Strategy & Planning Manager III (Full-Time) - United States

Cisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems in San Francisco is seeking MBA candidates for a Strategy & Planning Rotation Program to work on enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and partner with senior leaders. You will solve complex business problems and drive meaningful impact.

You will lead cross-functional work from concept to execution, translate data into actionable insights, develop business cases and KPIs, and present findings to executives while applying AI-driven improvements to workflows.

Qualifications

• Recent MBA candidate or in final year of MBA or related program.
• Education in business strategy, strategic planning, management consulting, or related field.
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information and make actionable recommendations.
• Strong structured problem-solving and project management to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; synthesize complex data into concise recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; collaborate across functions and influence stakeholders in ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Own a high-impact project from problem definition through recommendation.
• Develop business cases, metrics, and KPIs to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Synthesize insights into clear, executive-ready presentations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to drive alignment and execution.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leaders.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Qualitative analysis

Structured problem-solving

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel

PowerPoint

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

MBA or related graduate program

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Meet the Team

We are Cisco Operations, the organization that drives accelerated growth by powering the company to securely deliver high-quality products and experiences. Our vision is to power a secure Cisco with simplicity, speed, and growth, so customers, partners, and employees choose us every time.

Your Impact

Our MBA Strategy & Planning Rotation Program offers the opportunity to work on high-priority, enterprise-wide strategic initiatives at a global technology leader. You will partner closely with senior leaders to solve complex business problems and drive meaningful impact.

You will lead cross-functional work from concept through execution, translate data into clear, actionable insights, and guide senior-level discussions that build alignment and momentum. By taking ownership, anticipating risks, and communicating effectively, you will deliver measurable outcomes while strategically integrating AI solutions into business processes, analysis, and decision-making.

In this program, you will lead a strategic initiative tied directly to Cisco’s near-term business priorities. Responsibilities may include:

• Owning a high-impact project from problem definition through recommendation
• Developing business cases, metrics, and KPIs to evaluate program effectiveness
• Synthesizing insights into clear, executive-ready presentations
• Partnering with cross-functional teams to drive alignment and execution
• Presenting findings and recommendations to senior leaders

Past Rotations Have Included

• Driving the design, implementation, and measurement of a new global distributor planning motion
• Building the strategy, operating model design, and change management plan for a new global customer support coverage model
• Leading Cisco’s 5-year Supply Chain readiness strategy
• Identifying opportunities to improve Cisco’s GTM capabilities in Cloud Marketplaces
• Supervising a pilot offer launch program and communicating recommendations to senior partners based on findings

Minimum Qualifications

• Recent graduate or in your final year of studies towards an MBA or a related graduate-level business program.
• Qualifying education should be in business strategy, strategic planning, management consulting, business operations or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information and develop actionable recommendations.
• Strong structured problem-solving and project management skills, including the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from definition through execution.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clear, concise recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions, build stakeholder alignment, influence without direct authority, and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in technology, management consulting, or corporate strategy.
• Skilled in developing business cases, financial analyses, and KPIs to evaluate opportunities and measure business outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience applying AI and automation to solve complex business problems and streamline workflows.
• Proven ability to develop recommendations for senior executives and support high-impact, enterprise-level initiatives.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive initiatives independently with limited direction.

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:

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 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

$148,800.00 - $238,300.00

Non-Metro New York State & Washington State

$143,600.00 - $211,900.00

• 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.