Operations Manager, Crisis Response - San Jose, CA

The application window is expected to close on: 07/17/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received . About Cisco    Cisco   Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. At Cisco, we are driven by our purpose to power an inclusive future for all. We Think Really Big about the impact our technology can have on the world, Play to Win by delivering excellence in the most demanding environments, and Drive Durable Growth by building sustainable, resilient systems that empower our communities and partners. As part of   the Cisco   Crisis Response team, you will be at the forefront of this mission, providing critical connectivity when it is needed most.    Role Summary    This is an exciting opportunity to join our Cisco’s Crisis Response (CCR) Team, a highly   skilled and dedicated team that deploys equipment and personnel in the acute phase of a crisis in which normal communications infrastructure has been degraded or damaged. The Operations Manager is a highly motivated individual responsible for the preparation, planning, and execution of CCR’s incident response engagements, planned events, and exercises. This role will report to CCR’s Mission Readiness & Deployment Leader and will coordinate internal and external resources to drive the delivery of key services, ensuring that every project is executed with consistency, high quality, and   timely   impact. You will collaborate closely on a global team with Engineers, Operations Managers, and other strategic staff   on a daily basis .     Responsibilities – Operations Manager will:    Mission Readiness:   Maintain   highest levels of operational readiness of CCR equipment ( e.g.   kits, loose gear, vehicles) by ensuring completion of required checks and preventive maintenance with high fidelity per documented processes and timelines. Collaborate with the team to track and address outstanding issues in a diligent and   timely   manner.    Incident Response: Provide coverage for 24 x 7 operations on-call duties on a rotational basis by   maintaining   situational awareness of global news and events. Field incoming inquiries from internal and external stakeholders and respond within established   timeframes   with high-quality, actionable information.    Execution & Coordination: Interface with the team, customers, CCR Community volunteers, and other organizations to assess emergency communications needs, plan and execute responses, while   maintaining   accountability of resources and personnel. Provide relevant,   timely   updates to leadership and stakeholders.    Field Deployment: Lead and   participate   in domestic and international incident responses in potentially austere environments to deploy equipment   providing   temporary communications capabilities. Document actions taken and equipment deployed.   Assist   other Cisco personnel with storytelling of our activities and   impact . Capture lessons learned for process and solution improvement.     Asset Management and Logistics: Execute inventory acquisition, tracking, shipping, and physical   logistics   of vehicles, durable equipment, and consumable supplies. Manage sourcing, procurement, storage, and decommissioning of resources and related services per approved processes.    Event Planning:   Identify   opportunities, field inquiries, triage, budget, plan and execute high-impact virtual and in-person events supporting internal Cisco and external audiences. This may include customer demonstrations, capability briefings, volunteer training, external exercises, conferences/trade   shows   and others.     DOT Compliance: Administer the team’s DOT compliance activities for vehicles and drivers in a non-CDL environment with strict adherence to federal and company requirements.   Maintain accurate, audit-ready records   at all times .     Volunteer & Training Support: Assist the CCR Community Manager with operational, administrative, and logistical support for the volunteer program.   Assist   with the development and delivery of training initiatives for internal audiences and strategic partners.    Relationship Management: Build relationships with Cisco account teams, business units, prospective volunteers, and external partners (public, private, and non-profit) of diverse backgrounds. These relationships support awareness of the team and our services, internally and externally.     Public Speaking: Represent the team to a wide variety of stakeholders, including customers, industry peers, national leaders, and senior engineers.    Project Leadership: Lead smaller projects to support internal and customer-facing initiatives, driving solid results and meaningful impact.     Travel: This job requires ability to travel on short notice, up to 25% of the year, split between planned events/training/trade shows and emergency deployments potentially living in austere environments for   approximately 2 –3 weeks.   Previous   relevant experience preferred.     Operations Documentation: Developing, documenting, and   maintaining   guidelines, processes, and policies for efficient and consistent team operations.    Conduct: Cisco employees are expected to strictly adhere to Code of Business Conduct, acting with integrity, respect, and professionalism toward all.   As a highly visible and public-facing group, our team must   exemplify these values at all times .      Minimum Qualifications    5+ years in Operations Management, Project Management, Program   Management   or similar role involving field work and/or   logistics .    Proficient in MS Office / 365 suite: strong   expertise   in PowerPoint, Word, Excel   Experience with Project Management tools / software (Asana, MS Project,   Airtable , Smartsheet, Jira, Monday.com, etc.)   AI Integration:   Demonstrated   experience leveraging generative AI tools within approved guid