Strategy & Planning Manager

Cisco•San Jose, CA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Strategy & Planning Manager is a key individual contributor on Cisco’s Business Development & Partnerships team, a strategic function within Cisco’s central Product organization. The team drives growth by developing and supporting technology partnerships that enhance Cisco’s product portfolio, including partnerships with companies in the AI space. This role works closely with Business Development teams to design and own operational processes, improve cross-functional visibility, and support the design and launch of strategic partnerships. The manager provides operational support and accelerates partnership activities in collaboration with Business Development Managers. The position is remote within the United States and requires working in the West Coast Time Zone; preference is given to candidates in West Coast locations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of related experience, or a master’s degree and 6 years of related experience, or equivalent relevant work experience.
Relevant experience in areas such as business operations, business development, product management, internal strategy, 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, business readouts, and updates on strategic initiatives or operational performance.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in Business, Strategy, or a related field.
Experience in an internal strategy and/or operations role at a technology company, or at a strategy firm, with expertise in strategic planning and operational execution.
Understanding of go-to-market motions in the 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, such as PowerPoint.
Skill in driving processes and demonstrable progress in dynamic, fast-moving environments with a high degree of ambiguity.
Proactive, self-starting approach: takes initiative, anticipates needs, and acts with urgency to drive outcomes.
Ability to build scalable operational frameworks that enhance alignment and execution across teams.
Ability to drive alignment, engagement, and collaboration across teams and leadership levels.
Effective teamwork and partnership-building skills across functions.

Responsibilities

Build and manage operational processes to track internal and external partnership-related workstreams and provide strategic insights to key stakeholders.
Work with Business Development and cross-functional Cisco teams to design and implement a best-in-class partner experience.
Develop and manage cross-functional engagement processes that align Business Development with Cisco teams and ensure visibility, strategic alignment, and participation in key business cadences.
Support Business Development leadership in defining partnership focus areas, setting business goals, and tracking key initiatives to drive business impact and execution.

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.
Restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to continued employment and vesting requirements.
Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
Paid day off for an employee’s birthday.
Paid year-end holiday shutdown.
Paid personal wellness days.
Paid vacation time for non-exempt employees; exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time-off program.
Paid sick time, with limited carryover of unused sick time.
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family matters.
Optional paid volunteer days.
Annual bonuses may be available for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies.