Public Relations Manager

Responsibilities

• Thought Leadership: Drive a consistent, high-impact media drumbeat to strengthen Cisco’s positioning across key People priorities, including AI workforce transformation, organizational leadership and key skilling initiatives related to AI, cybersecurity and more.
• Executive Positioning: Serve as a trusted advisor to key People executives and their benches, identifying and securing high-profile external platforms, including bylines, awards, speaking opportunities at premier industry conferences and events.
• Media Relations & Storytelling: Proactively pitch and secure high-visibility feature stories, quotes, and strong message pull-through across top business, tech, policy, and HR vertical outlets, as well as emerging media platforms like podcasts.
• Issues Management: Counsel internal stakeholders and help coordinate swift, thoughtful communications strategies on sensitive topics; help ensure message clarity and factual reporting.
• Agency Management and Operational Efficiency: Direct external PR agency partners as an extension of the internal team; ensure our PR strategy is well understood and translated into high impact results.
• Communicate Impact: Track, measure and communicate results to stakeholders and team leadership, with emphasis on impact and outcomes.
• AI Innovation & Workflow Automation: Continuously optimize PR operations and accelerate team deliverable timelines by actively experimenting with and adopting generative AI tools, agents and automated AI workflows.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, or related fields.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with top-tier business, technology, HR or policy media; demonstrated success in securing high-impact feature coverage.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for a defined portfolio or business area; strong knowledge of competitive landscape and stakeholder needs.
• Demonstrated capability in crisis and issue management on sensitive topics under tight deadlines.
• Experience leading and collaborating on cross-functional campaigns and project timelines for multi-channel initiatives.
• Comfort with ambiguity and proven ability to balance global communications goals with functional and regional needs.

Preferred

• Experience in artificial intelligence, people, HR, policy, or corporate culture communications.
• Track record of developing and executing transformational corporate narratives during periods of organizational change.
• Established experience using AI tools to streamline workflows or automate communications tasks.
• Experience working with or managing external PR agency partners on integrated campaigns.
• Familiarity with measurement and analytics frameworks that tie PR programs to strategic outcomes.