Pluggable Material Lead

Ciena; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 92,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision plans

401(K) USA / DCPP Canada

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Employee Assistance Program

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Vacation time

Job summary

Ciena, a leader in high‑speed connectivity, seeks a senior leader to drive Phase‑In Phase‑Out (PIPO) at contract manufacturers, optimizing material strategies across engineering and manufacturing. This role focuses on cost reduction, supply continuity, and risk management within a global supply chain context.

You will partner with Product Engineering and R&D to anticipate changes, manage demand and inventory, and deliver measurable business value through disciplined material planning and

Qualifications

• 10+ years in materials planning, procurement, NPI, production line management, or product engineering.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business Administration, or Engineering.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams with external EMS partners.
• Strong analytical capability including scenario modeling and what-if analyses.
• Deep understanding of materials management, MRP, and ERP systems.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while driving continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Phase‑In Phase‑Out (PIPO) execution with contract manufacturers to accelerate timelines and reduce costs.
• Drive material transitions enabling cost reduction, quality improvement, and new product introduction.
• Optimize PIPO timing, risk management, and excess prevention to accelerate financial impact.
• Collaborate with Product Engineering and R&D to anticipate changes and integrate material strategies early.
• Provide material constraint visibility into forums, including demand, inventory, PO coverage, and excess exposure.
• Identify and execute material optimization opportunities, including LT B strategies and rework initiatives.
• Escalate third‑party supply risks and work with Global Commodity team to ensure supply security.

Skills

Materials planning

Procurement

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical capability

MRP/ERP knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (Supply Chain/Operations/Engineering)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel automation

E2open

Informatica

Hyperion

Job description

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena builds the critical infrastructure powering the AI era. We’re a technology company shaping the future of networking, guided by innovation, integrity, and collaboration. Through development opportunities, meaningful work, and flexibility, Ciena supports growth and well-being—on and off the job. Connect with a career that matters.

Accelerate cost reduction, improve supply security, and shape the materials strategy behind Ciena’s next generation of products. This senior leadership role sits at the intersection of supply chain, engineering, and manufacturing, driving Phase‑In Phase‑Out (PIPO) execution to strengthen competitiveness, reduce risk, and unlock measurable business value.

How you will make an impact:

• Lead Phase‑In Phase‑Out (PIPO) execution with contract manufacturers to accelerate timelines, maximize cost reduction, and improve supply continuity
• Drive material transitions that enable cost reduction, quality improvement, product retirement, and new product introduction
• Optimize PIPO timing, risk management, and excess prevention to accelerate financial impact
• Partner closely with Product Engineering and Research and Development (R&D) to anticipate upcoming changes and integrate material strategies early
• Provide material constraint visibility into Product Engineering and R&D forums, including demand, inventory levels, purchase order coverage, and excess exposure
• Identify and execute material optimization opportunities, including last‑time‑buy (LTB) strategies and rework initiatives
• Escalate third‑party supply risks and collaborate with the Global Commodity team to ensure security of supply

The must haves:

• 10+ years of experience in materials planning, procurement, new product introduction, production line management, and/or product engineering
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or Engineering
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and achieve results through external manufacturing services (EMS) partners
• Strong analytical capability, including scenario modeling and “what‑if” analysis
• Deep understanding of materials management, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and driving continuous improvement

Nice to haves:

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing methodologies or Six Sigma frameworks (Green Belt or Black Belt)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Engineering or technical background
• Experience supporting multi‑site, multicultural manufacturing environments
• Advanced proficiency with supply chain and business intelligence tools, including E2open, Informatica, Hyperion, or advanced Excel automation

Pay Range:

• The annual pay range for this position, in Canada, is:
• $92,300.00 - $147,500.00

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 offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, participation in 401(K) (USA) & DCPP (Canada) with company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company‑paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation time. We also comply with all applicable laws regarding Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.

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 anEqual 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.