Senior Design Strategist - US Remote
About The Position
Our team elevates Cisco’s employee services, products, and solutions by advocating a user-centered mentality. We strengthen design capabilities and empower our People, Policy, and Purpose (3P) organization through maturing our design systems, rigorous research, and a dedication to high standards. As we transition to AI-enabled UX workflows, this role is critical to our "shift left" strategy—ensuring we define the right problems to solve before development begins. You will partner with our Service Teams on top 3P Strategic Initiatives that impact Cisco employees globally. Join us and make a real impact on the future of work at Cisco! As a Senior Design Strategist, you will move teams from ambiguity to focused execution. You are the bridge between business goals, user needs, and technical feasibility. Furthermore, you will act as a Design System Advocate, serving as a primary user and active contributor who drives the evolution of our design infrastructure to meet the needs of our most complex initiatives.
Requirements
- Typically: Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 4+ years of related experience.
- Background in product/UX strategy, service design, or systems thinking with a strong ability to operate in ambiguity and "shift left" to create structure.
- Strong command of core UX skills & capabilities (Interaction, Visual, Research, Content, and Information Architecture) with a focus on flow design and MVP prioritization.
- Proficiency in industry-standard design and research tools (e.g., Figma for prototyping, Maze for rapid user testing) and project management platforms (e.g., Airtable, ServiceNow).
- Proven track record to drive decisions across cross-functional teams (Executives, P&C, IT, Service Owners), articulate design rationale, and strategically delegate to specialists.
- Expertise in scoping, sequencing, roadmapping, and metrics-tied outcomes.
- Experience using design systems to build products and a proactive desire to contribute to their growth and feature development.
Nice To Haves
- Track record of coaching non-design teams and advancing organizational design literacy.
- Experience translating complex insights into prioritized work and buildable technical flows.
- Familiarity with agile delivery, technical handoffs, and the application of AI-augmented design tools.
- Experience designing for HR technology, talent acquisition, or other people-focused platforms.
- Shown understanding of UX writing principles and interest in designing for AI/ML-powered features with an ethical lens.
- A user-centered approach with a steadfast appetite for continuous learning and professional development.
Responsibilities
- Define Strategic Foundations: Develop product roadmaps, Business Requirement Documents (BRDs), information architecture, and user flows that provide clear direction for product development.
- Prioritize with Rigor: Apply desirability, feasibility, and viability frameworks to shape scope early and align stakeholders on MVP requirements.
- Lead Discovery & Facilitation: Facilitate workshops and decision forums across Executives, Service Owners, PMs, IT/Ops, and P&C partners to drive consensus.
- Implement Lightweight Research: Conduct rapid surveys, interviews, and validation studies to de-risk investments and inform direction.
- Prototype & Visualize: Produce lo-fi concepts using our new Design System.
- Drive System Evolution: As a power user, identify gaps and advocate for new features within the Design System. Work directly with our designers to ensure the platform evolves to support high-priority initiatives, effectively acting as a link between strategic needs and system capabilities.
- Orchestrate Design Specialists: Engage UX Researchers and Designers at the optimal stages; validate AI-generated designs and provide expert guidance to reduce rework.
- Ensure Quality & Accessibility: Prioritize ease of use, high quality, and digital accessibility (#a11y) in all product solutions.
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
- 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
- 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
- annual bonuses
- performance-based incentive pay
- Cisco restricted stock units
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
