Operations Manager - Partner/Distribution

Cisco; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Saudi Arabia is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to drive operational excellence and align strategies with partners. The role requires strong communication skills in Arabic and English, and involves collaboration with cross-functional teams for process improvement and stakeholder engagement. Candidates should have a background in project management and be adept at identifying automation opportunities. Join a dynamic team and contribute to innovative AI-driven solutions.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Arabic and English required.
• Experience in handling operational issues and stakeholder engagement.
• Deep operational knowledge of business processes.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence through management and enablement activities.
• Collaborate with global teams to improve workflows.
• Manage partner and distributor expectations.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Project management

Data analysis for problem identification

Client centricity

Experience in stakeholder management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description

The Operations Manager is the bridge between Commerce Operations and Cisco’s client experience, acting as a trusted advisor and accountable for the execution of performance management, enablement, readiness, and advocacy to save clients time and effort.

Responsibilities include articulating Operations strategy, representing client experience and requirements, identifying automation opportunities, translating them into actionable digital use cases, and leveraging AI to drive efficiency and innovation.

The role collaborates with cross‑functional teams, including the Global Delivery Centers, to improve workflows, manage client expectations, problem‑solve, and influence simplification and efficiency across specified services.

Key initiatives involve driving AI and digitization improvements, overseeing knowledge curation, enabling partners with AI demos, and supporting the implementation of the Partner 360 program.

An Operations Manager’s Competencies

• Proficiency in feeding and leveraging AI models to optimize internal productivity workflows
• Client centricity: building strong partnerships to understand personas, priorities, and operational challenges
• Experience design: developing Ops plans that tie client goals to operational objectives
• Operational advisory: consulting on resources and promoting client self‑sufficiency and readiness
• Problem identification and solution adoption: logging operational problems to drive simplification and automation
• Communication framework: informing, educating, engaging clients on changes and processes
• Metrics that matter: measuring performance through key outcomes and reviewing progress quarterly

Key Responsibilities

• Operational leadership and strategy alignment
• Own operational engagement with strategic partners and distributors to ensure smooth execution of Cisco programs
• Act as trusted advisor to stakeholders by articulating Operations strategy and aligning it with partner requirements
• Drive operational excellence through performance management, readiness, and enablement activities that reduce complexity
• Collaborate with global and regional teams to simplify partner interactions and improve ease of doing business
• Identify automation and digital transformation opportunities, leveraging AI and data insights to implement innovative solutions
• Engage and onboard partners with cross‑functional teams to streamline workflows and resolve challenges
• Represent partner and distributor voice using feedback and data‑driven insights to influence simplification and continuous improvement
• Manage partner/distributor expectations, proactively problem‑solve, and advocate for enhancements that improve the journey
• Support rollout of Partner 360 program and new T5 entity transition, ensuring seamless adoption
• Oversee order processing activities (DSV, B2B, POS reporting) for accuracy and efficiency
• Manage multi‑tiering processes to guarantee successful order booking
• Handle RMA cases, order cancellations, and after‑sales adjustments with accuracy
• Proactively identify operational issues across processes, policies, and capabilities
• Champion change management to ensure smooth implementation of improvements across the ecosystem

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills; Arabic and English proficiency required
• Experience in project management and analysis of trends using data for problem identification
• External stakeholder‑facing experience in an operational capacity
• Deep operational knowledge of processes, policies, capabilities, and approaches

Preferred Qualifications

• Accountability for stakeholder experience and operational performance
• Ability to handle escalations, including at the executive level
• Quick adaptability to changing priorities with ownership, flexibility, and resilience
• Demonstrated engagement at executive level for regular operational reviews
• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

Why Cisco

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era and beyond. For 40 years, we’ve been innovating to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds, providing customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across their digital footprint.

With the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Combined with a worldwide network of experts, opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make big things happen on a global scale. Our solutions are everywhere, and so is our impact.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.