AI Strategy & Planning Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Application Window will remain open until further notice

NOTE: Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Meet The Team

The AI Software & Platform Team delivers AI Products so businesses around the world can defend against threats and safeguard the most meaningful aspects of the business with security resilience. We are passionate about making businesses secure and simplifying security with zero compromise.

Your Impact

As a Strategy & Planning Manager on the AI Software & Platform Team, you will partner with leadership to define and drive the team's strategic direction and long-term business plans. You will analyze market trends, develop actionable strategies, and measure their success through key metrics. Leading special projects, you will improve operational efficiency by implementing scalable tools and processes. Collaborating cross-functionally, you will ensure the team has the resources and insights needed to meet business goals. You will also champion best practices, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement to support both business outcomes and team growth.

What You'll Do

• Develop and monitor strategic direction and long-term business development plans in alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to drive key initiatives and support business operations.
• Support the development and market adoption of Cisco's AI Products, ensuring alignment with customer and market needs.
• Identify, analyze, and advise on industry and market trends to inform strategy development.
• Recommend, implement, and track operational improvements, assessing metrics to evaluate the impact of new strategies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors or 5- 8+ years of experience in corporate strategy, business planning, or operational roles, with measurable impact on business outcomes
• AI-driven innovator with hands-on experience experimenting with AI tools, a solid operations background, and proven expertise in go-to-market (GTM) strategy execution
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives that achieved quantifiable business growth or operational improvements within defined timelines.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with experience developing data-driven models, conducting market research and competitive analysis, and presenting insights to senior leadership.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a refined ability to tailor messages to specific audiences in their preferred channels, experience in executive-level advising and interdepartmental collaboration, and excellent relationship-building skills to influence, persuade, and build trust across organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in business, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in AI, software, or platform strategy within a technology company, including familiarity with AI ethics, governance, and responsible AI practices.
• Proficiency in strategic planning tools and data visualization software, such as PowerPoint, Excel, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills, with proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated project and program management expertise, with a track record of supporting AI product growth or go-to-market strategies and thriving in ambiguous environments.

#CiscoAIJobs

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco's policies:

• 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

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.