[Hiring] Communications Manager @Cisco

Role Description

As the Communications Manager for Cisco’s Campus Networking Product Management organization, this role owns the communications strategy and end-to-end execution for how the team shows up internally, externally, and in high-visibility forums. The Communications Manager ensures our narrative is clear, compelling, and aligned with Cisco’s broader vision. This role reports to the Senior Director, Strategy & Planning (Chief of Staff to the SVP).

Your Impact:

• Partners closely with the SVP/GM and the Chief of Staff to amplify leadership presence across public forums, industry events, and internal engagements.
• Advises the SVP/GM and Chief of Staff on messaging, translates agreed priorities into clear, consistent communications, and maintains continuity of message and momentum.
• Owns end-to-end planning and execution for All Hands, leadership forums, internal events, and cross-functional showcases.
• Proactively manages the communications calendar, identifies risks and dependencies early, brings forward recommended solutions, and drives agreed actions through completion.
• Creates alignment and engagement by ensuring that leaders and employees receive timely, accurate, and coordinated communications about the organization’s priorities, decisions, and progress.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Own the annual and quarterly communications strategy and calendar across leadership, employee, product, customer, and external communications.
• Develop and edit executive and organizational communications, including presentations, talking points, All Hands content, leadership messages, announcements, email, and digital content.
• Partner across product, sales, marketing, operations, and other communications teams to gather input, reconcile feedback, align stakeholders, and drive content through final approval and delivery.
• Coordinate with Marketing and other cross-functional teams on public forums, industry events, media opportunities, and external communications.
• Define measures of communication effectiveness, track audience engagement, and use the findings to improve future communications.
• Serve as editorial lead for executive and organizational communications, ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, appropriate stakeholder review, and executive-ready quality.
• Manage the full communications portfolio, balancing high-visibility executive deliverables with communications that affect the broader organization.
• Create and manage workback plans for major communications and events, establish clear owners and review points, and escalate risks with recommended solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelors + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience, or PhD + 5 years of related experience in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience developing and executing communications strategies, including experience supporting senior executives in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Previous writing, editing, and editorial judgment skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and business topics for diverse audiences.
• Led cross-functional communications programs across multiple partner teams, such as Engineering, Marketing, Public Relations, and Sales.
• Developed executive communications and content for large internal or external audiences.
• Managed multiple concurrent communications initiatives using clear workback plans, review cycles, and delivery milestones.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to influence leaders and navigate fast paced, matrixed environments.
• Familiarity with digital communication tools, content management systems, and modern marketing platforms.
• Experience communicating complex technology and product strategy in a business-to-business technology environment.
• Experience using engagement data and analytics tools, such as Qualtrics or Tableau, to evaluate and improve communication effectiveness.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long-term disability coverage.
• Basic life insurance.
• 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.
• 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year for non-exempt employees.
• Flexible vacation time off program for exempt employees.
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter.
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer.