Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, Cisco

The Scope

The Senior Strategic Partnership Manager defines and drives BT’s relationship with Cisco, our largest go-to-market partner, critical to both short-term revenue and long-term strategic growth.

The role owns partnership execution across strategy, joint GTM plans, and commercial targets, while advising senior BT executives and representing BT to Cisco leadership.

Leading a team partner managers, it influences a broad network of stakeholders across sales, product, commercial, and technology functions to unlock value and strengthen BT’s position in the partnership ecosystem.

What you’ll be doing

• Own and grow BT’s Cisco partnership, defining and executing the strategic relationship, delivering joint go-to-market plans, and ensuring alignment with BT’s objectives across UK sales segments.
• Drive commercial success by achieving revenue targets, optimising Cisco programmes and rebates, and supporting procurement negotiations for contracts and MoUs.
• Lead governance and senior engagement, managing relationships with Cisco and BT executives, representing BT in strategic forums, and advising on Cisco ecosystem opportunities.
• Ensure operational excellence through KPI tracking, compliance with Cisco partner requirements, and executive reporting such as quarterly business reviews.
• Manage and develop a high-performing team of 3–5 direct reports, while influencing stakeholders across sales, product, commercial, and technology functions.
• Resolve issues and deliver value, handling escalations, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and implementing action plans to achieve joint revenue ambitions.

Experience needed to be successful in the role

• Cisco Expertise – Deep understanding of Cisco partner programmes, products, and ways of working; recent experience with Cisco is essential.
• Strategic Thinking – Ability to shape and execute BT–Cisco partnership strategy, aligning with BT’s objectives while delivering day-to-day execution.
• Stakeholder & Relationship Management – Proven ability to build, influence, and manage senior-level relationships internally and externally, including vendors and Cisco leadership.
• Commercial Acumen – Strong skills in negotiation, revenue optimisation, and managing complex commercial agreements and rebate programmes.
• Leadership & Team Management – Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams, with previous line management experience as a must-have.

Benefits

• Annual on target bonus 15% (personal and company performance multipliers)
• £5,500 car allowance (can be taken as cash)
• Family health cover
• BT Pension scheme; minimum 5% employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays with the option to buy up to one week's work of your contracted hours. This will also increase with service.
• 2 weeks carer’s leave
• From January 2025, all parents welcoming a new child will be eligible for our new Family Leave policy. You will receive 18 weeks at full pay, eight weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It is for all parents, no matter how your family is made.
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• Life Assurance (4 x life cover pay)
• Exclusive colleague discounts on our latest and greatest BT broadband packages
• 50% off EE mobile pay monthly or SIM only plans and 50% discount for friends and family on EE SIM only plans.
• My Discounts gives colleagues access to unbeatable savings on everyday purchases at hundreds of retailers.
• Discounted EE TV including TNT Sport and the NOW Entertainment membership.
• Option to join the Healthcare Cash Plan or other benefits such as dental insurance, gym memberships etc.
• Volunteering days so you can give back to your local community.
• Brand new electric vehicle salary sacrifice arrangement, known as ‘My EV.’
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues