Cisco

Customer Program Manager

Cisco$130K — $180K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years, Master's degree with 6+ years, or Doctoral degree with 3+ years of relevant experience
  • Current PMP certification or equivalent
  • Experience managing complex, customer-facing projects in Professional Services or comparable settings
  • Practical experience leveraging AI and automation to drive measurable outcomes
  • Strong communication and problem-solving skills for executive-level interactions

Responsibilities

  • Lead customer projects from initiation to completion utilizing Cisco technologies
  • Translate customer needs into effective delivery plans and measurable outcomes
  • Manage all aspects of project performance including budget, scope, and quality
  • Coordinate and present program performance to stakeholders, including financial metrics and risks
  • Implement governance and risk management practices to ensure project success
  • Utilize Agile or Waterfall methodologies tailored to project and customer requirements
  • Apply technical expertise to connect delivery efforts with business outcomes

Benefits

  • Access to advanced AI and automation tools to enhance work processes
  • Opportunities for professional development and certification
  • Supportive and collaborative work environment
  • Engagement with a variety of Cisco technologies and services
  • Chance to build a strong network within Cisco and its customer base
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 08/26/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

*This is for a role in Pittsburgh and you should be located in Pittsburgh*

This role leads complex, customer-facing programs across Cisco technologies and services, translating customer priorities into coordinated execution and measurable business outcomes. The Customer Program Manager is accountable for driving delivery performance, stakeholder alignment, financial discipline, governance, risk management, and continuous improvement across the program lifecycle, supported by responsible use of AI and automation.

Who You Are
  • You are an experienced Customer Program Manager with strong strategic, operational, financial, and technical judgment. You build trusted stakeholder relationships, navigate ambiguity and risk, and use data, automation, and approved AI tools to improve delivery while protecting sensitive information and maintaining human accountability.
  • You actively apply AI and automation to improve how you plan, manage, analyze, communicate, and deliver work. Your experience goes beyond basic chatbot use and includes applying AI-enabled workflows, automation, agents, or similar capabilities to solve business problems and produce measurable improvements in productivity, quality, speed, or delivery outcomes.


Key Responsibilities
  • Lead customer projects and programs across Cisco technologies and services from initiation through closure.
  • Translate customer priorities into program strategies, roadmaps, delivery plans, milestones, and measurable business outcomes.
  • Manage scope, schedule, budget, quality, financial performance, customer satisfaction, risks, dependencies, and change.
  • Coordinate internal and external stakeholders and present program performance, financials, risks, recommendations, and decision points to executive audiences.
  • Establish program governance, communications, escalation, risk-management, and change-control practices; identify issues early and lead mitigation and recovery planning.
  • Manage forecasting, invoicing, revenue, cost, margin, and accurate reporting across Cisco Systems.
  • Apply Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery methods based on program and customer needs while maintaining Cisco delivery, financial, contractual, documentation, and operational standards.
  • Apply technical knowledge to shape delivery plans, manage integration points, and connect technical execution to customer and business outcomes.
  • Coach project and program managers and promote consistent delivery practices, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
  • Apply approved AI, analytics, and automation tools to improve planning, reporting, forecasting, risk detection, communications, and program closeout.
  • Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort and improve productivity, quality, cycle time, and delivery outcomes through practical use of AI and automation.
  • Validate AI-assisted outputs and automation for accuracy, relevance, customer context, appropriate controls, and traceability.
  • Maintain human accountability for customer commitments, financial actions, approvals, and decisions informed by AI.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, Master's degree with 6+ years, doctoral degree with 3+ years, or equivalent relevant work experience.
    Current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute or a comparable recognized project management certification.
  • Progressive project or program-management experience delivering complex, customer-facing engagements within Professional Services, management consulting, systems integration, or comparable enterprise services environments.
  • Demonstrated practical experience applying AI, automation, AI-enabled workflows, or agents beyond basic conversational or chatbot use, including at least one example with measurable or clearly defined business or operational impact.
  • Strong executive and customer-facing communication, presentation, facilitation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to think on your feet and navigate ambiguity.
  • Ability to translate technical concepts, delivery performance, and data into measurable customer and business outcomes.

New Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience within leading management consulting, technology consulting, systems integration, or enterprise Professional Services organizations.
  • Experience applying AI-enabled tools, automation, or agents to project management, PMO, service-delivery, or operational processes, with demonstrated ability to articulate the resulting business value.
  • Working knowledge of Cisco architectures, technologies, business processes, operational tools, and service-delivery practices.
  • PMI-CPMAI, PgMP, Agile, Scrum, ITIL, change-management, financial-management, Cisco technical, or other relevant professional certifications.

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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