Strategy, Operations and Investment Programme Lead – Higher Education

Cisco

Business Development Manager driving CDA strategy within Higher Education at Cisco. Leading operational framework and investment programme while aligning with market needs and growth objectives.

Posted 5/9/2026full-timeLondon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Drive Operational Excellence: Establish and manage the governance framework for the Higher Education CDA programme, ensuring all projects are delivered efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with Cisco standards.
Lead and Mentor: Provide leadership to a cross-functional team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Monitor Programme Performance: Implement robust tracking mechanisms to measure the success of CDA initiatives, reporting on KPIs, investment ROI, and strategic milestones to senior leadership.
Market Intelligence: Maintain a deep understanding of the Higher Education market, including policy shifts, funding models, and digital transformation trends, ensuring Cisco’s positioning remains competitive and relevant.
Investment Strategy: Oversee the investment programme lifecycle, from identifying high-impact opportunities to securing funding and monitoring execution.
Sales Enablement: Collaborate closely with the sales organization to translate market insights into actionable growth plans, supporting the team in executing strategies that drive revenue and long-term customer partnerships.
Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain relationships with key internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure alignment on strategic goals and resource allocation.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven experience in leading strategic programmes or operational excellence functions, ideally within the technology or Higher Education sectors.
Strong understanding of the Higher Education market landscape, including current challenges and opportunities for digital innovation.
Experience in managing investment portfolios or large-scale project budgets with demonstrated track record of delivering measurable outcomes.
Leadership experience with a focus on team development, coaching, and cross-functional influence.
Ability to translate complex data and market trends into clear, actionable business strategies.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence C-suite stakeholders and academic leadership.
8+ years of professional experience in strategy, operations, or business development roles.

Benefits

Comp & perks

health insurance
retirement plans
professional development opportunities

ATS Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

operational excellenceprogramme managementinvestment strategybudget managementKPI trackingdata analysissales enablementproject executiondigital transformationmarket analysis

Soft Skills

leadershipmentoringcollaborationaccountabilitycontinuous improvementcommunicationpresentation skillsinfluencestakeholder managementteam development