Corporate Strategy Manager

The application window is expected to close on 01/24/2026.

This role is hybrid, you must be able to work onsite in San Jose, CA.

The Strategy and Planning team at Cisco operates under the leadership of the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). This team is responsible for guiding Cisco's overall strategic direction, including corporate strategy, development, and incubation efforts. Their focus spans acquisitions, investments, strategic partnerships, and emerging technology incubation to create new markets and drive growth. The team also partners closely with the Executive Leadership Team to accelerate innovation, alignment, and business planning across the company.

With a strong emphasis on cross‑functional initiatives and operational cadence, the Strategy and Planning team plays a critical role in shaping Cisco's future and ensuring sustained competitive advantage.

Our team's charter drives Cisco's corporate strategy execution with a focus on advancing the Splunk portfolio. We collaborate with senior leaders across product, engineering, finance, sales, and marketing to define and deliver strategies that fuel innovation, growth, profitability, and market leadership. You will work directly with a diverse group of professionals committed to accelerating Cisco's and Splunk's success.

Responsibilities include:

• Delivering on projects that identify and explore new technologies and business models to extend Cisco's and Splunk's technology leadership and customer relevance, then lead the decision‑making, execution and investments to make those opportunities a reality.
• Working closely with Cisco and Splunk business units and cross‑functional leadership to formulate long‑term strategic priorities and plans related to e.g., organic and inorganic growth strategy, emerging industry trends, competitive dynamics, and internal business performance improvement.
• Providing insights to the business through analytics and market research as required (e.g., market, customer, competitors).
• Working cross‑functionally across external and internal collaborators, partnering closely with Cisco's product, engineering, finance, sales, marketing and other teams.
• Becoming an expert in Cisco's business and having a deep understanding of the markets we serve and competitors we face.

• Bachelor's degree and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a minimum of 2 years of post‑MBA work experience.
• Experience working in a top‑tier consulting firm, top 5 investment bank or within top venture capital firm.
• Experience with corporate strategy, planning, M&A, investments, etc.
• Proven experience in all facets of strategy development, including project management, business analysis, problem solving, verbal and written communication, consensus building, and people development.

• Experience at a top‑tier consulting firm or in a strategic role within a Fortune 100 technology company.
• Deep expertise in technology strategy, AI, or licensing, with the agility to quickly master emerging domains.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem‑solving capabilities to address complex business challenges with minimal oversight.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior executives across global teams.
• Self‑starter who thrives in fast‑paced, collaborative, and high‑growth environments, and demonstrates clear potential for future leadership.

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…