Industry Computer Networking and Telecommunications
Employee Size 10,001+ employees
About the Company
Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. For four decades, Cisco has been innovating fearlessly to develop solutions that power how people and technology integrate seamlessly across physical and digital environments. Nearly every internet connection across the globe touches Cisco technology, ensuring high-speed data travels securely across modern digital networks. Across healthcare, education, critical infrastructure, and global enterprise ecosystems, Cisco provides advanced networking architectures, cybersecurity, cloud software, collaboration tools, and predictive AI insights. The company is widely celebrated as a Great Place to Work in India and globally, championing a culture centered on inclusion, innovation, continuous learning, and meaningful social impact.
Team and Role Overview
The Country Acceleration team collaborates closely with People and Communities (HR) partners and executive business leaders across India and South Asia to drive business growth through compliant, human-centric people practices. Acting as a strategic operational bridge between global People and Communities initiatives and regional business imperatives, the team ensures country-specific legal compliance, high employee engagement, and effective organizational change execution. As the Leader, People Consulting, the role entails dual responsibilities: managing and mentoring a team of Country Consultants while functioning as the senior consultant for India and South Asia to guide leadership, shape workplace culture, protect the enterprise through proactive governance, and support Cisco’s employer brand.
Key Responsibilities and Strategic Priorities
People Leadership and Team Guidance Lead, manage, and coach a team of two Country Consultants providing enterprise-wide, function-agnostic consulting support across all employee segments in India and South Asia. Provide clear operational direction, resource allocation, and hands-on guidance for day-to-day consulting deliverables and casework. Nurture an inclusive, collaborative, and psychologically safe workplace culture that fosters strong team synergy and maximum business impact. Mentor consultants on career progression, stakeholder influence, and navigating organizational transitions. Contribute actively to the broader leadership and operational governance of the APJC Country Acceleration team. Exemplify and establish standards for solution-oriented problem solving, strategic alignment, and proactive ownership across the consulting function.
Country Consulting, Compliance, and Business Partnership Partner with the India People and Communities Leader, People Partners (HRBPs), and regional consultants to align local HR interventions with business objectives. Take joint ownership of intricate country compliance, labor legislation, and statutory employment requirements across India and South Asia. Collaborate with People and Communities COEs, including Country Support, Total Rewards, and Employee Relations, to guarantee the local relevance of regional and enterprise programs. Continuously monitor statutory labor developments, assess upcoming legislative changes, and formulate proactive response roadmaps with appropriate corporate stakeholders. Evaluate global HR initiatives before local deployment to pinpoint compliance risks and cultural nuances, providing actionable upstream feedback into global program designs. Support the flawless execution of enterprise organizational design projects, including restructuring, team realignments, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Manage sensitive employee escalations and provide crisis intervention support during critical workplace situations. Represent the People and Communities organization in external forums, industry panels, and community initiatives to amplify Cisco’s local employer brand. Serve as an organizational integrator across people functions, executive leadership boards, and Employee Resource Organizations (EROs) to drive cross-functional alignment. Leverage artificial intelligence tools to reimagine workflows, automate repetitive tasks, document best practices, and build institutional knowledge across the HR ecosystem.
Professional Profile and Core Competencies Proven background as an HR consultant, executive advisor, and people coach within large multinational technology organizations. Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated ability in multi-stakeholder management and executive communication. Deep expertise in Indian employment laws, regional HR practices, and statutory workplace regulations. Demonstrated ability to balance global standard methodologies with local nuances, offering pragmatic solutions to resolve operational tensions. Forward-thinking AI enabler adept at applying digital tools and automation to optimize human resource operations. Pragmatic problem solver with sound judgment, comfort with organizational ambiguity, and a track record as a trusted change catalyst.
