PROPEL Associate Project Specialist (Full Time) United States

Cisco; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco PROPEL is a 12‑month development program for recent graduates within Cisco’s Recurring Revenue Acceleration organization in the United States. You will rotate through two 6‑month assignments, including a quota‑carrying Renewals Manager or Specialist role, and learn how to optimize renewals with AI‑driven insights.

The program emphasizes onboarding, mentorship, cross‑functional collaboration, and a clear path to a full‑time role within RRA after year one.

Qualifications

• Completion within the past 3 years, or current enrollment with expected completion within 12 months, of a certification or relevant degree program.
• Fields include: Business, Supply Chain, Communications, Mathematics, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, etc.

Skills

Adaptability

Analytical mindset

Collaborative communication

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field

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.

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 certification or relevant degree program (e.g., Associates, Apprenticeship, Boot Camp, or Certification in a specialized program + 1 year of relevant experience, High School Diploma + 2 years of relevant experience) or Bachelors + 0 years of relevant experience. Relevant fields include: Business, Supply Chain, Communications, Mathematics, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, etc.

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.

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. Simply put – we power the future.

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.

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:

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.

New York City Metro Area

$78,900.00 - $115,200.00

Non-Metro New York State & Washington State

$70,200.00 - $103,300.00

• 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.