Executive Talent Researcher

Meet the Team

As part of the Global Executive Talent Acquisition team at Cisco, you will play a key role in the growth and success of our executive recruiting lifecycle. We are a dynamic, high-impact team dedicated to identifying and engaging premier executive talent across the globe. You will partner closely with regional HR leaders, recruiting counterparts, and executive stakeholders to shape succession planning and build robust talent pipelines in a highly competitive market.

Your Impact

As an Executive Talent Researcher, you will be responsible for owning high-priority, executive-level projects, optimizing cross-functional workflows, and building scalable research pipelines to address emerging business needs across the APJC region. You will combine advanced sourcing techniques with deep market intelligence to identify high-quality talent and package actionable insights for C-level stakeholders. You will be building regional pipelines and supporting succession planning to fully own candidate outreach and screening, using AI-enhanced research methods to drive efficiency and strategic decision-making. 

What You’ll Do:

• Design and implement scalable research pipelines and frameworks, incorporating AI-powered tools and methodologies, to support strategic decision-making across executive teams.

• Leverage both qualitative and quantitative data sources to deliver actionable insights.

• Partner closely with recruiters across engineering, sales/marketing, CX/operations, and corporate function to align research initiatives with business goals.

• Act as a bridge between executive leadership and functional teams, translating insights into cross-functional action plans.

• Lead cross-functional research initiatives from ideation to execution, using AI for enhanced efficiency and data synthesis.

• Develop project timelines, coordinate stakeholder input, and ensure on-time delivery of research outputs.

• Synthesize complex data into clear, concise findings and recommendations for C-level stakeholders.

• Continuously improve research processes and tools to enhance efficiency and scalability, with a focus on emerging AI technologies.

• Identify emerging tools, methodologies, and technologies to elevate research capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in executive research, sourcing, or talent acquisition, with a consistent track record of building and scaling research pipelines. 

• 3+ years of experience identifying and engaging talent specifically within the APJC region, demonstrating deep market intelligence and regional nuance. 

• Proficiency with advanced research tools, data analysis platforms, market mapping methodologies and project management systems, including experience with AI-enhanced research platforms or tools. 
• Consistent track record of building and scaling research or analytics pipelines

• Strong project management skills with experience leading cross-functional initiatives

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities and excellent communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong comfort with ambiguity and the self-sufficiency to operate independently in a virtual, dynamic, and fast-paced environment. 

• Demonstrated curiosity and practical experience using AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to enhance research and sourcing efficiency. 

Why Cisco? 

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. 

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.