Cisco

Director, Strategy & Planning

Cisco$200K — $258K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in management consulting, GTM strategy, or sales with leadership management.
  • Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
  • Proven experience focusing on strategy planning and transformation in a sales context.
  • Demonstrated success in leading strategy teams and developing talent.
  • Sales/GTM Strategy experience in the technology sector highly preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute long-term strategic sales growth plans through cross-functional partnerships.
  • Orchestrate integrated planning to ensure timely delivery of milestones.
  • Govern the Americas Specialist sales cadence, including operating models and procedures.
  • Partner with revenue operations on compensation and readiness activities.
  • Lead strategic sales initiatives aligned with organizational goals for global transformation.
  • Conduct market and competitive analyses to identify growth opportunities and inform strategy.
  • Communicate growth plans and priorities to senior executives and prepare for meetings.

Benefits

  • Dynamic environment focused on innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Opportunity to lead and develop a Sales GTM Strategy Planning & Operations team.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams including sales, marketing, and product.
  • Advocacy for change management practices within the organization.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 08/17/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Your Impact
As the Sales GTM Strategy, Planning & Operations Director reporting to the Senior Director, you will:

  • Build Growth Plan: Develop Annual/Long Range strategic sales growth plan through structure frameworks, partnerships with cross functional teams, and the build-out of a repeatable sales play engine. Design & operationalize growth priorities (including KPIs) with the structure PMO approach.
  • Holistic Planning Engine: Serve as the primary orchestrator for End-to-End planning (meaning bringing everything together that's Including GTM Strategy, Operations, Readiness, Recognition, Events) - which includes process, structure & milestone deliverables by partnering with cross functional groups. Ensure all tasks are meticulously captured, assigned, tracked, and driven to timely completion.
  • Run the Hub (Business Management System): Own and Govern Americas Specialist sales/SP&O cadence (Standard operating model / procedure / process / rhythm & run-of-show).
  • Operations Excellence: Partner with revenue operations & execution teams on key operations activities (Compensation, Readiness) & initiatives supporting the Specialist group.
  • Strategic Initiative Leadership: Identify, develop, and lead high-impact strategic sales initiatives that align with the organization's goals and drive transformation across global markets.
  • Conduct Strategic, Data-Driven Analyses (using Market Research, Business & Competitive intelligence): Identify levers to grow across discrete new, renew, and expand sales motions. Advise GTM strategy that supports growth and scale of the global business. Define and leverage GTM levers to instrument growth-driven programs in our business.
  • Advisory: Be a strategic partner & advisor to Specialist sales leader (VP/SVP) and support end to end on Strategy, Planning & Operations aspects of Specialist group.
  • People Leadership: Serve as a people leader and guide a dynamic Sales GTM Strategy Planning & Operations team by providing strategic guidance and insights to drive innovation and continuous improvement in sales practices.
  • Executive Communication: Tell the growth plan & priorities story in both what we need to do and how we will do to senior executives across sales, specialist, product business unit and executive leadership teams. Prepare Americas Sales Head / COO for the Board, ELT and SLT level strategic meetings and presentations.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholders, including sales, specialist, marketing, product development, and operations, to ensure alignment and successful execution of strategic initiatives.
  • Change Management: Advocate for and implement change management practices that facilitate the adoption of new strategies and processes within the sales organization.
  • Strategic Assessment: Assess how best to spend a $1 of coverage against what customers, regions, products to increase output, including key strategic questions around renewals, customer success, field roles and Sales organization structure/governance/design.

Minimum Qualifications
  • 10+ years of experience in management consulting, GTM strategy, strategy planning, or sales with people leadership/management.
  • Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Proven experience in management consulting or equivalent, focusing on strategy planning and transformation within a sales context.
  • Demonstrated success leading strategy teams and developing talent.
  • Sales/GTM Strategy experience in the technology sector highly preferred.
  • Strong skills in framing business problems, conducting complex quantitative and qualitative analysis, and building executive-level recommendations.
  • Experience translating business priorities into actionable GTM programs including offer creation, campaigns, and enablement.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and drive transformation in a complex global organization.
  • Self-starter with high initiative, able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Curious, flexible, and collaborative with a growth mindset and a fail-forward attitude.


The starting salary range posted for this position is $200,600.00 to $258,400.00 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:
$243,300.00 - $364,400.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$217,700.00 - $327,000.00

* 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
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