Senior Technical Program Manager

Ciena is committed to our people-first philosophy. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a personalized and flexible work environment that empowers an individual’s passions, growth, wellbeing 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:

Provide overall Technical Program/Project management for implementation of medium to large size Migration, System Integration, and E, F & I projects, with medium/high complexity, within a customer network.  

The position is full-time onsite at Customer location in Lompoc, CA.

Ciena Government Solutions, Inc (CGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ciena) is looking for a Senior Technical Program Manager for an exceptional opportunity to join in establishing and growing a new services practice within a technology leader. CGSI’s team is expanding an already successful Consulting Services practice focused on customization of Ciena’s product suite and the application of subject matter expertise within the national security, defense and civilian sectors.  This customer engineering practice has an exponential growth capacity for the Ciena Government team.  The Candidate must have a strong technical background and ability to work the full spectrum of the PM work regarding customer coordination and communications.     
This is a technically oriented program management role with a focus on customer requirements and security related business processes.  This role will report to the Senior Manager of Global Professional Services.
 
Responsibilities
 

• Drive Migration and Systems Integration delivery programs (and supporting projects) from presales proposal input through to delivery acceptance and project closure.
• Make certain that deviations to the project schedule are investigated and properly followed up.
• Ensure proper contact with customers relating to field project activities.
• Works closely with Engineering, Deployment Coordinators and Partners on project implementation within the E, F & I Services Organization.
• Partners directly with internal and external customers to translate requirements into structured and executable tasks and milestones.   
• May be responsible for multiple projects encompassing a product area or supply chain area and may help direct less senior Deployment Project Managers in their duties.
• Facilitate communication between internal groups, internal functions, and outside suppliers/customers as necessary in support of the project execution.
• May be required to contribute to process management optimization efforts associated with project management.
• Document and communicate project status, obstacles, and resolutions to management.
• Accountable for developing and coordinating carefully designed and approved action plans to successfully complete projects.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects of projects, during the onsite implementation phase.
• Assure all parties maintain close communication and coordination regarding project status and milestones. 
• Maintain project schedules and report to Management regularly or as agreed.

The Must Haves:

• US Citizenship required.
• DoD Secret Clearance
• 12+ years of relevant experience working in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) field with prior responsibilities in program/project management roles for cloud or virtualization systems integration delivery projects. Experience with multivendor and software professional services for communication service providers or enterprise customers is preferred.
• Technically oriented program management experience is necessary. Strength with optical networking technology, network function virtualization, orchestration (MANO), and networking (L2/L3, security, routing protocols, network design) is desired.
• Strong negotiation skills to work with customers and resource owners. Ability to mentor and lead by influence and collaboration.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communications skills. Strong quantitative skills. Attention to statement of work details. Customer and partner facing skills.
• Bring high energy customer-focus to the organization. Self- motivated to drive success based on organizational goals.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience). MS or MBA is valuable.
• Project management certification a plus - PMP certification, project+, ITIL, along with any virtualization and networking technology certifications.

Demonstrated skills in desktop applications as well as project management and financial too