Senior Director - Chief of Staff & Strategic Operations Leader

Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Chief of Staff and Strategic Operations Leader to partner closely with senior management in enhancing and scaling an extensive organization comprising about 500 team members. This role extends beyond traditional operational duties, encompassing shaping organizational strategy, overseeing execution aligned with business priorities, and instituting effective planning, governance, and operational frameworks to facilitate scalable team performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior executives to drive strategic planning and execution by translating business goals into actionable roadmaps, prioritization, governance, and success metrics across the organization.
• Lead organizational and workforce strategies, including headcount forecasting, budgeting, operational effectiveness, and evolving operating models in partnership with Finance and HR.
• Support leadership by steering strategic programs, managing cross-departmental initiatives, facilitating executive decisions, and generating data-driven analyses and recommendations.
• Promote operational excellence by refining planning cycles, business rhythms such as quarterly reviews, governance structures, performance metrics, and scalable operational models to boost productivity and execution speed.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across Product, Engineering, Sales, Customer Success, Finance, and HR to align priorities, manage dependencies, and maintain focus on customer and business goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in strategic operations, management consulting, business transformation, program leadership, or similar roles.
• Proven track record supporting complex organizations with over 300 employees through periods of growth or transformation.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and align multiple stakeholder groups without direct authority.
• Expertise in organizational planning, workforce strategy, operating model development, portfolio management, and executing strategic initiatives.
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills, comfortable navigating ambiguity and making data-backed recommendations.

Preferred Experience

• Experience leading large-scale multi-team initiatives across business functions.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills for executive and board-level audiences.
• Good business judgment balancing strategic thought and tactical execution.
• History of challenging established processes and implementing innovative improvements.

Additional Information

The employment location is anywhere within the U.S. The application window closes on July 24, 2026, or sooner if the position is filled. Salary for this role ranges from $287,200 to $364,300 annually, varying by location and excluding incentives, equity, and benefits.

Employees in the U.S. receive comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) matching contributions, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and life insurance. Paid time off includes 10 holidays plus one floating holiday, birthday leave, wellness days, vacation accruals, and sick leave. Additional paid time off and volunteer days are offered. Sales roles have performance-based bonuses with no minimum thresholds.

Cisco is committed to fostering innovation and creating technologies that bridge the physical and digital worlds, delivering rich customer experiences through collaboration and empathy.