Director, Small Business Product Management

About the role

The Director of Product Management for the Small Business (SMB) portfolio will serve as a pivotal strategic leader, driving the vision and execution for a global business unit. This role requires operating at the nexus of engineering, sales, and marketing to define and deliver simple, secure, and scalable networking solutions. The incumbent will be responsible for shaping the long-term trajectory of the SMB portfolio, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of Cisco’s growth strategy while fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.

Responsibilities

• Architect the long-term product vision and multi-year roadmap, ensuring rigorous alignment with Cisco’s corporate objectives and market evolution.
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-caliber team of product managers. Cultivate a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence, consistently driving the team toward high-impact outcomes.
• Maintain full lifecycle accountability for the SMB networking portfolio, including ethernet switching, wireless access, routing, and cloud-native management platforms. Own the strategic business outcomes and financial performance of the unit.
• Partner with senior engineering leadership to prioritize development cycles and ensure high-quality, scalable delivery. Influence internal stakeholders and executive leadership to secure support and resources for key initiatives.
• Act as the primary spokesperson for the SMB business. Engage with industry analysts, customers, and partners to articulate Cisco’s market-leading value proposition and shape the competitive landscape.
• Drive complex, channel-driven go-to-market strategies by collaborating with global sales and channel leadership to maximize market penetration and customer lifetime value.

Requirements

• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in product management within the technology sector, with a proven track record of managing complex portfolios.
• 6+ years of extensive experience navigating and scaling channel-driven business models in a global context.
• 5+ years of experience in the SMB market, with a demonstrated ability to drive significant revenue growth and market share expansion.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of skills and experience.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a sales or business development leadership role, providing deep insight into the customer journey and buying behavior.
• Direct experience managing a P&L for a business unit exceeding $100M+ in annual revenue.
• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) or equivalent executive industry experience.
• Technical fluency in networking architectures, specifically ethernet switching, wireless, routing, and cloud-based management ecosystems.
• Proven capacity to inspire and lead large, diverse teams, fostering professional growth and high-performance standards.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence, with the ability to influence at the highest levels of the organization and external partner ecosystem.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and visioning.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience with product management methodologies and tools.

Benefits

At Cisco, employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• A 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long-term disability coverage.
• Basic life insurance.

Employees may also be eligible for additional paid time off, grants of Cisco restricted stock units, and performance-based incentives.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $230,100.00 to $325,300.00, reflecting the projected salary range for new hires in U.S. and Canadian locations. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training.

Schedule

The incumbent will need to be in the Bay Area (San Jose/Milpitas) and be onsite in the office 3-4 days per week.