Leader, Strategy & Planning Operations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +4 more states.

📋 Description

• Act as a strategic partner to the Incubation Vice President regarding go-to-market (GTM) strategy, resource allocation, and portfolio prioritization.

• Oversee the SP&O operational rhythm, which includes quarterly business reviews (QBRs), forecast assessments, and leadership reporting.

• Create GTM strategies and sales initiatives tailored to the maturity of the product.

• Enhance sales readiness for new products through the design of processes, development of tools, customer onboarding, and cross-functional training.

• Assist in the stage-gate and graduation framework for the transition of products to Core or Hyper-Specialist coverage.

• Utilize data-driven criteria to evaluate product readiness.

• Collaborate with Finance to establish compensation plans and territory/coverage models.

• Define and oversee metrics for individual products as well as the overall function.

• Recruit, lead, and develop a team of 2–3 SP&O professionals.

• Allocate team responsibilities across products, partnerships, and new-product readiness.

• Represent Incubation SP&O in planning discussions with Central Global Specialist Sales, Business Entities, Enablement, Finance, and Customer Experience.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 12 years of experience in sales strategy, sales operations, business/GTM planning, or a comparable role.

• Preferably, experience within a technology or software sales environment.

• More than 5 years of experience in developing or coordinating sales compensation plans and territory/coverage models.

• A proven history of establishing GTM processes or sales motions from the ground up.

• At least 4 years of experience collaborating directly with senior sales leadership at the VP level or higher.

• A minimum of 2 years of demonstrated people leadership experience or a clear readiness to manage a small team.

• Experience in cross-functional collaboration with product/Business Entity teams, Finance, Enablement, and Partner organizations.

• A bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field is preferred.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience in preparing materials for high-level executive audiences.

• Background in supporting a New Product Introduction (NPI), incubation, or early-stage/emerging-business function.

• Familiarity with Cisco's sales organization, systems, and planning cycles.

• Experience with Global System Integrators (GSI), strategic alliances, or partner go-to-market motions.

• Experience in security, cloud, or AI/infrastructure markets.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.

• Paid parental leave.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Basic life insurance.

• Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to eligibility and continued employment.

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year.

• 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

• 1 paid day off for the employee’s birthday.

• Paid year-end holiday shutdown.

• 4 paid days off for personal wellness.

• 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year for non-exempt employees.

• Flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit for eligible exempt employees.

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter.

• Up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward annually.

• Additional paid time away for critical or emergency family issues.

• Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year.

• Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco’s policies.

• Performance-based incentive pay for employees on sales plans.

• No cap on incentive compensation once performance exceeds 100% attainment.