Director of Business Development User Protection Suite

The application window is reopened and is expected to close on:8/8/2025

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

Travel is expected and will be due to partner, Cisco-owned and partner owned events

Location US Remote Preference to West Coast/ Bay Area

Meet the Team

The Business Development & Partnerships team is a strategic function within Cisco’s central product organization, dedicated to encouraging innovation and driving growth through impactful technology partnerships. This team plays a critical role in:

• Developing technology partnerships to enhance Cisco’s product portfolio.
• Driving and enabling innovative customer-centric solutions in collaboration with technology partners.
• Supporting Cisco’s market expansion by leveraging partner ecosystems.
• Cross-functional collaboration across engineering, sales/GTM, corporate strategy, marketing and legal to align business development efforts with overall company strategy and positioning.

The team thrives with crafting long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that deliver measurable business outcomes while maintaining a focus on agility and adaptability in the fast-evolving technology landscape.

Your Impact

Cisco Systems is seeking a Director, Business Development with a focus on Cisco’s User Protection Suite to support a new Business Development & Partnerships practice for Security, that will be embedded in and aligned to our Security Product Organization under the Chief Product Officer. This leader will drive business growth and product innovation via technology partnerships in close collaboration with the VP, Business Development, Security and Product Leaders, CMOs, Heads of Product Management, and Heads of Sales, central GTM and Offer functions as well as the central Corporate Strategy and Alliances team.

Key responsibilities

1. Partnership Development : Establish and cultivate strategic alliances to boost product growth, unlock new markets, and build mutual value in the User Protection Suite.
2. Thought Leadership & Innovation : Drive business strategies for Cisco Security growth, forecast trends, and shape product direction in strategic partner environments.
3. Partnership Product/GTM Strategy : : Collaborate across teams to redefine roadmaps, ensuring strategic alignment and market responsiveness.
4. Deal Management : Structure and negotiate complex agreements, support due diligence for Security M&A targets, and align with strategic growth initiatives.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration : Facilitate partnership execution and represent senior product leaders in key meetings across the ecosystem.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• 10+ years in Business Development, Product Development, or Corporate Strategy & Planning roles, ideally with direct product management experience.
• Shown technical proficiency in Security technologies and current / future-forward technology landscapes

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA/Master’s degree
• Track record of developing new partnerships or alliances with industry-leading customers and partners in Security
• Experience influencing senior leadership -level partners in a complex, matrixed, and global ecosystem.
• Experience designing and implementing go-to-market strategies designed for growth and success.
• History of operational excellence with an ability to link strategy to execution.
• Thorough understanding and enthusiasm for Cisco’s product portfolio and User Protection Suite, with deep market intelligence and a comprehensive view of Cisco’s current and future market direction.
• Skilled in collaborating with cross-functional teams to align Cisco User Protection Suite roadmaps with strategic objectives and market demands.

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Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

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