Strategy & Planning Manager

Cisco; North Carolina; On-site; USD 117,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a senior strategy and planning professional to influence investments and long-term priorities. You will work with leaders across the company to evaluate opportunities, build financial models, and craft practical recommendations that align with Cisco's growth and transformation goals.

You will apply AI-enabled analytics to scenarios, forecasts, and planning processes, coordinating across teams to improve transparency and execution of multi-year plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 6+ years of related experience, Master's degree with 3+ years of related experience, PhD with 1+ year of related experience, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Experience in corporate strategy, business planning, operations, or management consulting.
• Experience conducting market research, competitive analysis, and evaluating growth opportunities.
• Experience with financial modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, and data analysis.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to support planning and business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support plans that connect Cisco's long-term goals with near-term priorities.
• Analyze market trends, competitors, and customer needs to identify opportunities and potential risks.
• Build forecasts, financial models, and scenarios to evaluate investments and resource decisions.
• Collaborate with teams across Cisco to coordinate priorities, timelines, and resources.
• Apply AI and advanced analytics to improve research, forecasting, and planning.
• Review performance metrics, identify gaps, and recommend changes to improve results.
• Contribute to annual and multi-year planning, including setting targets and measuring outcomes.
• Present findings and recommendations to leaders in a clear, practical way.
• Identify ways to simplify planning processes and improve collaboration across teams.
• Evaluate how changes in technology, markets, and customer priorities may affect future plans.

Skills

Corporate strategy

Business planning

Operations management

Management consulting

Market research

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Scenario planning

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Master's degree

PhD

PMP

CPMAI

Lean Six Sigma

Tools

AI analytics tools

Generative AI

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/15/2026

Meet the Team

Cisco's Strategy and Planning team helps set priorities, evaluate opportunities, and plan for the future. We work with teams across the company to understand market changes, assess investments, and align resources with Cisco's goals! Our work combines market research, financial analysis, and AI-powered tools to support decisions that influence Cisco's growth and transformation.

Your Impact

In this role, you will help Cisco evaluate opportunities, develop plans, and make informed decisions about future investments. You will collaborate with colleagues and leaders across the company to analyze market trends, assess risks, and recommend approaches that support long-term goals. You will also use AI and advanced analytical tools to explore different scenarios, improve planning processes, and help teams measure progress. Your work will connect research and analysis with practical recommendations that support Cisco's priorities.

What You'll Do

• Develop and support plans that connect Cisco's long-term goals with near-term priorities.
• Analyze market trends, competitors, and customer needs to identify opportunities and potential risks.
• Build forecasts, financial models, and scenarios to evaluate investments and resource decisions.
• Collaborate with teams across Cisco to coordinate priorities, timelines, and resources.
• Apply AI and advanced analytics to improve research, forecasting, and planning.
• Review performance metrics, identify gaps, and recommend changes to improve results.
• Contribute to annual and multi-year planning, including setting targets and measuring outcomes.
• Present findings and recommendations to leaders in a clear, practical way.
• Identify ways to simplify planning processes and improve collaboration across teams.
• Evaluate how changes in technology, markets, and customer priorities may affect future plans.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 6+ years of related experience, Master's degree with 3+ years of related experience, PhD with 1+ year of related experience, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Experience in corporate strategy, business planning, operations, or management consulting.
• Experience conducting market research, competitive analysis, and evaluating growth opportunities.
• Experience with financial modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, and data analysis.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to support planning and business decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in business, finance, economics, or a related field.
• PMP, CPMAI, or Lean Six Sigma certification.
• Background in technology, corporate strategy, or management consulting.
• Experience supporting annual planning, long-term business plans, or organizational transformation.
• Familiarity with AI-powered analytics, generative AI, or sophisticated planning tools.
• Experience preparing business cases and presenting recommendations to senior leaders.

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.

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

The starting salary range posted for this position is $117,400.00 to $172,500.00 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. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following