Strategy & Planning Manager, Business Development & Partnerships

The application window is expected to close on: 11/12/2026

Note:

This is a remote U.S. based role, requiring work within the West Coast Time Zone. Preference will be given to the candidates from the West coast locations.

The Strategy & Planning Manager role is a key individual contributor position within the Business Development & Partnerships team, a strategic function in Cisco's central Product organization. The team drives growth by developing and supporting technology partnerships that enhance Cisco's product portfolio, including collaborations with leading companies in the AI space. We're looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented strategic problem solver who excels at cross-functional collaboration, navigates ambiguity and complex operational processes, and proactively drives execution to support the team's success.

As Strategy & Planning Manager, you will work closely with our Business Development teams to design and own operational processes, enhance cross-functional visibility, and support the design and launch of strategic partnerships. You will work on a fast-paced and dynamic team responsible for providing operational support and accelerating partnership activities in collaboration with the Business Development Managers.

• Build and manage operational processes to track internal and external partnership-related work streams and deliver strategic insights to key stakeholders.
• Work with BD and cross functional Cisco teams to design and implement a best-in-class experience for our partners.
• Develop and manage cross-functional engagement processes to align Business Development with Cisco teams, ensuring visibility, strategic alignment, and participation in key business cadences.
• Support BD leadership in defining partnership focus areas, setting business goals, and tracking key initiatives to drive business impact and execution.

• Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or Masters + 6 years of related experience or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Relevant experience includes but is not limited to; business operations, business development, product management, internal strategy, and/or go-to-market strategy.
• Experience building and managing projects and workflows from ideation to 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 (QBRs), business readouts, and updates on strategic initiatives or operational performance.

• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Strategy, or a related field
• Experience working in an internal strategy and/or operations role at a tech company or at a strategy firm with expertise in strategic planning and operational execution
• Understanding of GTM motions in SaaS software industry
• Understanding of product development life cycles
• Experience working with AI technology, SaaS software or hyperscalers
• Ability to craft clear, compelling narratives in written, verbal, and visual formats (e.g., PowerPoint)
• Skilled at 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
• Capable of building scalable operational frameworks that enhance alignment and execution across teams
• Adept at driving alignment, engagement, and collaboration across teams and leadership levels
• Effective team player skilled at fostering strong partnerships across functions to enhance…