Leader, People Consulting

Cisco; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Cisco in Bengaluru, India, seeks an experienced Leader, People Consulting, to guide a small team delivering country-wide HR support in India and South Asia. You will partner with HR leadership to ensure compliant, people-centered strategies that align with business goals and global programs.

You will drive change, advise stakeholders, and position HR as a strategic partner, using AI to enhance processes. You will coach leaders, manage cross-functional collaboration, and stay abreast of local

Qualifications

• Trusted HR consultant, advisor & coach.
• Demonstrates business acumen with effective stakeholder management and communication.
• Brings country knowledge and local HR expertise to actionable recommendations.
• Maintains a global approach, curious and keen to share standard methodologies.
• Adopts a solution-first mindset and uses AI to streamline processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of two Country Consultants to provide country-wide support in India and South Asia.
• Partner with HR leaders and Country Consultants to align activities with business strategy.
• Own complex country compliance and legislation requirements in country.
• Stay current on local legislative developments and respond with plans as needed.
• Represent HR externally and drive Cisco's local brand strategy.

Skills

HR consulting

stakeholder management

business acumen

global perspective

AI enablement

change leadership

cross-functional collaboration

advisory & coaching

Job description

We change the world, you will become passionate about your employer and the brand you represent. Everything is converging on the Internet, making networked connections more meaningful than ever before in our lives. Our employees' groundbreaking ideas impact everything. Here, that means we take creative ideas from the drawing board to dynamic solutions that have real world impact. You'll be part a team that cares about its customers, enjoys having fun, and you'll take part in changing the lives of those in our local communities.

The Country Acceleration team partners with People & Communities (HR) stakeholders and business leaders across India and South Asia to enable business growth through compliant, people‑centered HR strategies. The team serves as the bridge between global People & Communities (HR) programs and local business needs, ensuring country‑specific compliance, employee engagement, and organizational change are delivered effectively. As the Leader, People Consulting, you will lead a team of two Country Consultants while partnering closely with the India P&C Leader, Country Leadership Board, Inclusive Communities, and the broader HR ecosystem.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a team of 2 Country Consultants to provide country‑wide, function‑agnostic support to all employees in India and South Asia.
  • Provide direction and support to your team in day‑to‑day operations
  • Cultivate a positive, inclusive culture and foster collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
  • Enhance team synergy to deliver maximum value to the business.
  • Coach and mentor team members for professional growth and navigate changes effectively
  • Contribute to the overall management of APJC CA team
  • Role model setting standards for solution‑first thinking, strategic alignment and proactive ownership and develop your team members against these expectations.
  • Act as a Country Consultant for India and South Asia to drive compliance, change and employee engagement in country.
• Partner with Country P&C (HR) leader, People Partners (HRBP) and other Country Consultants in India to understand the need and demand of the business to ensure local activities and initiatives match the business strategy in country.
• Co‑own complex country compliance and legislation requirements in country.
• Partner with P&C stakeholders (e.g. Country Support, Benefits, ER) to ensure country relevance in global/regional/country programs.
• Stay current on local legislative developments and, when something changes or is on the horizon, align with appropriate stakeholders to build a response plan.
• When global programs are to land in country, identify local compliance risks and cultural nuances, bring the county lens with a solution attached.
• Support execution of cross‑functional projects e.g. restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and divestiture.
• Support critical Employee in Crisis escalations.
• Represent HR externally and drive local Cisco brand strategy.
• Act as a connector across P&C, country leadership, EROs etc – bringing the right people together, driving integrated outcomes and ensuring the ecosystem stays aligned.
• Use AI to reimagine how work gets done, not just to complete it faster. Document what works, share it and build institutional knowledge that benefits the broader team.

Who You Are

• You are a trusted HR consultant, advisor & coach.
• You have business acumen and demonstrate effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
• You bring country knowledge and local HR expertise – translating it into clear, actionable recommendations, not just observations.
• You have a global approach, are curious and keen to develop knowledge and acquire/share global standard methodologies.
• You hold local and global in balance – when the two pull in different directions, you name the tension and come with a recommendation.
• You are an AI enabler, looking to utilise AI to streamline, innovate and disrupt processes whilst being open to learning and teaching others through our individual AI journey.
• You have a solution‑first mindset.
• You have sound judgement and are able to manage ambiguity.
• You are a change catalyst with the ability to influence.
• You are an experienced people leader.
• You are the advisor people want to call when things are hard – you bring others on the journey and keep the right people aligned and aware, ensuring decisions land well.

Benefits

We provide 10 days of volunteer time‑off each year, support inclusive communities, and foster a culture that values diversity and equality.