Executive Assistant, EVP, Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer

This is an exceptionally dynamic role given the internal and external breadth of this office. Key responsibilities include running an active and sophisticated calendar; long-term calendar planning; setting and driving upon offsite agendas; completing expense reports; composing and preparing confidential correspondence; coordinating sophisticated and detailed travel plans, itineraries, briefs, and agendas; and compiling documents for travel-related meetings.

• Communicate directly, and on behalf of the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer, with Board members, members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Senior Leadership as well as customers and partners on matters related to day-to-day business.
• Research, prioritize, and follow up on incoming issues and concerns addressed to the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer including those of a critical or confidential nature. This includes resolving appropriate course of action, referral, or response.
• Provide a bridge for smooth communications between the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer’s office and internal departments; demonstrating leadership to maintain credibility, trust, and support with the 3PO’s senior management team.
• Work closely and effectively with the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer and her office to keep everyone well-informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities and gather input as needed along with appropriate and swift follow up. You will act as a "barometer," having a sense of the issues taking place in the environment and keeping the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer updated.
• Possess a strong business sense and understanding of the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer’s business priorities.
• Prepare travel briefs and documents and coordinate with the Cisco Executive Protection team for domestic and international travel for the 3PO and her office.
• Successfully complete critical aspects of results with a hands-on approach, including drafting acknowledgment letters, personal correspondence, and other tasks that facilitate the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer’s ability to optimally lead her office.
• Prioritize conflicting needs, handle matters expeditiously and proactively, and follow-through on projects to successful completion, often with tight deadline pressures.
• Assist in coordinating weekly meetings for the 3P leadership team and as well as setting, scheduling, and running the agenda for domestic and international offsite meetings.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills that reflect the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Exhibit strong interpersonal skills and can easily establish relationships with partners, including staff, board members, and external stakeholders.
• Take a proactive approach to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability.
• Act as a highly resourceful team-player who is also very effective independently.
• Maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion and be adaptable to various challenging demands.
• Execute the highest level of customer/client service and response time.
• Achieve high-performance goals and meet deadlines in a constantly evolving environment.
• Be a forward-looking problem solver who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Act as a mentor to the 3P Executive Administrative team supporting the 3P Executive Leadership Team and participate in a cross-functional EA network.
• Meet with Administrative HR recruiting contact to discuss upcoming and pending 3P opportunities.

In addition to general administrative duties of an Executive Assistant, the critical behaviors of this role are:

• Flexibility and ability to adapt to the constant changing priorities.
• Ability to anticipate the needs of the 3PO and her office.
• To represent the Office of the 3PO with a voice of compassion and thoughtfulness
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work with limited direction with a take-charge
• Solution-oriented demeanor
• Use tact, subtlety and a practical knowledge of company policies, practices, and procedures.
• Highly responsive to all levels of inquiry
• Challenge “the way we’ve always done it” demeanor and always strive for a more creative way of doing things.
• Keep the big picture in mind while being realistic when making independent decisions that affect the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer’s calendar.
• Exercise critical and independent judgment when it comes to the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer’s time and priorities.
• Think creatively and calmly when unplanned changes in schedules present themselves.

The Executive Assistant to the Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer corresponds directly with others who are essential to the company's success, including customers, partners, the Communications team, and Cisco’s 3P leadership team.

You have high-energy with a real passion for thinking bigger and broader than the role itself. This position requires strong interpersonal skills, independent judgment, collaborative decision-making, utmost integrity, and trust as well as bringing balance to both strategic and tactical actions.

• 8+ years’ experience in the administrative environment. A minimum of 4 years’ experience supporting at the SVP level. Prior C-suite level support experience preferred.
• Preferred: BA/BS or equivalent experience; past work experience in the high-tech industry
• Thorough knowledge of Windows desktop computer applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experienced in meeting planning.
• Ability to navigate web and email at a high competency.
• Ability to prioritize and lead multiple tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to connect with Executive/Senior staff and clients.
• Works in an organized and focused manner. Detail-oriented.
• San Jose-based
• Ability to work Global Office Hours

#WeAreCisco, where each person is unique, but we bring our talents to work as a team and make a difference powering an inclusive future for all.

We embrace digital, and help our customers implement change in their digital businesses. Some may think we’re “old” (36 years strong) and only about hardware, but we’re also a software company. And a security company. We even invented an intuitive network that adapts, predicts, learns and protects. No other company can do what we do – you can’t put us in a box!

But “Digital Transformation” is an empty buzz phrase without a culture that allows for innovation, creativity, and yes, even failure (if you learn from it.)

Day to day, we focus on the give and take. We give our best, give our egos a break, and give of ourselves (because giving back is built into our DNA.) We take accountability, bold steps, and take difference to heart. Because without diversity of thought and a dedication to equality for all, there is no moving forward.

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!

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.