Program Director - Field Services Project Management

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.

How You Will Contribute:

• Services Project Manager is responsible for Successful deployment of medium to large scale EF&I projects, with medium/high complexity, within a Customer network. Prime responsibility of Services Project Managers manage Customer expectations and deliver define scope, within allocated budget, agreed schedule maintaining Ciena quality standards.
• Ensure that Services targeted margins are achieved, contributing to accurate revenue recognition, ensuring committed schedules and deliverables are met, and that projects meet Customer expectations for quality and service.
• Prime interface with Customer organization for all project related communications, escalations and governance
• Support pre-sales activities, act as subject matter expertise and provide inputs on project management activities and contribute to Customer proposals and RFP responses, as required.
• Interface with the stakeholders within Ciena with Franchise Leaders, Program Managers, Ciena Operations teams, Field Operations, Sales and System Engineers, Bid Management, Service Delivery Groups, and Finance to ensure project deliverables and financial targets are met.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Accountable for delivery of telecommunication services projects (EF&I) from Inception to Closure using Project Management Methodology adhering to Organizational tools & procedures and within contractual obligations.
• Lead handover from Sales Engineering team, Validate Project “Scope of Work” against the Sales Orders, develop work packages and convert them to a detailed project schedule.
• Identify RISKs develop mitigation strategy and lead complexity reviews with defined stakeholders. Track Risks and actions.
• Provide Project SOW Package to Functional teams to facilitate Internal Resource Planning and/or Partner RFQs.
• Work with Supply chain to manage customer expectations and track HW deliveries to sites
• Track and Manage project scope internall and external stakeholders, utilize Job Change Order process and tools in cases of deviations
• Develop communication plan, ensures proactive status reporting, reviews, escalations are timely reported and frequent contacts with Customer relating to all project activities.
• Drive quality in all aspects of the project services from site and network engineering through to installation, turn-up test and Ready for Service(RFS)
• Works closely with vendors to ensure quality and cost-effective field deployment activities in support of the overall project plan. This includes sending out detailed RFQs and ensuring that the partner responses are within budget and accurately reflect the requested scope, and then issuing POs upon acceptance of FPQ.
• Record and facilitate the resolution of engineering, field or any issue as they arise.
• Resources Management, assurance of proper staffing of internal as well partner resources  required as per defined schedule.
• Maintain a live project document library that includes schedule, financials, quality, risk and issues records/trackers and report any deviations to stakeholders defined in project management plan.
• Contribute in, or lead, process improvement initiatives as assigned. Records misses or near misses facilities knowledge sharing
• Achieve forecasted revenue targets Monthly, Quarterly and Annually
• Assure all necessary internal and external acceptance criteria has been identified at the beginning of a project and then met at the end of the project (i.e. scripts, test results, as-builts, NOC)
• Ability to Handle multiple projects at same time prioritize critical tasks and resources, project may be Subsea and Terrestrial deployment in nature
• Guide, Coach junior members of team to accomplish task and contribute to overall deliverables
• Maintain project in project management tools including, but not limited to:
  • Project financials: revenue & cost, plan & actual
  • Job Change Orders for scope change or cost overruns
  • Plan, Forecast and Actual Completion dates along with RCA of “missed plan dates”
  • Resource requests, assignments, and costs (time sheet approval)
  • Informative and up to date project status notes & QRE completion risk (Red, yellow, green)
  • Accurate completion percentage
  • Vendor PO completion percentage
  • Project completion checklist

The Must Haves:

• A technical degree in related fields is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• PMP certification is preferred and will be required within one year of being hired.
• Possess a minimum of 10 years of Telecommunications-related industry operational experience and/or implementing projects within those markets.
• Possess a minimum of 8 years in a lead role in previous Professional Services and/or participation in medium to large-scale projects preferred.
• Proficiency with various software applications including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).

Interpersonal skills :

• Subsea deployment experience is a strong plus.
• Business & Financial management skills regarding Project Level P&L
• Team player, organized, self-motivated, and capable of independent work.
• Strong communication skills: written and in formal presentations.
• A confident decision maker, Demonstrated sense of quick and good judgment, with sensitivity to customer demands.
• Project management skills in keeping projects on schedule and assuring all relevant parties are informed on progress or issues.
• Negotiation skills essential. Able to negotiate both with the customer, internal resource owners and external resource suppliers.
• Self motivated and self driven take Initiative within assigned responsibilities
• Multitasking: able to manage many aspects of the account(s) simultaneously.
• Strong customer interface skills and ability to work with all levels of customer operations including senior management.
• History of working in a matrix management environment with success in motivating people without direct reporting relationships.
• Ability to learn and grasp business management as well as technical concepts in fiber optic or high-speed data communications.
• Strong understanding of Ciena’s products and technologies a plus but not essential.

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Pay Range:

 The annual pay range for this position in US is $14,200 - $230,400.

 The annual pay range for this position in Canada is CAD 134,800- CAD 215,300.

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At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard.  Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.