The application window is expected to close on: 10/08/2026
The preferred location for this position is North Carolina, operating under a hybrid work model, though we are open to flexible, US-based hybrid arrangements for the right candidate.
Your ImpactYou will play a foundational role in scaling Cisco's AI Programs & Governance function. You will operate at the intersection of strategy, technology, and policy, shaping the path for responsible AI innovation at scale. Your work will enable enterprise teams across Cisco to move fast and innovate safely, balancing business acceleration with risk management.
- Operationalize AI Policies & Standards: Partner with Security and Legal to define and operationalize clear, practical governance policies and technical standards for building, deploying, and scaling Enterprise AI Applications.
- Strengthen AI Tool Governance: Evolve the end-to-end process for evaluating and onboarding third-party AI tools in partnership with cross-functional teams - balancing innovation, risk management, speed, and cost discipline.
- Orchestrate Cross-Functional Engagement: Align partners across business and technology functions to drive decisions and coordinate enterprise-wide execution of AI governance priorities.
- Champion Enterprise Platform Adoption: Partner with Platform and Enablement teams to increase adoption and translate platform capabilities into tangible business outcomes, bringing technical fluency to business engagements.
- Accelerate AI Governance Technical Roadmap: Partner with Platform, Security, and IT teams to accelerate the delivery of technical capabilities required to automate AI governance at scale.
- Shape the Future of AI Governance: Monitor emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and industry best practices to continuously strengthen Cisco's enterprise AI Programs & Governance strategy and operating model.
Minimum Qualifications- 8+ years of experience in Software Engineering, Product Management, Technical Program Management, Management Consulting or a related field.
- Strong technical foundation, with the ability to engage credibly with both technical and business partners and translate complex technical concepts into clear business strategies and outcomes.
- Demonstrated experience establishing operating models, governance frameworks, or enterprise processes for AI / emerging technologies.
- Proven track record leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a large enterprise environment, from solution design through execution.
- Experience developing executive-level narratives, recommendations, and presentations that drive decisions and advance strategic initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications- MBA, advanced degree, or equivalent combination of technical background and practical business experience.
- Experience operating within a centralized AI Center of Excellence (CoE), Enterprise Transformation Office, or Chief Strategy/AI Organization.
- Working knowledge of enterprise AI governance standards, ethical AI frameworks, and regulatory landscapes (e.g., ISO/IEC 42001, EU AI Act, AIUC-1).
The starting salary range posted for this position is $128,400.00 to $191,600.00 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:
$173,400.00 - $265,200.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$161,300.00 - $235,500.00
* 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.
