Cisco GTM Lead
Role Summary

The Cisco GTM Lead will own and drive Cognizant's go-to-market strategy and execution for the Cisco relationship, acting as the central point of coordination between Cognizant and Cisco stakeholders. This role is responsible for maximizing joint business value by aligning practice capabilities with Cisco's business priorities, co-developing offerings, driving pipeline and revenue growth, and ensuring consistent governance and reporting across the partnership.
Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder & Relationship Management
• Serve as the primary point of contact between Cognizant and Cisco stakeholders across sales, delivery, and partnership functions.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key Cisco counterparts (sales, alliance, and technical leadership) as well as internal Cognizant leadership and account teams.
• Facilitate regular cadence meetings (QBRs, monthly/weekly syncs) to align priorities, resolve escalations, and track joint initiatives.

Offering Development
• Partner with practice teams (Cloud, Infrastructure, Security, AI/Automation) to identify, shape, and develop joint offerings and solutions aligned to Cisco's GTM priorities.
• Translate Cisco product/platform roadmaps into actionable Cognizant service offerings.
• Work with solutioning and delivery teams to ensure offerings are market-ready, differentiated, and competitively positioned.

Go-to-Market Execution
• Take developed offerings to clients - coordinating with account teams to identify relevant opportunities and driving joint pitches where applicable.
• Support proposal development, client presentations, and deal structuring for Cisco-aligned opportunities.
• Identify white space and cross-sell/upsell opportunities within existing Cognizant accounts where Cisco offerings can be embedded.

Pipeline & Performance Tracking
• Own the tracking, reporting, and forecasting of the Cisco-aligned pipeline, including TCV, deal stages, and expected closures.
• Provide regular performance updates to leadership on joint GTM progress, wins, losses, and course corrections.
• Maintain a scorecard/dashboard of key metrics (pipeline value, conversion rates, revenue realized, partner-sourced vs. Cognizant-sourced deals).

Governance & Enablement
• Ensure adherence to partnership governance frameworks and escalation protocols.
• Drive internal enablement - briefing sales teams, sharing playbooks, and ensuring consistent messaging on Cisco offerings across the organization.
• Coordinate contractual, commercial, and compliance aspects of the partnership as needed.
Required Qualifications
• 10-15+ years of experience in IT services sales, business development, or alliance/partnership management, with exposure to hyperscaler or OEM partnerships (Cisco experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships and driving joint GTM outcomes.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure, networking, security, and/or cloud domains (Cisco portfolio knowledge a plus).
• Experience in offering/solution development, working cross-functionally with practice and delivery teams.
• Strong commercial acumen - comfortable owning pipeline numbers, forecasting, and revenue reporting.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with ability to operate at both executive and operational levels.
Preferred Skills
• Familiarity with Cisco's partner ecosystem, certifications, or GTM programs.
• Experience with CRM/pipeline tools for tracking and reporting (Salesforce, etc.).
• Prior experience managing alliance relationships with OEMs/technology partners in a similar capacity.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is between $160,000-$175,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual bonus program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, based on applicable law.

A Good fit for the Cognizant culture

A person who possesses a true passion for changing organizations for the better, and desires to do so within a goal, yet professional atmosphere filled with business professionals who all manifest a belief in partnership, innovation, and excellence. Our "Cultural Value Drivers" are well-known and clearly communicated within the organization: Open, Visible, Motivated, Empowered, Opportunity-Filled, Flexible & Collaborative.

Work Authorization

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or any time in the future.