing and coaching a team of sales professionals or individual contributors to achieve performance goals.
- 6+ years of demonstrated ability to build and implement an annual partner operating plan across multiple routes to market, including GSI, SP, ISV, or hyperscalers.
- 5+ years of experience with financial and data proficiency and leading partner economics, market development funds (MDF), and co-sell incentives.
- Consistent track record of executive interlock, stakeholder management, and cross-functional team leadership to drive strategic alignment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with incubation and emerging technologies, taking early-stage products to market and securing lighthouse customer wins.
- Sophisticated program design skills for scaling partner businesses and building repeatable sales playbooks.
- Deep understanding of joint offer strategies, including managed service, sell-to, sell-through, embedded/OEM, and marketplace co-sell motions.
- Exceptional strategic alignment and discernment, with the ability to resolve cross-route conflicts and prioritize investments effectively.
- Validated ability to navigate ambiguity and drive decision issues for complex compliance, data-rights, and third-party liability requirements.
Responsibilities
- Build and scale partner go-to-market for products under incubation across GSI/advisory, SP/telco, ISV/OEM, hyperscaler/neocloud, and frontier-model provider routes.
- Lead a dedicated team and the Incubation partner operating plan, setting goals for the partner portfolio, team performance, and investment priorities.
- Coordinate with Portfolio and Specialist Partner Managers, Splunk Partner Managers, and partner relationship owners to integrate Incubation products, offers, and execution into shared partner plans and account activity.
- Build Incubation product and service capability across adjacent Cisco teams and partner organizations, equipping them with repeatable plays and helping establish dedicated partner practices.
- Shape partner segmentation, target waves, route-to-market choices, and joint offers for Incubation opportunities.
- Sponsor GSI activation and SP/telco managed services in coordination with relevant partner managers.
- Coach senior individual contributors.
- Supervise verified partner-sourced pipeline and bookings.
- Maintain executive interlock into the category organization.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with 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
- Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- Birthday day off, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days
- Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification
- Sick time off, with 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 eligible non-sales roles
- Performance-based incentive pay for employees on sales plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
