Director, Services Innovation & Special Projects

Ciena; United States; On-site; USD 122,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) matching

ESPP

Job summary

Ciena is seeking a senior leader to create and manage the operating system for Services innovation, including intake, prioritization, experimentation, governance, funding and handoff to the portfolio. You will direct a team of innovation PLMs and cross-functional contributors, ensuring clear accountability for decisions, milestones and business outcomes.

You will develop the Services innovation strategy, establish an investment pipeline, and oversee feasibility, investment, risk and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration or equivalent.
• Strong leadership in telecommunications services, portfolio management or strategy.
• Ability to lead cross-functional programs under uncertainty.
• Experience with experimentation, prototyping and commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operating system for Services innovation including intake and governance.
• Direct a team of innovation PLMs and cross-functional contributors.
• Oversee evaluation of market, feasibility and investment for innovations.
• Own governance of the innovation portfolio and executive reporting.
• Develop team capability and performance expectations.
• Maintain visibility of tools and automations across Services.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio Management

Strategy Development

Cross-functional Leadership

Financial Acumen

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business Admin

Tools

P&L modeling

Prototyping tools

A/B testing

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.

How You Will Contribute

• Create and lead the operating system for Services innovation, including intake, prioritization, experimentation, governance, funding and handoff to portfolio ownership.
• Direct a team of innovation PLMs and cross-functional contributors while maintaining clear accountability for decisions, milestones, risk and business outcomes.
• Lead special projects sponsored by Services leadership where the opportunity is strategic, ambiguous, cross-portfolio or not yet owned by an established portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop the Services innovation strategy, priorities and portfolio in alignment with Services strategy, technology direction and growth objectives.
• Establish an innovation pipeline and decision forums with SPLM, Services R&D, Services CTO, Business Development, Finance, delivery and regional stakeholders.
• Oversee evaluation of addressable market, customer need, strategic fit, feasibility, investment, risk, differentiation and route to market.
• Direct rapid prototyping, customer co-creation, pilots and evidence development; stop, iterate, transfer or scale initiatives based on defined criteria.
• Own governance of the innovation portfolio, R&D investment recommendations, special-project plans and executive reporting.
• Develop and challenge P&Ls and business cases for complex innovation opportunities, pilots and special projects, including revenue potential, cost structure, margin, investment requirements, risks and sensitivities.
• Maintain ongoing financial tracking across the innovation funnel using relevant P&L and investment KPIs; provide performance, variance, risk and opportunity reporting as needed.
• Assess expected and realized revenue, margin, adoption and return after commercialization, and use the evidence to recommend whether initiatives should be continued, scaled, transferred, redirected or stopped.
• Help direct Innovation and R&D spend by comparing investment requirements, strategic value, commercial potential, expected return and portfolio priorities; formal budget ownership remains with the accountable budget owner.
• Ensure tested concepts transition cleanly to an accountable portfolio owner through NSI, commercial readiness, delivery readiness and enablement.
• Develop team capability, objectives and performance expectations; allocate work and remove cross-functional barriers.
• Run horizon scanning and scenario-planning activities that feed Services strategy and portfolio choices.
• Maintain visibility of tools and automations being developed across Services to encourage reuse and reduce duplication.

Measures of Success

• A healthy, transparent innovation funnel with timely evidence-based decisions.
• Conversion of priority concepts into scalable services, reusable assets or clear stop decisions.
• Business value from innovation investments, pilots and special projects.
• Quality of opportunity P&Ls, business cases, ongoing financial tracking and recommendations on innovation investment and commercialization.
• Strong cross-functional participation and clean ownership transitions into the operating portfolio.
• Effective team leadership, prioritization and development.

The Must Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration or equivalent relevant experience; advanced degree is an asset.
• Significant leadership experience in telecommunications services, innovation, portfolio management, product management, strategy or business development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and complex cross-functional programs under uncertainty.
• Strong business-case, investment, portfolio, commercial and financial skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop complex opportunity P&Ls, interpret portfolio-level financial performance, track relevant P&L and investment KPIs, and communicate implications and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Experience with experimentation, prototyping, customer validation and commercialization.
• Credible executive presence and the ability to influence across organizational boundaries.

Assets

• Experience with Services R&D, AI, automation, software-enabled services or digital operations.
• Experience with partnerships, acquisitions, ecosystem development or new-business incubation.
• Formal innovation, design-thinking, agile, product-management or program-management training.

Pay Range

The salary range for this position, In Canada, is $170,500.00 - $272,300.00 cad.

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 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.