Senior Counsel, Ethics & Compliance (APJC)

Cisco; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Regional Ethics & Compliance Counsel to guide APJC leadership on ethics, regulatory matters, and risk management, while strengthening our compliance culture globally. The role partners with senior leaders, legal, and control functions to ensure alignment with Cisco’s standards.

The ideal candidate holds a JD/LLB with 8–12 years of relevant experience, demonstrates strong contract and negotiation skills, and can design training programs across the region.

Qualifications

• JD, LLB, or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution.
• 8–12 years in ethics & compliance, corporate law, regulatory compliance, or risk management.
• Proven experience advising senior leadership on compliance matters.
• Strong knowledge of ethics and compliance frameworks, governance, and risk mitigation.
• Experience managing compliance escalations and remediation activities.
• Excellent contract review and negotiation skills.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
• Ability to work independently in a global, matrixed environment.
• High attention to detail and sound professional judgment.

Responsibilities

• Advise APJC leadership on ethics, compliance, and regulatory matters.
• Interpret and provide guidance on regional laws and compliance requirements.
• Negotiate ethics and compliance provisions in commercial agreements.
• Partner with customers and external stakeholders on Cisco's E&C program.
• Lead remediation efforts following investigations and corrective actions.
• Design and deliver regional E&C training programs, virtually and in person.
• Act as escalation point for COI, GTE, and third-party due diligence.
• Lead governance forums and roundtables with business leaders.
• Manage escalations related to COI, GTE, and third-party due diligence reviews.
• Collaborate with Investigations teams on policy enforcement.
• Drive continuous improvement of regional compliance programs and risk processes.

Skills

Ethics & Compliance

Corporate Law

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Contract Negotiation

Contract Review

Stakeholder Management

Written & Verbal Communication

Global Matrix Environment

Education

Juris Doctor / LLB or equivalent

Job description

Meet the Team

Join Cisco’s Global Ethics & Compliance (E&C) organization, a team dedicated to fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and ethical business practices across the company. As part of the Legal organization, the Ethics & Compliance team partners closely with business leaders, legal professionals, and control functions to help Cisco navigate complex regulatory environments while upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct.

This role offers an opportunity to influence regional compliance strategy, partner with senior leadership, and help shape Cisco’s culture of integrity across the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC) region.

Your Impact

As the Regional Ethics & Compliance Counsel, you will serve as a trusted advisor to regional leadership, providing strategic guidance on ethics, compliance, and regulatory matters. You will play a critical role in strengthening Cisco’s compliance culture, mitigating risk, and ensuring alignment with global and regional compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to APJC leadership on ethics, compliance risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Monitor, interpret, and provide guidance on regional laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Advise on and negotiate ethics and compliance provisions within commercial agreements.
• Partner with customers and external stakeholders regarding Cisco’s Ethics & Compliance program and commitments.
• Lead and oversee remediation efforts following compliance investigations and corrective action plans.
• Design, develop, and deliver regional Ethics & Compliance training programs, both virtually and in person.
• Act as the regional escalation point for:
  • Third-Party Due Diligence concerns
  • High-risk Partner reviews
  • Supplier compliance issues
• Lead quarterly Ethics & Compliance governance forums and roundtables with business leaders and control functions.
• Manage escalations related to:
  • Conflict of Interest (COI)
  • Gifts, Travel & Entertainment (GTE)
  • Third-Party Due Diligence reviews
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with Investigations teams on policy enforcement and compliance-related matters as required.
• Drive continuous improvement of regional compliance programs and risk management processes.

Who You'll Work With

• Global Ethics & Compliance Team
• Cisco Legal Organization
• APJC Regional Leadership
• Investigations Team
• Procurement and Supplier Management Teams
• Partner Organizations
• Finance, HR, and Control Functions
• External Business Partners and Customers

Who You Are

You are a strategic legal and compliance professional with a strong understanding of regulatory requirements, risk management, and corporate ethics. You possess excellent judgment, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. You are passionate about fostering a culture of integrity while enabling business success in a complex global environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD), LLB, or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution.
• 8–12 years of experience in:
  • Ethics & Compliance
  • Corporate Law
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Risk Management
• Proven experience advising senior leadership on compliance and regulatory matters.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Ethics & Compliance program frameworks
  • Corporate governance
  • Regulatory compliance requirements
  • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Experience managing compliance escalations and remediation activities.
• Excellent contract review and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and effectively within a global, matrixed environment.
• High attention to detail and sound professional judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the technology, telecommunications, or multinational corporate environment.
• Strong knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape across APJC markets.
• Experience designing and delivering compliance training programs.
• Expertise in:
  • Third-Party Due Diligence
  • Conflict of Interest Programs
  • Gifts, Travel & Entertainment Compliance
  • Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Programs
• Experience partnering with investigations and enforcement teams.Fluency in one or more APJC regional languages.
• Demonstrated ability to lead regional compliance initiatives and influence organizational culture.

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.