Senior Program Director of Enterprise Transformation

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

Reporting and

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Chief Transformation Officer (CTO), the Senior Program Director position is a pivotal leadership role. It combines strategic vision with operational execution, requiring the ability to manage complex, cross‑functional and concurrent transformation initiatives while maintaining focus on the broader organizational mission. The role is designed for a seasoned program director with extensive experience in delivering enterprise‑wide transformation programs and driving measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Program Ownership

Direct accountability for the execution and delivery of 2–4 concurrent, enterprise-wide transformation programs.

Ensure programs achieve intended milestones, manage risks, dependencies, budgets, and deliver measurable value.

Governance Design

Develop and enforce governance frameworks, including steering committees, tollgates, decision forums, reporting mechanisms, and methodologies.

Strategic Roadmap Management

Maintain a multi-year transformation roadmap, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and managing critical-path interdependencies.

Decision Support

Lead scenario planning and trade‑off analyses to balance speed, risk, and impact.

Prepare concise, high-impact executive materials to drive strategic decision-making.

Organizational Barriers

Identify cultural, organizational, or leadership obstacles and provide actionable recommendations to the CTO.

Continuous Improvement

Establish and refine operating mechanisms, tools, templates, and knowledge management processes to improve efficiency and program delivery.

Behavioral Traits Curiosity and Creativity

Demonstrates a proactive approach to exploring alternative solutions and adapting best practices.

Possesses a builder mentality, with a track record of creating new capabilities in ambiguous or green‑field environments.

Consultative Mindset

Operates as a strategic advisor, blending operational expertise with flexible, solution-oriented recommendations.

Pushes for faster decisions while balancing organizational realities.

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to quickly build and maintain trusted relationships at all levels of the organization.

Balances assertiveness with empathy to drive change collaboratively.

Low‑ego approach focused on enabling the CTO and leadership team’s success.

Qualifications & Experience Professional Background

Significant and progressive leadership experience in large, complex, global public companies (preferably in manufacturing, technology, or industrial sectors).

Proven track record of delivering $50M+ cross‑functional transformation programs in matrixed environments.

Technical Expertise

Mastery of program/portfolio management methodologies, governance design, and value‑tracking disciplines.

Financial acumen, including business‑case development, cost‑benefit analysis, and P&L impact modeling.

Communication Skills

Exceptional executive storytelling and presentation skills, especially via PowerPoint.

Education & Certification

Bachelor’s degree required ; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.

PMP, PgMP, PfMP, or equivalent certification is a plus.

Travel Flexibility

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Pay ranges at Ciena are designed to accommodate variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions, and locations, reflecting our diverse products, industries, and lines of business. Please note that the pay range information provided in this posting pertains specifically to the primary location, which is the top location listed in case multiple locations are available.

Non‑Sales employees may be eligible for a discretionary incentive bonus, while Sales employees may be eligible for a sales commission. In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena…