The application window is expected to close on 11/8/24

Location: West Coast or East Coast Remote

Who You Are

You are a critical thinker, resourceful and understand the power of language during times of uncertainty. You thrive in a fast-paced, constantly evolving, and highly collaborative environment. You are adept at analyzing issues, assessing reputation risk, and providing critical communications counsel for day to day and sophisticated issues.

Who You'll Work With

Cisco Global Communications is a team of world class communications professionals including PR, Analyst Relations, International Communications, Employee Communications, Social Media, and Strategy and Storytelling. Business Critical Communications is part of Cisco's corporate and technology PR team.

What You’ll Do

Play a pivotal role in protecting and handling Cisco’s reputation during times of crisis or uncertainty. You will lead communications while working with teams and leaders across the business to prepare for and handle crisis and issues thoughtfully, calmly and with confidence. The essence of this role is to help Cisco understand the issue at hand by engaging the right technical and business authorities and determining efficient proactive or reactive communications strategy taking into consideration all collaborators.

You will partner with a cross functional team of Cisco communicators, subject matter authorities, and senior leaders who are passionate about making sound decisions to protect our business and support our customers while maintaining trust and transparency. Areas of focus include communications strategy and rapid response for cybersecurity incidents, customer escalations, product and service issues, litigation, geopolitical and societal issues, and more. In most cases, you will lead a virtual team across PR, AR, IR, social media, employee, customer, and partner communications to drive strategy alignment and ensure message consistency across audiences. You will also develop proactive PR strategies, creative pitch ideas and in some cases lead media engagement directly.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Serve as a leader on the Business Critical Communications team which involves team mentoring, and bringing expertise and execution to the management of issues and crises communications for Cisco.
• Develop and execute essential communications to position Cisco during a crisis or incident.
• Cultivate positive relationships with Cisco executives, business partners, communication colleagues, and key media.
• Supervise and assess evolving issues and breaking news across the media landscape, develop recommendations and implement communications approach.
• Serve as a communications advisor to senior leaders and cross-functional teams assembled to address an issue and provide guidance on reputational risk in the context of issues, policies, and company decisions.
• Build messaging and content under time constraints and ensure alignment while taking into consideration the outstanding needs of multiple stakeholders/audiences.
• Maintain an understanding of the broader business and technology landscape, with a “finger on the pulse” of relevant external issues and trends that could impact Cisco’s business and reputation.
• Stay abreast of trends in crisis response, corporate reputation management and communications broadly to ensure Cisco is industry-leading in its approach and capabilities.
• Be the calm in the storm during intense or stressful situations.
• Adept at synthesizing and explaining sophisticated topics.
• Outstanding verbal and written communicator with ability to build high-quality, easy to understand communications including messaging, media statements and FAQs.
• Be comfortable communicating and engaging with executives—able to effectively articulate a recommended communications approach, gather perspectives and drive alignment.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills—the details matter. Ability to balance ambitious priorities, and work through ambiguity.
• General knowledge of Cisco markets, products, and technologies to help frame and contextualize communications.

Minimum Requirements

-BA/BS degree

-15+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, crisis or corporate communications.

-Crisis Communications required for consideration.

-Experience working in public affairs a plus.

-Experience leading crisis, issues, and rapid response.

-Experience with financial communications including earnings and M&A a plus.

-Experience spotting trends, supervising for emerging or active issues and "seeing around corners” to identify potential reputation risks.

-Adept at synthesizing and explaining sophisticated topics.

Why Cisco?

#WeAreCisco. We are all unique, but collectively we bring our talents to work as a team, to develop innovative technology and power a more inclusive, digital future for everyone. How do we do it? Well, for starters – with people like you!

Nearly every internet connection around the world touches Cisco. We’re the Internet’s optimists. Our technology makes sure the data traveling at light speed across connections does so securely, yet it’s not what we make but what we make happen which marks us out. We’re helping those who work in the health service to connect with patients and each other; schools, colleges, and universities to teach in even the most challenging of times. We’re helping businesses of all shapes and sizes to connect with their employees and customers in new ways, providing people with access to the digital skills they need and connecting the most remote parts of the world – whether through 5G, or otherwise.

We tackle whatever challenges come our way. We have each other’s backs, we recognize our accomplishments, and we grow together. We celebrate and support one another – from big and small things in life to big career moments. And giving back is in our DNA (we get 10 days off each year to do just that).

We know that powering an inclusive future starts with us. Because without diversity and a dedication to equality, there is no moving forward. Our 30 Inclusive Communities, that bring people together around commonalities or passions, are leading the way. Together we’re committed to learning, listening, caring for our communities, whilst supporting the most vulnerable with a collective effort to make this world a better place either with technology, or through our actions.

So, you have colorful hair? Don’t care. Tattoos? Show off your ink. Like polka dots? That’s cool. Pop culture geek? Many of us are. Passion for technology and world changing? Be you, with us! #WeAreCisco

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings. Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday, plus a day off for their birthday. Employees accrue up to 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) each year and have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues without tapping into their PTO. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community. Employees are also able to purchase company stock through our Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

.75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.