Design Program Manager, AI Transformation & Foundations

Cisco is revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era. The Design Program Manager will drive the operating model for adopting AI-assisted design practices across Cisco Networking UX, managing AI Transformation and Design Foundations initiatives. The role will build roadmaps, coordinate cross-functional teams, and scale AI practices to create measurable organizational outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Drive the operating model that enables Cisco Networking UX to adopt AI-assisted design practices at scale
• Own program management for AI Transformation and Design Foundations initiatives, including AI methodology, governance, adoption, and cross-portfolio design readiness
• Build roadmaps, milestones, risks, dependencies, and reporting mechanisms to keep AI-focused workstreams aligned and progressing
• Partner across Design Foundations, Design Ops, product design, research, engineering, security, AI, and product teams to move AI initiatives from exploration to durable practice
• Shape how AI work is prioritized, delivered, measured, communicated, and scaled to create measurable outcomes and organizational change

Requirements:

• Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or Masters + 6 years of experience related experience, PhD + 3 years of related experience, or equivalent related work experience
• 6+ years of experience in design program management, design operations, product operations, within an outcome-focused and matrixed organization
• Ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs spanning design, product, engineering, research, operations, or platform teams
• Experience driving AI transformation, adoption, capability-building, or change management initiatives across multiple teams
• Experience in creating roadmaps, operating models, program documentation, reporting mechanisms, and decision-making processes
• Understanding of product design, user-centered design methods, design systems, research, or product development workflows
• Experience with leveraging latest AI tools to create and scale agents, skills, and automations
• Knowledge of adoption metrics, maturity models, governance frameworks, enablement plans, or organizational change programs
• Proficiency with Figma, Jira, GitHub, design systems, design tokens, research operations, or design-to-engineering workflows
• Experience collaborating with security, legal, procurement, platform, or AI teams to support responsible adoption of new tools or vendors