Program Manager

This role is the primary driver of the end-to-end lifecycle for strategic customer-facing programs at Cisco. You will be accountable for orchestrating the entire engagement,from initiation through to closure,ensuring that scope, financial health, and quality standards are met while acting as a vital link between the customer’s business goals and Cisco’s strategic delivery objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead large-scale, complex programs across the full project lifecycle
• Define the roadmap, execute the delivery plan, and monitor performance to ensure that all workstreams are synchronized with Cisco’s delivery standards and the customer's desired business outcomes
• Maintain absolute rigor over financial health by managing budget execution, conducting accurate forecasting, and ensuring transparent revenue and margin reporting
• Serve as a trusted advisor to high-value leaders, including IT and CXO-level stakeholders
• Cultivate deep, enduring customer relationships, expand footprint through identified opportunities, and act as a bridge between the customer and internal Cisco teams
• Champion the modernisation of delivery through the application of AI and automation tools

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years, or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Proven experience leading large-scale, cross-functional programs within a global, technology-driven environment
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
• Demonstrable expertise in financial management (forecasting, P&L, budget execution) and delivery governance in an enterprise context

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional advanced certifications in Program Management or Agile methodologies
• CPMAI (Cognitive Project Management for AI) certification
• Industry-recognized technical certifications (e.g., CCST, CCNP, or cloud-specific credentials)
• Experience in contract negotiation, SOW drafting, and managing complex vendor/partner relationships
• Demonstrated history of using AI-driven analytics to improve project health, risk detection, and automated reporting
• Track record of providing mentorship, coaching, and influencing organizational norms in a large-scale services business