Country Digitization Manager

About Cisco and the CDA Program

Cisco is committed to shaping a digital future by partnering with nations for national digitization through its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program. This strategic initiative promotes innovation, fosters digital skill development, and advances the digital objectives of countries. The CDA Program Leader plays a pivotal role in crafting, implementing, and expanding strategic projects in Saudi Arabia to achieve substantial national impact.

Role Overview

We are looking for a seasoned, innovative, and target-driven Program Leader to head the CDA efforts in Saudi Arabia. This position requires strategic insight, comprehensive program management experience, high-level stakeholder interaction, and a demonstrated capacity to drive complex digital transformation programs successfully.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the CDA country program in Saudi Arabia, establishing and executing strategies aligned with both national digitization goals and Cisco's global vision.
• Manage and oversee multiple CDA projects, ensuring their objectives align with program priorities and are completed on schedule, within budget, and within agreed scope.
• Direct and nurture a team of project managers and specialists to sustain a performance-driven culture and efficient resource use.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior government officials, corporate executives, partners, and Cisco leaders to secure collaboration and commitment.
• Supervise financial aspects of the CDA initiatives, including budgeting, forecasting, revenue tracking, and expenditure controls to maximize program impact and operational efficiency.
• Identify and address risks and opportunities proactively by formulating detailed risk mitigation and compliance strategies.
• Establish performance metrics and monitor key indicators to evaluate the success of the CDA program, preparing comprehensive reports for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration among Cisco’s sales, engineering, marketing, operations, legal, and finance teams to ensure cohesive execution of initiatives and effective communications.
• Drive innovation by recognizing emerging digital trends and incorporating them to keep Cisco at the forefront of national digital transformation efforts.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate possesses a strategic mindset, deep passion for national digital advancement, and solid leadership prowess to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills are required for engaging with government and enterprise leaders. A keen eye for detail and the ability to motivate a high-performing team are essential.

Required Qualifications

• Over 10 years of experience in program management, strategic consultancy, or senior leadership roles, preferably in technology or public sector domains related to digital transformation.
• Proven achievements in leading and delivering extensive, multi-party programs from initiation through completion and impact assessment.
• Advanced competency in strategic planning, executive communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement at the highest organizational levels.
• Strong leadership skills with experience in building and mentoring effective teams.
• Expertise in sophisticated project and program management tools such as Jira, Asana, MS Project, Smartsheet, and advanced Excel, along with solid strategic framework knowledge.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English, including written and spoken communication.
• Certification such as PMP, PgMP, or equivalent executive program management qualifications is highly desired.
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline; a master's degree (MBA or equivalent) is advantageous.

About Working at Cisco

Cisco leads transformative technology solutions that integrate data and infrastructure securely and intelligently, enabling organizations in the evolving AI landscape and beyond. With 40 years of innovation, Cisco fosters a collaborative and empathetic culture where professionals worldwide deliver impactful digital experiences. Join Cisco and be part of a team making a global difference by advancing digital transformation worldwide.