Solutions & Business Development Manager

Cisco Systems Inc; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems Inc. is seeking a Solutions & Business Development Manager in the CX arm to develop into a trusted advisor shaping strategic customer opportunities.

You will partner with Sales to translate needs into tailored services solutions, combining Cisco technology with lifecycle services for meaningful business outcomes. You will work with Sales and Solution Development Architects to shape opportunities, develop portfolio knowledge, and support RFPs and client presentations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in technology, consulting, eng, customer success or related field.
• Foundational knowledge of enterprise IT infra incl Networking, Security, Data Centre, Cloud or AI.
• Excellent presentation and communication with ability to explain complex ideas clearly.
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate across teams, build relationships and own outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Support pre-sales opportunities from inception to close, translating needs into services proposals.
• Shape Cisco Lifecycle and transformational opportunities with Sales and Solution Development Architects.
• Develop knowledge of Cisco portfolio to create solution propositions aligned to business outcomes.
• Contribute to Services RFPs/RFIs and customer presentations for targeted accounts and sectors.

Skills

5+ years experience

IT infrastructure knowledge

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

This position offers a unique opportunity to join a growing team within CX as an Solutions & Business Development Manager, developing into a trusted advisor who helps shape Cisco's most strategic customer opportunities. Working in close partnership with Sales, you'll develop your technical, commercial and consultative skills to support the shaping of new Services business opportunities and the design of tailored solutions. By combining Cisco's technology, software and lifecycle services, you'll play a vital role in helping customers achieve meaningful business outcomes while developing your own expertise through hands‑on experience and mentoring. Your Impact

• Support pre-sales opportunities from inception to close, learning how to translate customer needs into compelling services solution proposals.
• Work alongside Sales and Solution Development Architects to shape Cisco Lifecycle and transformational opportunities.
• Develop your knowledge of Cisco's portfolio to create solution propositions aligned to customer business outcomes.
• Contribute to Services RFPs/RFIs and customer presentations for targeted accounts and sectors.
• The confidence to adapt to new technologies (e.g. AI) and continuously develop your technical and commercial knowledge.
• Identify and support new business opportunities through an understanding of enterprise and public sector customer challenges, industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Champion the value of Cisco's technology, software and services to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Build trusted relationships across Cisco teams while taking ownership of your own development and contribution to customer success. A curious mindset with a genuine passion for learning new technologies and understanding customer challenges.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the confidence to engage both technical and business stakeholders.
• The ability to build relationships and bring people together to achieve shared outcomes.
• A proactive attitude with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• The confidence to adapt to new technologies (e.g. AI) and continuously develop your technical and commercial knowledge.
• A customer-focused mindset with the ambition to build a successful career in solution development.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in technology, consulting, engineering, customer success, professional services or a related field.
• Foundational knowledge of enterprise IT infrastructure including areas such as Networking, Security, Data Centre, Cloud or AI.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly.
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate across teams, build relationships and take ownership of outcomes.
• A strong desire to learn, develop and build a career within Cisco.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field.
• Exposure to Cisco technologies or enterprise networking and security solutions.
• Experience supporting customer engagements, workshops or technical proposals.
• ITIL Foundation, Service Design experience or relevant industry certifications. 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