Strategy, Planning & Operations Manager

Krakow, Poland; Warsaw, Poland; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Madrid, Spain; London, United Kingdom

Area of Interest: Business Strategy and Operations

Job Type: Professional

Job Id: 1432696

Our Organization

The Internet and Mass Scale Infrastructure Group (I&MI) Sales Strategy, Planning, and Operations team is part of the Global Specialist Strategy, Planning, and Operations (GSSP) organization and drives strategy, planning, and operations initiatives in support of Cisco’s multi-billion-dollar Internet and Mass Scale Infrastructure Sales business.

We work hard and have fun doing it. We take pride in our work and know our collective success is dependent upon teamwork, both internally and externally. Passion, Integrity, Trust, Leadership, and Execution are our core values.

What You'll Do

As a Strategy, Planning and Operations Manager, you will be a business partner to the I&MI Global sales specialist leaders. This role will actively contribute to strategy development, building & executing operational plans, and driving transformation with the global I&MI sales teams. You will engage with Global I&MI leaders, the Global Specialist SP&O organization, I&MI specialists, business units, partners, and other cross-functional organizations.

This role requires a strategic thinker with outstanding planning, execution, and leadership skills. You will collaborate across teams to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, design and implement go-to-market strategies, and deliver impactful business insights that influence executive decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the creation and implementation of detailed strategic plans that align with company objectives.
• Identify new market opportunities and develop tailored strategies to achieve growth and scale.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives to enhance sales coverage, marketing execution, and service integration.

Operations & Insights:

• Design and manage operational cadences, processes, and reviews to optimize efficiency.
• Provide data-driven insights and reporting to support business decisions and enhance trajectory discussions.
• Lead projects to refine and streamline business operations for improved scalability and sustainability.

Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Collaborate with executive leaders, sales teams, and cross-functional partners to achieve shared goals.
• Cultivate positive relationships with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and effective communication.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, guiding strategic and operational priorities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Strategy, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in strategy, business development, finance or operations within service provider, telecommunications, or a related industry.
• Proven track record to develop and execute large-scale strategic initiatives, with measurable outcomes.
• Business Insight – Proven understanding of Cisco’s sales cycle, organization, and GTM objectives: business unit, sales and partners.
• Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in business intelligence tools, data analysis, and reporting.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and project management capabilities.
• Experience influencing senior leaders within complex, matrixed organizations.

Preferred Skills:

• MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
• Consultant Management firm experience is highly desired.
• Expertise in crafting and implementing GTM strategies for sales and marketing.
• Experience working with global teams and managing geographically diverse projects.
• Tools proficiency: Required: Excel (Pivot-Tables, etc.), PowerPoint (presentation building), FINBI, SFDC; Plus but not required: Cisco Ready, MBR.

Why Cisco

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!

#LI-TK1