Project Specialist (Graduate / Early in Career)
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Location:Oeiras, Portugal
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Area of InterestProject or Program Management
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Job TypeEarly in Career
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Technology Interest*None
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Job Id1434163
Start date: 2nd September 2025
Location: Lisbon, Portugal (following Cisco’s hybrid work approach)
Applications are accepted until further notice.
💻 About the Role
Cisco’s Customer Experience (CX) Recurring Revenue Acceleration Team is seeking talented, inquisitive problem-solvers to join us for a 24-month new graduate rotational program. CX PROPEL (Professional Readiness and Optimization Program for Emerging Leaders) is a new program designed to give recent college graduates professional development training, hands-on work experience, and career acceleration opportunities. Participants will be part of an exceptionally bright, collaborative, and driven cohort. The program will be based out of Cisco’s Lisbon office, where you will have the opportunity to participate in networking and volunteer events as well as in-person training, executive speaker series, mentoring, and more!
Throughout the 24-month program, you will rotate to three different teams (8 months each) providing you with visibility across the Customer Experience organization and an array of professional experiences.
✨ Who You Are
- You show strong communication and collaboration skills with a real passion for solving problems
- You have excellent organization and time management skills
- You are process oriented with drive to simplify/improve process
- You possess effective time-management skills and the ability to prioritize work assignments
🏅Minimum Qualifications
- Recent graduate or those in the final year of a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Business, Management, ICT field, or holders of similar academic background. Equivalent experience accepted in lieu of a degree
- You speak English at a fluent level
- Interested in the business and operations side of the technology industry
- Comfortable in a fast-paced ever-changing environment
- Intellectually curious, a quick learner, adaptable, independent, and a self-starter
- Results and data driven
- Eligible to live and work in Lisbon without visa support or sponsorship
💭 Why Cisco
#WeAreCisco, where each person is unique, but we bring our talents to work as a team and make a difference powering an inclusive future for all.
We embrace digital, and help our customers implement change in their digital businesses. Some may think we’re “old” (40 years strong) and only about hardware, but we’re also a software company. And a security company. We even invented an intuitive network that adapts, predicts, learns and protects. No other company can do what we do – you can’t put us in a box!
But “Digital Transformation” is an empty buzz phrase without a culture that allows for innovation, creativity, and yes, even failure (if you learn from it.)
Day to day, we focus on the give and take. We give our best, give our egos a break, and give of ourselves (because giving back is built into our DNA.) We take accountability, bold steps, and take difference to heart. Because without diversity of thought and a dedication to equality for all, there is no moving forward.
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!
When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.
Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter. Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.