Director, Associate General Counsel: Open Source

What You'll Do

You will lead the Open Source Legal team responsible for the legal strategy and compliance aspects of Cisco’s use of and contributions to open source software (OSS). Reporting to the Associate General Counsel for Emerging Technology and Incubations in the Product Legal organization, you will:

• Lead, energize, and empower your small team of open source legal specialists, including recruiting, developing, mentoring and training
• Partner closely with the head of Cisco’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO), counseling on and supporting the evolution of Cisco’s open source strategy and compliance practices
• Advise Cisco’s engineering and business executives on the role of OSS in the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI
• Help build Cisco’s external open source brand by engaging with the external open source community, attending and speaking at conferences and CLE events, influencing policy and enforcement practices in alignment with OSPO, and building strong relationships with key players in the broader open source community
• Guide internal engineering and business teams on open source licensing, usage, compliance, risk, mitigation, and community engagement matters, often in high pressure situations or on timelines
• Support legal sales teams in negotiating open source language in sales agreements, including describing Cisco’s open source policies and compliance requirements
• Counsel senior leadership and other stakeholders on open source matters, including any high stakes enforcement and litigation matters, staying up-to-date on trends and developments in the field
• Coordinate with Cisco’s government affairs team to influence legislation impacting open source software
• Collaborate with cross-functional operations teams on compliance policy, process, and tooling, including Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle and Cisco’s Third Party Software Compliance and Risk Management platform
• Review and illuminate on Cisco’s contributions to the open source community and participation in industry-wide open source projects and consortia
• Drive open source education and training programs across the business
• Engage with and support other attorneys on questions related to the development and commercialization of Cisco products and services
• Advise on (and occasionally draft and negotiate) IP licensing terms in technology transactions with customers, partners, and suppliers
• Supervise and advise on all M&A OSS diligence, remediation, and integration
• Work with engineers and engineering project managers on technical issues such as software architecture and license obligations
• Drive optimization and scalability of the open source legal support model, including updating and crafting new templates, processes, policies, trainings, and knowledge sharing resources
• Participate in and help drive key Product Legal initiatives including team strategy, talent development, and team culture priorities
• Amplify a people-centered culture and supply to DEI and Pro Bono initiatives

Your Qualifications:

• JD degree with excellent academic credentials and membership in good standing in state bar
• 15+ years of legal experience, with minimum 8 years in the open source domain
• Deep open source licensing experience
• Demonstrated people leadership capabilities
• Technology transaction and IP licensing experience
• Experience advising engineers/engineering teams on legal matters
• Experience advising internal compliance, operations, and process functions
• Demonstrable excellent drafting and negotiation skills
• Strong organization and oral communication skills
• Strong influencing skills
• Successful track record working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, while remaining collaborative and flexible with your colleagues and business partners
• A demonstrated passion for problem-solving and thinking outside-the-box to get the best business outcomes
• Software development lifecycle and release experience
• Ability to develop relationships with critical members of the open source community
• Consistent track record managing sophisticated matters and implement to timelines

Desired Skills and Characteristics:

• Computer science or engineering degree (or equivalent experience)
• Experience navigating a large company or organization (10K+ employees)
• Patent experience
• M&A experience
• Standards organization (SDO) experience
• Product counseling experience
• People leadership experience

Our Legal Department

We are a team of 500+ Legal and Compliance professionals in 25+ countries committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment as we work together to drive Cisco’s success. We serve as trusted advisors to the business – problem solving, navigating complexities, and enabling transformation along the way. We use technology to make life easier – demonstrating Cisco’s innovative networking, security and collaboration tools to enable flexible, hybrid work. And we adopt the responsibility to be a force for good – donating our time and expertise through pro bono and community impact initiatives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Why Cisco

#WeAreCisco. We are all unique, but collectively we bring our talents to work as a team, to develop innovative technology and power a more inclusive, digital future for everyone. How do we do it? Well, for starters – with people like you!

Nearly every internet connection around the world touches Cisco. We’re the Internet’s optimists. Our technology makes sure the data traveling at light speed across connections does so securely, yet it’s not what we make but what we make happen which marks us out. We’re helping those who work in the health service to connect with patients and each other; schools, colleges, and universities to teach in even the most challenging of times. We’re helping businesses of all shapes and sizes to connect with their employees and customers in new ways, providing people with access to the digital skills they need and connecting the most remote parts of the world – whether through 5G, or otherwise.

We tackle whatever challenges come our way. We have each other’s backs, we recognize our accomplishments, and we grow together. We celebrate and support one another – from big and small things in life to big career moments. And giving back is in our DNA (we get 10 days off each year to do just that).

We know that powering an inclusive future starts with us. Because without diversity and a dedication to equality, there is no moving forward. Our 30 Inclusive Communities, that bring people together around commonalities or passions, are leading the way. Together we’re committed to learning, listening, caring for our communities, whilst supporting the most vulnerable with a collective effort to make this world a better place either with technology, or through our actions.

So, you have colorful hair? Don’t care. Tattoos? Show off your ink. Like polka dots? That’s cool. Pop culture geek? Many of us are. Passion for technology and world changing? Be you, with us! #WeAreCisco#J-18808-Ljbffr