Design Strategist - US Remote

Responsibilities

• Define Strategic Foundations: Develop product roadmaps, Business Requirement Documents (BRDs), information architecture, and user flows that provide clear direction for product development.
• Prioritize with Rigor: Apply desirability, feasibility, and viability frameworks to shape scope early and align stakeholders on MVP requirements.
• Lead Discovery & Facilitation: Facilitate workshops and decision forums across Executives, Service Owners, PMs, IT/Ops, and P&C partners to drive consensus.
• Implement Lightweight Research: Conduct rapid surveys, interviews, and validation studies to de-risk investments and inform direction.
• Prototype & Visualize: Produce lo-fi concepts using our new Design System.
• Drive System Evolution: As a power user, identify gaps and advocate for new features within the Design System. Work directly with our designers to ensure the platform evolves to support high-priority initiatives, effectively acting as a link between strategic needs and system capabilities.
• Orchestrate Design Specialists: Engage UX Researchers and Designers at the optimal stages; validate AI-generated designs and provide expert guidance to reduce rework.
• Ensure Quality & Accessibility: Prioritize ease of use, high quality, and digital accessibility (#a11y) in all product solutions.
• What You'll Deliver:
• Clear Requirements: Translation of ambiguous business problems into testable, buildable requirements.
• Prioritized Backlogs: Implementation-ready backlogs with no design or technical gaps.
• System Contributions: Direct feedback and feature requests that improve our Design System for all users.
• Discovery Artifacts: Roadmaps, user flows, and frameworks that accelerate delivery readiness.
• Fast Insights: Actionable concepts and research that validate direction and de-risk investment.
• Thought Partnership: Coaching that raises design maturity and enables teams to ask better questions.
• What You'll Learn and Work On in the Future:
• Strategic Leadership: Master the art of navigating complex organizational landscapes, turning high-level business objectives into actionable, user-centered roadmaps.
• AI-Augmented UX: Lead the "shift-left" movement by integrating AI-driven tools and automated workflows to scale design efficiency and quality.
• Enterprise SaaS Ecosystems: Gain deep expertise in leading and orchestrating experiences across Cisco's core platforms, including Phenom, Workday, and ServiceNow.
• Design System & Maturity Advocacy: Drive the evolution of our design infrastructure as a scalable asset while coaching cross-functional partners to raise design literacy and embed user-centered decision-making into our organizational DNA.
• Inclusive Innovation: Work on global initiatives that prioritize accessibility (#a11y) and ethical AI, ensuring our solutions are equitable for all Cisco employees.

Requirements

• Typically: Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 4+ years of related experience.
• Background in product/UX strategy, service design, or systems thinking with a strong ability to operate in ambiguity and "shift left" to create structure.
• Strong command of core UX skills & capabilities (Interaction, Visual, Research, Content, and Information Architecture) with a focus on flow design and MVP prioritization.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and research tools (e.g., Figma for prototyping, Maze for rapid user testing) and project management platforms (e.g., Airtable, ServiceNow).
• Proven track record to drive decisions across cross-functional teams (Executives, P&C, IT, Service Owners),

Benefits

Additional Information

The application window is expected to close on: 07/03/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received . Applications and portfolios will be reviewed the week of July 6. Location: Remote, US A portfolio is mandatory. Please include a link to your online portfolio with your application. Meet the Team Our team elevates Cisco's employee services, products, and solutions by advocating a user-centered mentality. We strengthen design capabilities and empower our People, Policy, and Purpose (3P) organization through maturing our design systems, rigorous research, and a dedication to high standards. As we transition to AI-enabled UX workflows, this role is critical to our "shift left" strategy-ensuring we define the right problems to solve before development begins. You will partner with our Service Teams on top 3P Strategic Initiatives that impact Cisco employees globally. Join us and make a real impact on the future of work at Cisco!

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