Strategic Business Development Lead - AI Ecosystem

Cisco Systems; Paris; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco in Paris is seeking a Partner Account Executive to drive growth through the partner ecosystem and lead AI-focused alliance strategies. You will help build, lead, and scale strategic relationships with customers and partners, shaping joint go-to-market plans and revenue outcomes.

Ideal candidates bring deep experience in partner sales, cross-functional collaboration, and strong communications skills to influence stakeholders and close strategic deals in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and executing joint go-to-market strategies and pipeline management.
• Ability to coordinate internal resources (technical specialists, portfolio sellers) to deliver end-to-end solutions.
• Strong negotiation, value articulation, and stakeholder influence skills.
• Solid understanding of financial metrics and market dynamics; grasp of AI impact is crucial.

Skills

Sales strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic communication

Business discernment & AI awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing or related field

Job description

Meet the Team

The Partner Account Executive (PAE) team serves as the primary engine for driving Cisco’s growth through our global partner ecosystem. Our mission is to build, lead, and scale strategic relationships that deliver outstanding value to our mutual customers. We are currently focused on the critical objective of creating an AI-winning ecosystem, actively developing new alliances and consortiums to accelerate the growth of our AI business. By acting as the vital bridge between Cisco’s innovative technology solutions and our partners’ market reach, we ensure complete alignment on business objectives and sales execution. Through the orchestration of joint go-to-market strategies, we accelerate revenue growth and market penetration, empowering our partners to succeed and fueling Cisco’s long-term prosperity.

Your Impact

Joining this team places you at the forefront of Cisco’s transformation. You are not just selling products; you are architecting the future of technology through our partners. You will play a pivotal role in our objective to cultivate a thriving AI ecosystem by nurturing meaningful alliances and inclusive collaborative networks that expand our AI footprint. Every day offers new challenges, new partnerships, and the chance to create a tangible, lasting impact on our business and the broader technology ecosystem.

Minimum Qualifications

• Sales Strategy & Execution: Expertise in developing and executing joint go-to-market strategies, including pipeline management, and driving revenue growth.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to orchestrate internal resources—such as technical specialists and portfolio sellers to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for partners and customers.

• Strategic Communication & Negotiation: Strong capability to articulate complex value propositions, influence stakeholders, and craft mutually beneficial agreements.

• Educational Background & business Discernment: A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field is typically required, complemented by a solid understanding of financial metrics and market dynamics to effectively advise partners on business growth. A comprehensive grasp of AI's impact is crucial.

Preferred Qualifications

Continuous Learning: The eagerness to stay informed on rapidly evolving technology and shifting market trends with an entrepreneur attitude. Resourcefulness: The skill to effectively navigate sophisticated internal systems, source information, and leverage available tools to resolve challenges. Curiosity: A proactive drive to understand partner business models, evolving customer needs, and emerging market opportunities. Strategic Communication: The ability to clearly articulate sophisticated value propositions and cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders in a B2B environment. Adaptability: The capacity to pivot quickly within a fast-paced environment while handling multiple priorities effectively.

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.

Cisco is an affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.