Director, Strategy & Planning

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 07/11/2026Job 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. Our team operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and strategic business growth, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Your Impact As a Director of Strategy & Planning, you will serve as a pivotal leader, partnering with executive leadership to define and drive the team’s strategic direction and long-term business plans. You will oversee the delivery of internal products and administrative systems by leading cross-functional teams, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with market trends and organizational goals. By combining high-level strategic analysis with direct people-management responsibilities, you will cultivate a high-performing team, improve operational efficiency, and champion the adoption of Cisco’s AI products to meet the evolving needs of our customers and stakeholders. Develop and monitor long-term business development plans, ensuring all programs are delivered on schedule and within budget constraints. Lead and mentor cross-functional teams, overseeing the selection, development, and evaluation of personnel to ensure operational excellence. Collaborate with executive leadership to identify market trends, advise on strategy, and drive key initiatives that support AI product growth. Implement scalable tools and operational processes, tracking key metrics to evaluate the impact of new strategies on business outcomes. Facilitate interdepartmental communication and stakeholder management to ensure resource alignment and the successful execution of complex projects. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree with 13+ years of experience in corporate strategy, business planning, or operational leadership roles. Track record of managing large-scale, cross-functional initiatives that achieved quantifiable business growth within defined timelines. Experience in direct people management, including developing high-performing teams and managing departmental budgets. Analytical and research skills, with experience developing data-driven models and presenting actionable insights to executive leadership. Expertise in go-to-market (GTM) strategy execution, with a solid background in AI-driven innovation and operational scaling. Preferred Qualifications MBA or advanced degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Deep experience in AI, software, or platform strategy within a technology company, including familiarity with AI ethics and governance. Advanced proficiency in strategic planning and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Excel). Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to influence, persuade, and build trust across complex, matrixed organizations. Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous environments while maintaining a clear focus on long-term strategic objectives. 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 $244,200.00 to $312,500.00 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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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: $244,200.00 - $375,900.00 Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $217,400.00 - $318,100.00 * 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.