Director, Strategic Planning

The application window is expected to close on: 07/23/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received .

Meet the Team

Global Communications is a team of more than 150 best-in-class communications professionals. Our mission is to protect and improve Cisco's reputation through innovative and thought-provoking storytelling, execution excellence and transparency. The PR team is responsible for leading Cisco's corporate and technology PR programs, as well as crafting and delivering clear and compelling narratives that grab the attention of media and influencers.

Your Impact

Cisco is seeking a dynamic Chief of Staff to partner with the VP of Public Relations in shaping the PR function for a company at the forefront of the AI revolution. This role requires a seasoned PR professional who combines strategic leadership with hands-on PR expertise. You will serve as a critical force in architecting and scaling the organization's impact-driving operational excellence, strategic alignment, and world-class execution across the PR team. You will work cross-functionally with senior leaders across public relations and the broader Global Communications organization, ensuring the PR organization delivers a vision and measurable results. Additionally, this role will require adaptability to independently lead strategic PR initiatives, provide direct PR support as needed, and cover for team members to maintain continuity and momentum.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee PR Organizational Operations at Scale: Provide executive leadership and direction for all operational aspects of the global PR function, including strategic planning rhythms, executive meetings, internal communications, and high-level documentation-ensuring seamless alignment and execution across multiple teams and geographies.
• Integrated Planning PR: Shape PR's strategy and engagement within the integrated planning motion across quarterly business reviews (QBRs), major company moments, communications measurement, and cross-functional planning. Define how the PR organization partners with integrated planning by establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and operating rhythms that drive alignment and consistent execution.
• Adaptable PR IC Independently run strategic PR initiatives when needed, including media campaigns and executive communications, demonstrating deep PR functional expertise. Provide direct PR support and coverage for team members during absences to ensure continuity of operations and maintain high standards of execution.
• Champion Data-Driven Performance & Business Alignment: Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of robust KPIs and performance measurement frameworks. Ensure clear alignment between PR objectives and broader business priorities, delivering actionable insights and driving accountability at all organizational levels.
• Stewardship of Budget & Resource Optimization: In partnership with Strategy, Planning, and Operations, provide strategic oversight for budget planning, financial discipline, and vendor management. Ensure optimal allocation of resources to maximize impact and efficiency across the PR organization.
• Architect Operational Excellence: Develop and continually refine scalable, innovative processes that enhance agility, foster transparency, and accelerate collaboration across the PR organization and with cross-functional partners.
• Drive High-Impact, Cross-Company Initiatives: Lead the conception, mobilization, and executive execution of critical, cross-functional programs and strategic initiatives. Ensure these efforts are delivered with urgency, accountability, and measurable business outcomes, positioning Cisco at the forefront of communications excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• 14+ years of progressive experience in public relations, communications operations, strategy, or large-scale program management within complex, global organizations.
• Demonstrated success advising and partnering directly with executive leadership teams in high-impact, dynamic environments.
• Exceptional executive communication skills, with a proven ability to develop and deliver compelling presentations, reports, and business cases to senior audiences.
• Operational understanding of budget oversight, resource management, HR functions, and the use of metrics to drive business decisions.
• Proven ability to independently lead PR initiatives and provide hands-on PR execution as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with enterprise technology, Fortune 500, or global communications organizations, with a track record of driving transformation and operational excellence at scale.
• Deep expertise across public relations and communications disciplines, including media relations and executive/CEO communications.
• Understanding of external agency operations and management.
• Proven ability to influence, collaborate, and build consensus at the executive and cross-functional leadership level within highly matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, organizational excellence, and a solutions-oriented mindset, with a strong bias for action and the ability to drive results in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

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

The starting salary range posted for this position is $230,000.00 to $289,800.00 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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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:

$230,000.00 - $333,300.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$207,000.00 - $300,000.00

* 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.