Strategy & Planning Manager, Business Development & Partnerships

Cisco•San Jose, CA

4d•$173,400 - $231,800•Remote

About The Position

The Strategy & Planning Manager is a key individual contributor on Cisco’s Business Development & Partnerships team, a strategic function in the central Product organization. The team develops and supports technology partnerships that enhance Cisco’s product portfolio, including collaborations with companies in the AI space. The 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. It provides operational support and accelerates partnership activities in collaboration with Business Development Managers, in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of related experience, or a master’s degree plus 6 years of related experience, or equivalent relevant work experience. Relevant experience may include 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-starter who 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 team player skilled at fostering strong partnerships across functions to enhance teamwork and shared success.

Responsibilities

Build and manage operational processes to track internal and external partnership-related workstreams and deliver 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 support 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 insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Basic life insurance
Paid holidays and floating holiday for non-exempt employees
Birthday day off
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
Paid personal wellness days
Paid vacation time for non-exempt employees
Flexible vacation time off program for eligible exempt employees
Paid sick time
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
Potential grants of Cisco restricted stock units, subject to eligibility and continued employment