Leader, Workplace Services and Governance

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 156,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Workplace Services and Governance Leader within the Workplace Resources division.

You will drive strategy from concept to execution for workplace initiatives, aligning with Cisco’s Connected Workplace vision and collaborating with Global Procurement, Legal, and other internal teams. Focus on delivering innovative, high-quality workplace experiences across a global footprint.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Corporate Real Estate (CRE) and Facility Management (FM) operations.
• Proven expertise in managing large-scale vendor relationships and workplace events/services.
• Strong understanding of market conditions and risks in CRE and FM vendors.
• Experience resolving contractual or governance escalations and disputes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and scaling teams in complex environments with talent development.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy for workplace initiatives from concept to execution.
• Lead complex procurement events, including contract negotiations.
• Ensure third-party services meet Cisco’s standards for quality and employee experience.
• Assist with vendor relationships and partnerships management.
• Serve as liaison between WPR and internal Cisco stakeholders (e.g., Global Procurement Services, Legal).
• Lead core context and go-to-market strategy sessions to align with Cisco and WPR.
• Use data analysis and feedback to continuously improve workplace services.
• Apply AI-driven sentiment analysis and metrics to curate productive environments.

Skills

Corporate Real Estate

Facility Management

Vendor management

Governance

Procurement

Leadership

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 09/20/2026 Location: US Remote: East Coast Preferred

Who We Are

Workplace Resources (WPR) delivers workplace experiences to Cisco employees and optimizes company working capital, at scale, with a focus on productivity and business outcomes. Formed in April 2024, the Global Services & Operations (GSO) team’s mission is to deliver exceptional client outcomes with global consistency—quality, cost-appropriate, and locally relevant. Our goal is to grow our people, do the basics brilliantly, and transform the workplace through innovation and technology.

Position Overview

The WPR Workplace Services and Governance Leader plays a pivotal role within the Governance and Vendor Management team. You will drive the strategy and execution of workplace solutions that align with Cisco’s business goals and market demands. This position requires a strong understanding of Corporate Real Estate, Facility Management operations, and event sourcing to effectively lead workplace initiatives and collaborate across multiple internal teams and external vendors. The role focuses on delivering exceptional workplace experiences through innovative solutions and cross-functional alignment.

What You’ll Do

• Drive the strategy for workplace initiatives from concept to execution, ensuring alignment with Cisco’s "Connected Workplace" vision and evolving business requirements.
• Lead complex procurement events effectively. This includes the successful negotiation and agreement of contracts.
• Ensure that third-party services and workplace deployments meet Cisco’s high standards for quality, employee experience and innovation.
• Assist with the successful management of Vendor relationships and partnerships.
• Act as the primary liaison between WPR and internal Cisco stakeholders (Global Procurement Services, Legal, etc.).
• Lead Core – Context, and Go to Market Strategy sessions to align with Cisco, and WPR’s strategy.
• Utilize data analysis and user feedback interpretation to continuously improve workplace services.
• Apply AI-driven sentiment analysis and workplace metrics to curate environments that enhance employee productivity.
• Use AI and agentic AI solutions in your day-to-day work, including scope development, bid management, bid normalization, analysis, and insights.
• Identify and deploy smart building technologies and workplace technology support models to ensure Cisco’s workplaces remain at the cutting edge of industry trends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven experience in Corporate Real Estate (CRE) and Facility Management (FM) operations.
• Proven expertise in managing large-scale vendor relationships and managing workplace events and services.
• A good understanding regarding the current market conditions and risks in respect of both CRE and FM Vendors.
• Experience in dealing with and resolving of contractual or governance related escalations, and disputes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and scaling teams within complex environments, with a focus on talent development, performance management, and fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented culture.
• Demonstrated experience working in complex environments involving Procurement, Sales, and the management of integrated workplace solutions.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of driving workplace initiatives from initial strategy to successful market launch.
• Background in managing workplace service deployments; familiarity with workplace transformation is a significant plus.
• Ability to work effectively in both in-person and virtual environments, with an onsite presence 2-3 days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to align workplace solutions with long-term business objectives and emerging market trends.
• Ability to successfully navigate a global matrix organization, and to work across different time zones.
• Proficiency in using data to address operational challenges and innovate the employee experience.
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills to influence diverse teams and high-level stakeholders.
• Capable of operating amidst change and re-prioritization in a fast-paced global environment.

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 40years 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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $155,500.00 to $226,800.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process. U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time. U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
• Non‑exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
• Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan.
• For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows: .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota; 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%; 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
• For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target.
• Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

• New York City Metro Area: $198,500.00 - $324,100.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $180,200.00 - $278,600.00
• * For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
• ** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.

Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.