Public Relations Intern Jobs in Washington, DC

The application window is expected to close on: 09/17/2026Meet the Team
Global Communications is a team of more than 150 best-in-class communications professionals. Our mission is to protect and improve Cisco's reputation through innovative and thought-provoking storytelling, execution excellence and transparency. The PR team is responsible for leading Cisco's corporate and technology PR programs, as well as crafting and delivering clear and compelling narratives that grab the attention of media and influencers.
Your Impact
Join a worldwide technology leader at the forefront of the AI revolution. Cisco is seeking a Public Relations Manager focused on our People, Learning and AI Transformation efforts, with the opportunity to bridge across the full 3P portfolio (People, Purpose& Policy) more broadly at times. In this role, you will serve as an established communications advisor, translating complex business priorities into clear, compelling narratives that strengthen Cisco's reputation as an innovation leader and a great place to work.
You will partner closely with key executives to elevate their platforms and build a consistent media drumbeat around AI workforce transformation, organizational leadership and key learning initiatives. You will combine proactive media relations with compelling narrative storytelling to drive high-impact external conversations that are aligned with Cisco’s business priorities.
You will partner closely with key People executives to elevate their platforms and build a consistent media drumbeat around AI workforce transformation, organizational leadership and key skilling initiatives. You will combine proactive media relations with compelling narrative storytelling—translating Cisco's business priorities into high-impact external conversations.
Key Responsibilities

• Thought Leadership: Drive a consistent, high-impact media drumbeat to strengthen Cisco’s positioning across key People priorities, including AI workforce transformation, organizational leadership and key skilling initiatives related to AI, cybersecurity and more.
• Executive Positioning: Serve as a trusted advisor to key People executives and their benches, identifying and securing high-profile external platforms, including bylines, awards, speaking opportunities at premier industry conferences and events.
• Media Relations& Storytelling: Proactively pitch and secure high-visibility feature stories, quotes, and strong message pull-through across top business, tech, policy, and HR vertical outlets, as well as emerging media platforms like podcasts.
• Issues Management: Counsel internal stakeholders and help coordinate swift, thoughtful communications strategies on sensitive topics; help ensure message clarity and factual reporting.
• Agency Management and Operational Efficiency: Direct external PR agency partners as an extension of the internal team; ensure our PR strategy is well understood and translated into high impact results.
• Communicate Impact: Track, measure and communicate results to stakeholders and team leadership, with emphasis on impact and outcomes.
• AI Innovation& Workflow Automation: Continuously optimize PR operations and accelerate team deliverable timelines by actively experimenting with and adopting generative AI tools, agents and automated AI workflows.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, or related fields.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with top-tier business, technology, HR or policy media; demonstrated success in securing high-impact feature coverage.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for a defined portfolio or business area; strong knowledge of competitive landscape and stakeholder needs.
• Demonstrated capability in crisis and issue management on sensitive topics under tight deadlines.
• Experience leading and collaborating on cross-functional campaigns and project timelines for multi-channel initiatives.
• Comfort with ambiguity and proven ability to balance global communications goals with functional and regional needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in artificial intelligence, people, HR, policy, or corporate culture communications.
• Track record of developing and executing transformational corporate narratives during periods of organizational change.
• Established experience using AI tools to streamline workflows or automate communications tasks.
• Experience working with or managing external PR agency partners on integrated campaigns.
• Familiarity with measurement and analytics frameworks that tie PR programs to strategic outcomes.

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 $129,100.00 to $163,800.00 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:
$145,200.00 - $212,100.00

Non-Metro New York state& Washington state:
$129,100.00 - $188,300.00

• 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.