AI Products Partnership Lead

The application window is expected to close on 10/10/25.

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

This position requires that you work in a hybrid model and you are within commuting distance to the San Francisco, CA and San Jose, CA offices. Days per week in the office are flexible.

Meet the Team

Join our dynamic team focusing on developing and supporting technology partnerships that enhance Cisco's product portfolio. As part of Cisco's Business Development and Partnerships Team, we focus on fostering strategic partnerships that enhance Cisco’s presence in the AI ecosystem. Collaborating across Cisco’s businesses, we aim to position Cisco as a leader in enabling AI-driven solutions while delivering transformative value to our partners and customers.

Your Impact

As the Business Development Manager - AI Partnerships, you will play a pivotal role in building, maintaining, and advancing Cisco’s presence in the AI ecosystem. You’ll build and maintain strategic partnerships, identify growth opportunities, and align Cisco’s strengths with the needs of the AI landscape. Your work will directly contribute to the development of innovative solutions that address emerging market demands in an evolving space.

• Collaborate with product groups to align AI partnership strategies with Cisco’s core strengths and develop and execute partner support plans for innovation, enablement, marketing, and co-selling.
• Provide insights into emerging AI and market trends, articulate Cisco’s positioning within the ecosystem, and develop creative solutions for localized initiatives.
• Identifying, evaluating and supporting AI-focused partnership opportunities with key players in the industry, including startups, Hyperscalers, semiconductors and ecosystem partners.
• Build and nurture relationships with technical and business partners across the AI ecosystem while working cross-functionally with Cisco’s product, engineering, sales, marketing, and legal teams to ensure successful partnership outcomes.
• Manage all aspects of the program, including governance, business planning, return on investment analysis, and metrics reporting, while identifying areas for enhancement and implementing solutions to accelerate growth.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years experience in a Product Management, Technical Marketing or Partnerships role.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing market data and sales metrics to support strategic decision-making.

Must have experience in one of the following areas:

• Experience in driving partnerships and leading go-to-market initiatives for dynamic, high-performing companies OR
• Experience in the areas of either cloud infrastructure, semiconductors, or Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning OR
• Experience handling the end-to-end product lifecycle for consumer or enterprise offerings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills with a strategic approach, demonstrating the ability to influence senior executives and lead solution sales across matrixed teams.
• Experience thriving in an ambiguous, fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to navigate cross-functional teams to achieve goals.
• Demonstrate adaptability and comfort with ambiguity in a rapidly evolving industry while driving strategic business plan development and delivering measured outcomes.
• A passion for AI-driven innovation with a strong interest in the AI landscape, including trends, technologies, and key players, striving to shape the future of technology.
• A broad understanding of Cisco’s products, services, and partner community to accelerate joint sales activities with strategic partners.

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. Simply put – we power the future.

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.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.