Cisco

Account Executive - Portfolio

Cisco$214K — $270K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of experience, or Master's degree with 3+ years, or PhD with no experience required.
  • Strong background in secure networking technologies, specifically switching, wireless, and routing.
  • Proven track record in building and maintaining customer relationships across various levels, especially C-suite.
  • Experience in managing complex sales cycles with an emphasis on high-value accounts.
  • Ability to analyze market trends and derive actionable insights to influence sales strategies.

Responsibilities

  • Manage and influence purchasing decisions for a defined account set.
  • Collaborate with customers to align solutions with their business goals and create product demand.
  • Drive growth by serving as the Account Orchestrator for tailored, cross-portfolio solutions.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of customer industries and use it to inform solution offerings.
  • Negotiate deals that balance client needs with company profitability while ensuring follow-through on commitments.
  • Maintain accurate and insightful sales funnel representations in CRM tools.
  • Engage with cross-functional teams to resolve deal issues and enhance the sales process.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
  • 401(k) with Cisco matching contributions.
  • Generous paid parental leave policy.
  • Flexible vacation policy for exempt employees with no set limit on time off.
  • Paid volunteer days for participating in community service initiatives.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/08/2026

Join a dynamic sales team that serves as the primary driver for Cisco's core secure networking portfolio, including switching, wireless, and routing technologies. We operate as strategic orchestrators, aligning complex cross-portfolio solutions with the unique business goals of our Commercial Select Accounts. Our team bridges the gap between customer roadmaps and market-leading innovations, ensuring our clients achieve measurable outcomes through sustainable growth. You will collaborate closely with Portfolio Solution Engineers and specialist teams to deliver technical expertise and competitive positioning in a fast-paced environment. This is an exciting opportunity to influence major purchasing decisions and shape the digital transformation of industry-leading organizations.

Your Impact:
  • Manages a defined set of accounts serving as the primary influencer in purchasing decisions. Builds and sustains strong, long-term relationships with customers.
  • Collaborates with customers to understand their business goals, identify opportunities for upsell/cross-sell additional solutions, and create demand based on what's possible in customer roadmaps.
  • Serves as the Account Orchestrator, aligning and integrating solutions with customer needs, driving sustainable cross-portfolio growth through coordination and competitive deal packing.
  • Typically serves multiple domains or product areas across a portfolio or set of accounts.
  • Maintains a comprehensive understanding of Cisco's full product portfolio to articulate Cisco's overall product strategy and how it is differentiated in the market in response to customer outcomes.
  • Has a deep focus on core secure networking technologies including switching, wireless, and routing.
  • Engages Portfolio Solution Engineers to enhance the sales process.
  • Engages specialist teams, particularly in non-core secure networking areas, where deep competitive positioning and technical expertise is required.
  • Builds the sales funnel through good opportunity prospecting and drives opportunities through to sales completion to achieve revenue goals.
  • Ensures funnel is accurately represented in Cisco's CRM tools.
  • Analyses data and creates forecasts to set weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales commitments.
  • Stays informed about industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes.
  • Specialization and Focus - Generalist, with knowledge of the full product portfolio but with expertise in the core secure networking portfolio including switching, wireless, routing and firewall. Additional dependencies on size and complexity of account, particular franchise focus (architectural, product or opportunity aligned ) may be relevant


What You'll Do:
  • Manages end-to-end deal cycles of moderate to high complexity independently. Typically prospects new deals and develops accounts:
  • Within a large regional or small national area associated with mid-to-high Cisco segmentation tiers (e.g., Major Accounts)
  • With senior level management to C-suite leaders
  • Provides insight/feedback into dynamic data sources to ensure high-value prospecting, strategic outreach, and a strong forecast and pipeline
  • Develops in-depth understanding of customer(s) product(s), organization, industry, challenges, to align Cisco's solutions with decision-makers; researches other relevant solutions as required
  • Leverages market insights, emerging technologies, and competitive analysis in customer-facing materials, demos etc.
  • Uses broad and targeted discovery to uncover nuanced customer needs, and coordinate tailored solutions
  • Builds trust with customers by actively listening, providing relevant insights, and strengthening relationships with key organizational influencers
  • Independently negotiates standard deals by articulating compelling value propositions, addressing customer priorities, and ensuring follow-through on commitments that balance customer needs with Cisco's profitability
  • Manages the account planning process with own team; works with SE and others to develop prospect proposal or customer/account plans
  • Uses standard and occasional non-standard methods to describe Cisco solution value and address customer challenges in discovery conversations
  • Identifies and documents inefficiencies in internal sales processes, and implements improvements to internal approval workflows, and operational tools
  • Engages with sales operations and finance teams to resolve deal-processing roadblocks before they impact revenue timelines
  • Actively collaborates with colleagues to solve customer challenges


Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience, or PhD + 0 years of related experience.


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

The starting salary range posted for this position is $214,300.00 to $270,700.00 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 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:
$214,300.00 - $315,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$204,400.00 - $297,100.00

* 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.

About Cisco

Cisco Careers

Join the vibrant team at Cisco, a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, where innovation and leadership thrive. Cisco offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences, making it an ideal place for both seasoned professionals and those seeking an internship to jumpstart their career. Work You’ll Do At Cisco, you’ll be part of a culture that values diversity, leadership, and professional growth. Engage in work that matters with a team that combines technology, creativity, and the power of human connection to redefine networking. Cisco’s commitment to innovation isn’t just about technology, but also about transforming the way we work and collaborate. Cisco’s employment philosophy supports career advancement and nurtures a leadership pipeline that is equipped with diversity training and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re applying your skills to drive our latest innovations or using our vast networking capabilities to solve complex problems, at Cisco, every role is impactful. Join Our Dynamic Team Explore job opportunities in areas ranging from engineering to marketing, sales to cybersecurity. Cisco is hiring individuals who are passionate, curious, and ready to drive change. Positions at Cisco offer competitive benefits, a supportive culture, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technology. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Cisco internship. Gain invaluable industry experience, enhance your resume, and build professional networks that last a lifetime. Our internships provide hands-on experience and the chance to work on projects that matter. Leadership and Development Cisco is committed to fostering leadership skills and providing employees with the training needed to succeed. Our leadership programs help you develop new skills, manage teams effectively, and lead with confidence. Cisco’s commitment to professional development ensures that your career path is as dynamic as our technologies. Benefits and Culture Cisco understands the importance of a balanced life. Our benefits package is designed to ensure that our team members are healthy, happy, and secure. At Cisco, you’ll find a supportive culture that encourages open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect. Stay Connected Join Cisco’s Talent Network Stay informed about new positions that match your skills and interests. At Cisco, we value the curiosity and unique perspectives of our team members. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and insider tips directly from our hiring managers. Explore Cisco Jobs Ready to advance your career at Cisco? Search open positions, prepare your resume, and get ready for an interview that could lead to your next big opportunity. At Cisco, we’re not just filling positions—we’re investing in leaders. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at Cisco.
Learn more about Cisco
Size
79,500 employees
Market Cap
$194.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$10.1 billion
Founded
2014
5 Year Trend
+1.4%
Revenue
$48 billion
NASDAQ

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