Contract Negotiator

  • Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia, US
  • Alternate Location
    RTP, North Carolina, US
  • Area of Interest
    Finance
  • Compensation Range
    106300 USD - 174900 USD
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    Services & Software
  • Job Id
    1446202

Members of the Finance organization at select locations will generally be expected to follow a hyrbrid work model. which inclused two days of in-office attendance each week, with limited exceptions. 


The application window is expected to close on: or U.S. ONLY, 8/8/2025. 

NOTE: Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. 


MEET THE TEAM 

Global Procurement Services (GPS) is responsible for the enterprise-wide-procurement of all Cisco software and enterprise-wide items, including data center items and colocation services. GPS is a key partner to all regional, global and strategic Cisco businesses, functions, and service delivery teams, running all sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and buying activities. The successful candidate will deliver world-class contracting services from GPS to help drive business value and support profitable growth worldwide. 


YOUR IMPACT 

This is a Strategic Contract Negotiator role leading strategic and enterprise negotiations and contract strategy with Cisco vendors. A successful candidate will support this crucial global contract position in primarily Atlanta, Georgia or secondary Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Connected Contracts is bringing new levels of value to Cisco through strong processes and governance and deep negotiating and contracting skills while continually ensuring a digitized, data-driven contracting experience. This position will play a meaningful role in providing end-to-end vendor contracting services within Cisco and contribute directly to this innovative and continuous improvement environment. You will draft and negotiate a wide variety of complex contracts worldwide, supporting the procurement of Data Center and Colocation services. In particular, you will:

- Provide contract leadership to enable Cisco’s success in the procurement of data center and colocation related infrastructure, services and equipment.

- Deliver ongoing improvements to simplify and optimize contract templates, standards and processes throughout the procurement lifecycle, across the range of contract documents.

- Collaborate with the service owners to deliver an agile contract engagement model that supports the implementation of evolving business requirements and processes by providing guidance, defining contracting strategies and engaging across a diverse range of business functions, including legal, Infosec, finance, tax, compliance, insurance, etc.

- Collaborate with all levels of management and multi-functional teams to successfully draft and negotiate contracts. 

- Support and deploy technology and digital transformation within Connected Contracts, including the use of AI to enable an improved end-to-end contracting experience. 


Minimum Qualifications 

- Bachelor’s degree, Masters, JD, or demonstrated equivalent experience. 

- 3 - 5 years of experience or more in reviewing, drafting and negotiating sophisticated contracts. 

- Solid understanding of contract formation, terminology, and negotiations.

- Experience negotiating at a strategic enterprise level and identifying and successfully resolving legal and business issues typically encountered in procurement contracts. 

- Ability to influence at all levels to achieve desired results, including connecting contract structure and language to practical business outcomes. 


Preferred Qualifications 

- Digitization skills with experience using SAP Ariba and/or Seal software is a plus.

- Documented history drafting and negotiating contracts, including the ability to negotiate contractual terms. Experience in a SaaS company is a plus.

- Extensive knowledge and understanding of contracts, including obligations and risks associated with services delivery, business and technical foresight to negotiate and draft highly technical and detailed statements of work, craft effective incentives toward greater business value, and ensure clear and enforceable KPIs/remedies.

- Demonstrable ability in key areas vital for contracting success, including: spotting key issues, dispute resolution, negotiation and persuasive acumen, technical knowledge, precision in written and verbal communication, acute listening skills, and confident disposition of terms. 


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. Simply put – we power the future. 

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. 




Procurement

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

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.  Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

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