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 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).