We use cookies. Find out more about it here. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
#alert
Back to search results
New

Operations Manager, Crisis Response - San Jose, CA

Cisco Systems, Inc.
$124,600.00 to $161,800.00
life insurance, vision insurance, parental leave, paid holidays, sick time, 401(k)
United States, California, San Jose
170 W Tasman Dr (Show on map)
Jun 23, 2026
The application window is expected to close on: 07/17/2026

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

About Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. At Cisco, we are driven by our purpose to power an inclusive future for all. We Think Really Big about the impact our technology can have on the world, Play to Win by delivering excellence in the most demanding environments, and Drive Durable Growth by building sustainable, resilient systems that empower our communities and partners. As part of theCisco Crisis Response team, you will be at the forefront of this mission, providing critical connectivity when it is needed most.

Role Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Cisco's Crisis Response (CCR) Team, a highly skilled and dedicated team that deploys equipment and personnel in the acute phase of a crisis in which normal communications infrastructure has been degraded or damaged. The Operations Manager is a highly motivated individual responsible for the preparation, planning, and execution of CCR's incident response engagements, planned events, and exercises. This role will report to CCR's Mission Readiness & Deployment Leader and will coordinate internal and external resources to drive the delivery of key services, ensuring that every project is executed with consistency, high quality, and timely impact. You will collaborate closely on a global team with Engineers, Operations Managers, and other strategic staff on a daily basis.

Responsibilities - Operations Manager will:

  • Mission Readiness: Maintain highest levels of operational readiness of CCR equipment (e.g. kits, loose gear, vehicles) by ensuring completion of required checks and preventive maintenance with high fidelity per documented processes and timelines. Collaborate with the team to track and address outstanding issues in a diligent and timely manner.

  • Incident Response: Provide coverage for 24 x 7 operations on-call duties on a rotational basis by maintaining situational awareness of global news and events. Field incoming inquiries from internal and external stakeholders and respond within established timeframes with high-quality, actionable information.

  • Execution & Coordination: Interface with the team, customers, CCR Community volunteers, and other organizations to assess emergency communications needs, plan and execute responses, while maintaining accountability of resources and personnel. Provide relevant, timely updates to leadership and stakeholders.

  • Field Deployment: Lead and participate in domestic and international incident responses in potentially austere environments to deploy equipment providing temporary communications capabilities. Document actions taken and equipment deployed. Assist other Cisco personnel with storytelling of our activities and impact. Capture lessons learned for process and solution improvement.

  • Asset Management and Logistics: Execute inventory acquisition, tracking, shipping, and physical logistics of vehicles, durable equipment, and consumable supplies. Manage sourcing, procurement, storage, and decommissioning of resources and related services per approved processes.

  • Event Planning: Identify opportunities, field inquiries, triage, budget, plan and execute high-impact virtual and in-person events supporting internal Cisco and external audiences. This may include customer demonstrations, capability briefings, volunteer training, external exercises, conferences/trade shows and others.

  • DOT Compliance: Administer the team's DOT compliance activities for vehicles and drivers in a non-CDL environment with strict adherence to federal and company requirements. Maintain accurate, audit-ready records at all times.

  • Volunteer & Training Support: Assist the CCR Community Manager with operational, administrative, and logistical support for the volunteer program. Assist with the development and delivery of training initiatives for internal audiences and strategic partners.

  • Relationship Management: Build relationships with Cisco account teams, business units, prospective volunteers, and external partners (public, private, and non-profit) of diverse backgrounds. These relationships support awareness of the team and our services, internally and externally.

  • Public Speaking: Represent the team to a wide variety of stakeholders, including customers, industry peers, national leaders, and senior engineers.

  • Project Leadership: Lead smaller projects to support internal and customer-facing initiatives, driving solid results and meaningful impact.

  • Travel: This job requires ability to travel on short notice, up to 25% of the year, split between planned events/training/trade shows and emergency deployments potentially living in austere environments for approximately 2-3 weeks. Previous relevant experience preferred.

  • Operations Documentation: Developing, documenting, and maintaining guidelines, processes, and policies for efficient and consistent team operations.

  • Conduct: Cisco employees are expected to strictly adhere to Code of Business Conduct, acting with integrity, respect, and professionalism toward all. As a highly visible and public-facing group, our team must exemplify these values at all times.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 5+ yearsin Operations Management, Project Management, Program Management or similar role involving field work and/or logistics.

  • Proficient in MS Office / 365 suite: strong expertise in PowerPoint, Word, Excel

  • Experience with Project Management tools / software (Asana, MS Project, Airtable, Smartsheet, Jira, Monday.com, etc.)

  • AI Integration: Demonstrated experience leveraging generative AI tools within approved guidelines to enhance productivity and speed creative processes.

  • Possess and maintain a valid US driver's license and successful Department of Motor Vehicles driving record check.

  • Possess, or be able to obtain, a passport and visas for global international travel.

Physical Requirements/Certifications

  • Ability to pass and maintain a US FMCSA Driver Qualification, including medical examination for driving non-CDL vehicles with GVWR over 10,000 lbs. Employment offers will be contingent on passing medical examination.

  • This role requires the ability to work in remote field environments with limited access to medical facilities for approximate periods of 2-3 weeks. Cisco will engage in an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations where applicable

  • Previous experience or willingness to learn to safely drive large vehicles/trailers. Our fleet is all under 26001 lbs, GVWR/GCVWR. (training to be provided)

  • Ability to perform physically strenuous activities (lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs). Using and maintaining equipment and performing physical activities within OSHA guidelines. (e.g. climbing ladders, using power and hand tools, etc.)

  • FEMA IS-100, 200, 700, 800 (ability to obtain certification within 90 days);

  • FEMA ICS-300, 400 (ability to obtain certification within 1 year).

  • Acquire and maintain current First Aid / CPR / AED certification from AHA, Red Cross or other US nationally accredited organization.(ability to obtain certification within 1 year)

Preferred Qualifications

  • BS/BA or equivalent experience with demonstrated critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills, teamwork and collaboration.

  • Project Management Certification or training in progress.

  • Event planning experience for groups of 10 or more, including trainings, trade shows, and off-site team outings. Certified Meeting Planner or similar desirable.

  • Basic knowledge of Cisco's solutions portfolio. Technical background a plus but not required.

  • Background with military, public safety, humanitarian aid, or Cisco Crisis Response Community, especially with global, cross-functional teams.

  • Familiarity with networking and/or radio communications systems.

  • Mechanical, electrical, and/or technical troubleshooting experience. DIY household repair / construction experience or similar.

  • Formal leadership training and/or supervisory experience.

  • Adult learningtraining (adult learning theory / instructor methodology)or related experience.

  • Previous public speaking at conferences, trade shows, or customer briefings, including developing and delivering presentations.

  • Foreign language proficiency at conversational level, especially Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Japanese

Why Cisco?

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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada: The starting salary range posted for this position is $124,600.00 to $161,800.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

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:

$124,600.00 - $186,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$112,400.00 - $164,900.00

* 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.

Applied = 0

(web-77cf7d65c7-4rhzf)