Director, Business Development - Africa

Meet the Team:

Cisco’s Digital Impact Office (DIO) has the mission of driving Cisco’s Purpose and delivering Cisco Growth. This is done through a number of ongoing DIO Programmes:

• The Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Programme
• The Cisco Networking Academy
• Learning & Certifications
• Professional and Employee Development
  
  

The Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Program specifically is aimed at driving Cisco and country growth by partnering and investing in Digital adoption programs. It uses the Cisco portfolio to deliver positive outcomes at a local level. The program has been running for over 10 years and during that time it has delivered over 1,600 projects across 50 countries. In Africa, the CDA program is partnering with Governments, Industry and Academia to ensure the continent benefits from the opportunities that digitisation can bring to communities.

Your Impact:

• As the CDA Business Development Lead for Africa, you will spearhead Cisco's CDA project origination and development in the region. You will work with the local sales teams to identify and develop digitisation projects that build Cisco’s presence, relevance and business growth.
• You will partner closely with the local Africa CDA team to help build their project portfolio and support their deliver by managing partner relationships and handling customer concerns.
• You will partner closely with the Government Affairs team to support relationship development, Cisco relevance and opportunity development in the region.
• You will partner with the Network Academy and Learning and Certifications team so you can be a spokesperson for Cisco’s full DIO portfolio of offerings.
• You will be able to communicate externally at all levels how Cisco’s purpose organisation is Powering An inclusive Future for All in Africa.
• You will report into the DIO CDA Lead for Middle East and Africa.
• You will cultivate partnerships, and contribute to building resilient communities, aligning Cisco's commercial interests with broader policy priorities and societal needs. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of digital transformation in Africa and make a tangible impact on communities.
  
  

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategic business development plans to drive growth and market penetration across Africa.
• Identify and cultivate new business opportunities that align with Cisco’s strategic objectives and policy priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver comprehensive business solutions and foster innovation.
• Serve as a trusted advisor in customer engagements, prioritizing their needs and aligning with governmental policy priorities.
• Monitor and report on business metrics, project progress, and market trends to anticipate changes that could impact revenue targets.
• Ensure all CDA initiatives in Africa conform to Cisco’s and CDA’s policies, processes and procedures
• Provide oversight of the program and support and facilitate internal and external audits of the CDA program
• Promote Cisco’s brand and programs to enhance local presence and impact.
• Engage and motivate local teams to implement Cisco's strategy and fulfill its purpose in the African market.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key partners, including government officials and business leaders, to drive Cisco’s mission and business goals.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in business development or sales, with a focus on African markets and government/public sector engagement.
• Consistent track record of driving business growth and developing strategic partnerships.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills across diverse teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to link technology with social and business impact.
• An understanding of the industry landscape from a technical, innovation and business perspective and an ability to articulate Cisco’s relevance to technical, business and community audiences.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• A strong teammate with a focus on what is best for Cisco
• Self-motivated and proactive, with strong organizational and project management skills.
• English language fluency required; additional languages relevant to African markets are a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
• Experience working with senior government leaders and business executives in the technology industry is a plus.
• The ability to build trusted relationships internally and externally
  
  

#WeAreCisco

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!