Strategy & Planning Manager

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco's Observability organization seeks a senior strategy leader to drive strategic planning, performance analysis, and cross-functional execution across Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Product, and Engineering.

You will lead annual, long-range, and QBR planning, translating priorities into measurable plans and presenting executive-level recommendations based on rigorous financial analysis and market insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10–12+ years of related professional experience.
• Experience leading annual planning, long-range planning, and/or QBR processes across multiple business functions.
• Experience performing quantitative business and financial analysis to develop business cases, forecasts, strategic recommendations, or investment plans.
• Experience in go-to-market strategy or planning, including sales pipeline, pricing, revenue, or related commercial business metrics.
• Experience developing and presenting strategic recommendations based on analysis of business performance, financial data, and/or market trends.
• Preferred: experience in SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, observability, or enterprise technology.
• Preferred: experience partnering with Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Product, and Engineering environments.
• Preferred: experience with resource allocation, headcount planning, budget planning, or investment planning.
• Preferred: experience developing executive-level business reviews, strategic presentations, or operating plans.
• Preferred: experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives in a large technology organization.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic planning, business performance, and cross-functional execution for Cisco's Observability organization.
• Lead annual, long-range, and Quarterly Business Review (QBR) planning processes.
• Partner with Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Product, and Engineering to translate priorities into measurable plans and outcomes.
• Perform quantitative business and financial analysis of strategic opportunities, business cases, resource allocation, and investment decisions.
• Provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Analyze sales pipeline, pricing, revenue, product priorities, and operational metrics to identify opportunities, risks, and performance gaps.
• Synthesize complex business and financial information into clear recommendations and compelling business narratives.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives and projects, driving alignment, accountability, and execution across teams.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Cross-Functional Leadership

Quantitative Business Analysis

Go-To-Market Strategy

Executive-level Presentations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

• Drive strategic planning, business performance, and cross-functional execution for Cisco's Observability organization
• Lead annual, long-range, and Quarterly Business Review (QBR) planning processes
• Partner with Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Product, and Engineering to translate priorities into measurable plans and outcomes
• Perform quantitative business and financial analysis of strategic opportunities, business cases, resource allocation, and investment decisions
• Provide actionable recommendations to leadership
• Analyze sales pipeline, pricing, revenue, product priorities, and operational metrics to identify opportunities, risks, and performance gaps
• Synthesize complex business and financial information into clear recommendations and compelling business narratives
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives and projects, driving alignment, accountability, and execution across teams

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 10-12+ years of related professional experience
• Experience leading annual planning, long-range planning, and/or Quarterly Business Review (QBR) processes across multiple business functions
• Experience performing quantitative business and financial analysis to develop business cases, forecasts, strategic recommendations, or investment plans
• Experience in go-to-market strategy or planning, including sales pipeline, pricing, revenue, or related commercial business metrics
• Experience developing and presenting strategic recommendations based on analysis of business performance, financial data, and/or market trends
• Preferred: experience in SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, observability, or enterprise technology
• Preferred: experience partnering with Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Product, and Engineering organizations
• Preferred: experience with resource allocation, headcount planning, budget planning, or investment planning
• Preferred: experience developing executive-level business reviews, strategic presentations, or operating plans
• Preferred: experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives in a large technology organization

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in strategic planning, quantitative business analysis, and cross-functional execution within technology organizations. Proficient in developing actionable recommendations and leading complex initiatives that drive business performance and alignment across multiple functions.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Strategic Planning
• Quantitative Business Analysis
• Quarterly Business Review (QBR) Processes
• Go-To-Market Strategy
• Cross-Functional Leadership

Hard Skills

• Business Performance Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Resource Allocation
• Budget Planning
• Investment Planning
• Sales Pipeline Analysis
• Forecast Development
• Strategic Recommendations
• Operational Metrics Analysis
• Complex Initiative Leadership

Soft Skills

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Accountability
• Synthesis of Information
• Presentation Skills

Industry Keywords

• SaaS
• Cloud
• Cybersecurity
• Observability
• Enterprise Technology