Risk Manager, Third Party Risk Management

Application window expected to close on 10/11/2026.

About the role

Meet the Team Global Procurement Services (GPS) is responsible for the enterprise-wide procurement of all Cisco indirect goods, services, and labor. GPS is a key partner to all regional, global and strategic Cisco businesses and performs sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and buying activities. The successful candidate will partner with key internal collaborators in GPS and across the enterprise to drive and ensure our supplier risk is reduced and protect Cisco financially as well as our brand. The team is responsible for providing information that will enable our collaborators to make risk-aware decisions through more hard‑working risk management programs and methodologies—driving business performance and better outcomes.

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. 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter advisor for third party (supplier) risk with high levels of influence on evolving GPS’s approach to supplier risk
• Build, implement, supervise and assess risk frameworks to adapt to changing risk environments, both at supplier onboarding and during the supplier life cycle
• Conduct vendor risk assessments and tier supplier by inherent and residual risk
• Build and implement remediation plans where risk is identified
• Implement effective metrics to drive overall risk scoring and target setting for risk reductions
• Advise collaborators on making risk‑aware decisions through more thoughtful risk management programs and methodologies—driving business performance and better outcomes
• Consult with collaborators regarding standard methodologies related to third party risk
• Help to implement and operate our end‑to‑end supplier risk program

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience leading third party risk management programs required
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required
• Advanced degree in a related field preferred
• Experience in global roles, prioritizing multiple stakeholders, and influencing diverse audiences at all levels
• Experience implementing critical initiatives in a sophisticated global environment
• Ability to be essential and use strong judgment and discretion in guiding collaborators on standard methodologies
• Preferred experience in finance or data analytics and operational improvement experience (agile, Six Sigma, etc.)

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Experience using Ariba/Smart Buy/SAP risk modules
• Critical thinker who strives to tackle sophisticated problems and can drive lasting change
• Naturally establishes links and quickly gains the trust of others
• Enjoys a fast pace and embraces ambiguity
• Strong desire to craft and lead the success of Cisco’s supplier risk program
• Works independently with minimal direct supervision and can lead cross‑functional teams using judgment