Senior Leader, Strategic Customer Engagement

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  • Location:
    RTP, North Carolina, US
  • Alternate Location
    Remote in US Timezones
  • Area of Interest
    Business Strategy and Operations
  • Compensation Range
    160000 USD - 227300 USD
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    *None
  • Job Id
    1447425
New

Meet the Team

Cisco’s Strategic Customer Engagement team is dedicated to building and deepening relationships with our most valued global customers. We drive Cisco’s flagship executive programs—including the Global Customer Advisory Board (GCAB) and the Executive Sponsorship Program—that influence Cisco’s direction, amplify customer voice, and strengthen our market leadership. As part of this collaborative, forward-thinking group, you’ll work alongside professionals who are redefining customer engagement at the highest level.

Your Impact

As Senior Leader, Strategic Customer Engagement, you will lead Cisco’s most influential executive customer engagement programs. You’ll be responsible for enhancing and scaling both the Global Customer Advisory Board (GCAB) and the Executive Sponsorship Program—initiatives critical to Cisco’s CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The Executive Sponsorship Program, in particular, is positioned for significant growth as a key enabler of customer loyalty and relationship development, and you will manage it in tandem with the GCAB to increase impact. While establishing credibility with the CEO and ELT is essential, your primary collaboration will be with Sales, Product, Marketing, and Communications leaders. This is an ideal role for someone with a strong sales background who understands the Cisco sales organization, appreciates the challenges facing account teams, and can quickly grasp high-level technology and product roadmap concepts. You’ll manage a direct report for programmatic support, drive new strategies for customer engagement, and ensure Cisco remains the partner of choice for our most strategic customers.

  • Manage and continuously improve both the Global Customer Advisory Board (GCAB) and the Executive Sponsorship Program, ensuring world-class engagement for Cisco’s top customers and executive sponsors.
  • Scale and grow the Executive Sponsorship Program as a strategic driver of customer loyalty and relationship development, growing its reach and effectiveness across the business.
  • Establish and maintain credibility with Cisco’s CEO and ELT through effective program leadership and by delivering clear business value.
  • Collaborate intensively with Sales, Product, Marketing, and Communications leaders to align engagement strategies, share insights, and drive joint business outcomes.
  • Lead the planning and flawless execution of the annual in-person GCAB event, developing an agenda that showcases Cisco’s strategy and innovations.
  • Guide and mentor a programmatic support resource to ensure seamless delivery and continuous improvement across all initiatives.
  • Develop and execute a unified strategy for strategic customer engagement, integrating and optimizing existing initiatives and identifying new opportunities for impact.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in program management, executive relationship management, customer engagement, or sales roles.
  • 5+ years of leadership experience coordinating global teams or high-impact programs.
  • Proven track record managing executive sponsorship programs, customer advisory boards, or similar high-touch initiatives.
  • Experience planning and driving high-profile executive events.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Sales experience and a strong understanding of Cisco Sales processes and account team challenges.
  • Ability to quickly grasp high-level technology and product roadmap concepts; knowledge of Cisco’s product portfolio preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and effectively engage with C-level executives and senior leadership teams.
  • Experience influencing and collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Product, Marketing, and Communications leaders.
  • Outstanding communication, facilitation, and executive presence.
  • MBA or advanced degree preferred.

#WeAreCisco

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!

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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