The position is expected to remain available until May 26, 2025, but may close sooner if an adequate number of applications are received. Applicants must be located in San Jose, CA and be prepared to work in the office when the Senior Vice President is present. The role requires up to 40% travel.

Why You’ll Love Cisco

We change the World; you will become passionate about your employer and the brand you represent. Everything is converging on the Internet, making networked connections more meaningful than ever before in our lives. Our employees' groundbreaking ideas impact everything. Here, that means we take creative ideas from the drawing board to dynamic solutions that have real world impact. You'll collaborate with Cisco leaders, partner with mentors, and develop incredible relationships with colleagues who share your interest in connecting the unconnected. You'll be part a team that cares about its customers, enjoys having fun, and you'll take part in changing the lives of those in our local communities. Come prepared to be encouraged and inspired. At Cisco, we know that technology can connect, empower, and drive us. Our mission is to simplify technology so our customers can focus on what's most meaningful to them. We stand for an inclusive future for all.

What You'll Do

The Chief of Staff for Cisco’s AI Software and Platform team will drive critical initiatives, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment for a team pioneering innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and software-driven solutions. Reporting to the SVP, this role ensures seamless execution of priorities, cultivates collaboration, and supports the development of AI-powered products and services. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning: Partner with the SVP to define and execute AI software strategies, aligning with Cisco’s business goals. Lead planning processes, including strategic reviews and goal-setting.  AI Product Innovation: Collaborate with product, engineering, and design teams to develop AI solutions and support innovation through external partnerships.  Go-to-Market (GTM): Operationalize AI strategies across routes to market, address sales pipeline challenges, and monitor key deals and launches.  Operational Excellence: Establish team metrics, drive program management, and ensure alignment with cross-functional teams.  Employee Engagement: Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture through communications, events, and talent development initiatives.  Executive Support: Represent the SVP in meetings, provide insights for decision-making, and manage special projects.

About the Role:

This position is critical in shaping Cisco’s AI initiatives, supporting product innovation, and driving alignment across the organization. 

Ideal Candidate:

An experienced leader with expertise in AI/ML, product strategy, and operational leadership, combined with strong communication and collaboration skills. 

Who you are

You are passionate, highly motivated, organized, and persistent. You excel at developing trusted relationships and can influence broadly to reach the best outcome for Cisco. You can apply structure to ambiguity and help drive toward measurable outcomes and results. You have the courage to voice an alternative point of view in a room of senior executives. You have high energy, critical thinking, problem solving superpowers, and can rally the team to achieve a common goal. 

Minimum qualifications:

BS/BA is required or equivalent work experience 15+ years of professional experience working in large, matrixed organizations, preferably in a tech company 4+ years of experience as a Chief of Staff for a VP or SVP

Preferred qualifications:

MBA/advanced degree is preferred. Proven track record establishing relationships at all levels within an organization, including C-suite/ EVP/SVP level. Excellent relationship-building skills: you influence, persuade, and build trust across your organizations. Comfort with ambiguity and a bias towards action and experimentation to drive progress. A growth mindset, boundless creativity, and adaptability, high situational awareness. Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills: you see the bigger picture, seek root causes, synthesize details, and break down obstacles into manageable work. Exceptional written, verbal, and communication skills, and refined skills in tailoring messages to specific audiences in their preferred channels. Demonstrable experience in strategy & planning, decision-making processes. Demonstrable experience in executive-level communication and/or interdepartmental collaboration, strategic execution, governance or objectives and key results tracking. Well versed and experienced with office productivity tools.

Why Cisco

#WeAreCisco, where each person is unique, but we bring our talents to work as a team and make a difference powering an inclusive future for all. We embrace digital, and help our customers implement change in their digital businesses. Some may think we’re “old” (36 years strong) and only about hardware, but we’re also a software company. And a security company. We even invented an intuitive network that adapts, predicts, learns and protects. No other company can do what we do – you can’t put us in a box! But “Digital Transformation” is an empty buzz phrase without a culture that allows for innovation, creativity, and yes, even failure (if you learn from it.)

Day to day, we focus on the give and take. We give our best, give our egos a break, and give of ourselves (because giving back is built into our DNA.) We take accountability, bold steps, and take difference to heart. Because without diversity of thought and a dedication to equality for all, there is no moving forward. So, you have colorful hair? Don’t care. Tattoos? Show off your ink. Like polka dots? That’s cool. Pop culture geek? Many of us are. A passion for technology and world changing? Be you, with us!

We offer extensive employee benefits including 10 paid volunteering days, paid birthday off, 401k match with NO vesting, generous health/dental/vision benefits and much more.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

#wearecisco