Country Digitization Manager

Role Overview

Country Digitization Manager at Cisco, leading the Country Digital Acceleration program in KSA.

Company Overview

Cisco is building the bridge to a digital future by investing in national digitization. The Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program is a strategic partnership platform that drives innovation, builds digital skills, and accelerates the digital agenda of nations. Cisco has been innovating for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds.

Role Purpose

The CDA Program Leader will be instrumental in defining, executing, and scaling strategic initiatives in KSA, leading a team to achieve significant national impact. This role demands strategic leadership, robust program management oversight, executive-level stakeholder engagement, and a proven ability to drive complex digital transformation agendas.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Program Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Lead the overall CDA Country program, defining, developing, and executing the CDA strategy for KSA.
• Align strategy with national digital agendas and Cisco's global objectives.
• Manage portfolio priorities and investments to maximize impact and alignment.

Program Management & Execution

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for a portfolio of CDA projects.
• Ensure alignment with program goals, timely delivery, and adherence to budget and scope.
• Coordinate closely with Global CDA initiatives and lead Country Program Review Calls.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of project managers and specialists.
• Foster a high-performance culture and ensure effective resource allocation across initiatives.

Executive Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with high-level government officials, C-suite executives, and key partners.
• Engage internal Cisco leadership to secure buy-in, align objectives, and drive collaborative success.

Financial Oversight & Management

• Oversee CDA financials, including spending, forecasts, revenues, and linearity.
• Manage strategic planning, allocation, and management of program-wide budgets and resources to maximize impact and efficiency.

Risk, Compliance & Opportunity Management

• Proactively identify strategic risks and opportunities across the program.
• Develop comprehensive mitigation plans.
• Ensure program compliance with all relevant internal policies and external regulations.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and impact metrics for the entire CDA program.
• Manage all program reporting, including biweekly updates, quarterly financial updates, forecasts, and bi-annual reviews.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level reports on program status, strategic milestones, and overall performance to internal and external stakeholders.

Cross-functional Orchestration & Communication

• Drive seamless collaboration and alignment across various Cisco functions including sales, engineering, marketing, operations, legal, and finance.
• Ensure successful execution and integration of CDA initiatives.
• Align with Marketing and Communications for external program communication.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders for effective internal communication.

Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Champion innovation within the CDA program.
• Identify emerging trends and technologies to enhance program offerings.
• Position Cisco as a leading digital transformation partner.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in program management, strategic consulting, or a senior leadership role, ideally within a technology or public sector environment focused on digital transformation.
• Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering large-scale, complex programs involving multiple stakeholders, from strategic initiation to successful closure and impact measurement.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus.
• PMP, PgMP (Program Management Professional), or equivalent executive program management certification is highly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional strategic planning, executive communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience engaging at the highest levels of government and enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Proficiency in advanced program and project management tools including Jira, Asana, MS Project, Smartsheet, and advanced Excel.
• Knowledge of strategic planning frameworks.
• Fluent in Arabic and English (written and spoken).

Additional Information

• Strategic visionary with a passion for driving national digital transformation.
• Exceptional leadership skills and executive presence with ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Thrive in dynamic, high-stakes environments, demonstrating both strategic foresight and meticulous attention to detail.