PROPEL Associate Project Specialist - Early in Career

Cisco Systems, Inc; Oeiras; Hybrid; EUR 18,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Oeiras, Lisbon area is offering the PROPEL program, a 12‑month development path for recent graduates. It features immersive onboarding, two 6‑month rotations, and a pathway to a full‑time role in Cisco’s Recurring Revenue Acceleration group.

You will learn Cisco tools, work on the LAER model, and gain hands‑on experience supporting renewal opportunities and data‑driven insights across Renewals, Strategy & Planning, and Services Acceleration.

Qualifications

• Completed within the past 3 years, or current enrollment with expected completion within 12 months, of a relevant Master’s program.
• 1 year of related experience preferred; eligible to work legally in the country without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the PROPEL 12‑month development program with two 6‑month rotations in RRA.
• Support renewal lifecycle activities, including data analysis and opportunity identification.
• Collaborate with Renewals, Strategy & Planning, and Services Acceleration teams.
• Transition to a full‑time role within RRA based on performance and business needs.
• Engage with mentors and cross‑functional peers to accelerate learning and impact.

Skills

Business operations interest

Adaptability

Proactive learning

Analytical mindset

Collaborative communication

Self-starter

Leadership experience

Languages (French a plus)

Education

Master’s degree (relevant)

Job description

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Applications are accepted until further notice.
Location: Oeiras, Lisbon
Start Date: September, 2027

The PROPEL program is a 12-month professional development experience designed to equip recent graduates with the essential skills, training, and experience needed to succeed at Cisco. It provides a supportive environment where you will learn how Cisco powers the internet and connects people, devices, and systems around the world. You will spend your first six weeks in immersive onboarding training, followed by two 6-month rotations (the first rotation will be a quota-carrying rotation) within the Recurring Revenue Acceleration organization. Through these roles, you will gain hands‑on experience and work alongside expert teams to support our customers. By the end of your first year, your performance and the connections you build will help pave the way for a transition into a full‑time role within the organization.

Meet the Team

As a member of the PROPEL cohort, you will join a dynamic community of early‑career talent dedicated to accelerating growth and driving innovation within Cisco’s Recurring Revenue Acceleration (RRA) organization. You will collaborate with a diverse group of associates, mentors, and senior leaders who are passionate about the LAER (Land, Adopt, Expand, Renew) model. By participating in associate‑led committees and cross‑functional rotations, you will work alongside teams like Renewals, Strategy & Planning, and Services Acceleration, gaining firsthand experience in the tools and technologies that power Cisco’s customer success organization. Each associate will complete their first rotation in a Renewals Manager or Renewals Specialist role (quota‑carrying); the second rotation can be either quota‑carrying or non (Go to Market, Strategy, Enablement, Operations, etc.).

Your Impact

In the PROPEL program, you will directly influence Cisco’s recurring revenue success by transforming technical knowledge into actionable business outcomes. Leveraging your ability to learn quickly and adapt, you will support the full renewal lifecycle—from identifying upsell opportunities and analyzing data to streamlining processes through AI‑driven insights. Your efforts will help us bridge the gap between sales and delivery, ensuring our partners and customers receive seamless support. By proactively engaging with your cohort, building internal networks, and championing innovation, you will play a key role in optimizing the tools and strategies that keep Cisco at the forefront of the industry.

Program Milestones Built on a model of growth, collaboration, and real‑world experience, the program offers a clear progression:

• Weeks 1–6: Onboarding: A comprehensive deep dive into Cisco tools, culture, and foundational skills.
• Months 2–7: Rotation 1: A 6‑month period of hands‑on work experience in a quota‑carrying Renewals Manager or Renewals Specialist team in RRA.
• Months 8–12: Rotation 2: A second 6‑month period in a new area to broaden your skills and organizational impact in RRA.
• Post-Program: Career Transition: A dedicated pathway to transition into a full‑time role in RRA.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion within the past 3 years, or current enrollment with expected completion within 12 months, of a relevant Master’s program + 1 year of experience. Relevant fields include: Business, Supply Chain, Communications, Mathematics, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, etc.
• Able to legally live and work in the country for which you’re applying, without visa support or sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Business Operations Interest: A genuine curiosity regarding the business and operational side of the technology sector, with an eagerness to understand how internal processes drive market success.
• Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced and ever‑evolving work environment, where priorities may shift and new challenges frequently emerge.
• Proactive Learning: Intellectual curiosity and a self‑starting mindset, with the capacity to learn new concepts quickly and work with a high degree of independence.
• Analytical Mindset: A results‑oriented approach to tasks, with a focus on leveraging data to inform decisions and achieve organizational objectives.
• Collaborative Communication: Strong interpersonal skills that allow you to communicate effectively across diverse teams and act as a constructive problem‑solver in group settings.
• Self‑Starter: Proven track record of initiating and leading projects, such as starting organizations, conferences, competitions, or publications, showcasing entrepreneurial spirit and initiative.
• Leadership Experience: Demonstrated leadership abilities through roles in student organizations, or significant involvement in extracurricular activities.
• Languages: French is a plus. Any other European languages will also be seen as a plus.

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.