Account Executive - Portfolio, GES - Chicago

The application window is expected to close on: 07/31/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Candidate must live or relocate to the listed location.

Meet the Team
Join Cisco’s dynamic Account Executive team, a group of passionate professionals dedicated to driving customer success through innovative, secure networking solutions. This team serves as the primary influencer in purchasing decisions across a diverse portfolio, focusing on core secure networking technologies such as switching, wireless, routing, and firewall. By collaborating closely with customers and internal specialists, the team orchestrates complex deals that align Cisco’s comprehensive product portfolio with evolving customer needs, fostering long-term partnerships and sustainable growth.

Your Impact
As an Account Executive at Cisco, you will play a pivotal role in managing a defined set of accounts, acting as the primary influencer in purchasing decisions and building strong, enduring customer relationships. Your work will directly impact Cisco’s business growth and customer success by:
· Orchestrating multi-faceted, complex deal cycles involving multiple stakeholders and departments.
· Prospecting new deals and developing portfolio growth within Cisco’s largest and most strategic accounts.
· Engaging with C-suite executives and buyers to anticipate evolving customer needs and align Cisco solutions accordingly.
· Leveraging competitive and customer data to position Cisco’s differentiated product strategy and create customer stickiness.
· Leading negotiations with a consultative approach to secure customer-first agreements that balance pricing, service levels, and contractual commitments.

Minimum Qualifications
· Minimum of 5 years of related sales experience in technology or networking solutions.
· Proven track record of managing complex sales cycles and achieving revenue targets.
· Deep understanding of core secure networking technologies including switching, wireless, routing, and firewall.
· Experience using CRM tools for accurate sales funnel management and forecasting.

Preferred Qualifications
· Advanced knowledge of Cisco’s full product portfolio and ability to articulate its market differentiation.
· Strong consultative selling skills with experience engaging executive-level stakeholders.
· Ability to analyze market trends, competitive landscapes, and customer business models to inform strategic recommendations.
· Excellent collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams including solution engineers and specialist groups.
· Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Note: This job description does not apply for employees in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

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. 

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:The starting salary range posted for this position is $198,000.00 to $333,800.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.  Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$277,200.00 - $406,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$269,100.00 - $409,600.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.