Strategy & Planning Manager
About The Position
The Strategy & Planning Manager is a key individual contributor on Cisco’s Business Development & Partnerships team, a strategic function within the central Product organization. The team drives growth through technology partnerships that enhance Cisco’s product portfolio, including collaborations with leading AI companies. This role supports a fast-paced team by bringing strong organization, detail orientation, strategic problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to navigate ambiguity and complex operational processes. The manager 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 role provides operational support and accelerates partnership activities in collaboration with Business Development Managers. This is a remote, U.S.-based role requiring work within the West Coast Time Zone. Preference will be given to candidates located on the West Coast. The application window is expected to close on October 27, 2026.
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 through 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 cross-functional partnerships 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 experience for partners.
- 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.
- Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
- Paid birthday day off, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days.
- Vacation time for non-exempt employees; exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit, subject to availability and business limitations.
- Sick time off, including carryover of up to 80 unused hours.
- 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 Cisco restricted stock unit grants, subject to continued employment and vesting terms.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
