Category Lead, Capital Equipment (CAPEX)

Ciena•Remote-Canada-Ontario, ON

5d•$114,900 - $183,500

About The Position

Ciena is seeking a strategic, results-driven Category Lead for Capital Equipment (CAPEX) to lead global category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management for capital expenditure investments. The position serves as the primary commercial interface between Procurement and Engineering, Global Operations, Manufacturing, Product Development, and Finance. The equipment categories may include test and measurement equipment, manufacturing automation, laboratory infrastructure, reliability testing systems, production tooling, and other technology-enabling equipment. The role develops and executes multi-year category strategies, leads complex commercial negotiations, optimizes total cost of ownership, mitigates supply and commercial risks, and establishes supplier partnerships that support Ciena’s technology roadmap and business growth. It also provides commercial expertise for capital planning and investment decisions, supports equipment and manufacturing initiatives, and promotes compliance, supplier performance, and asset lifecycle optimization. The position’s success is measured by savings and cost avoidance, total cost of ownership improvements, supplier performance, risk reduction, stakeholder satisfaction, preferred supplier adoption, and successful support of capital investment initiatives. The posting gives salary ranges of CAD $140,700–$173,100 in Canada and USD $114,900–$183,500 in the USA. Ciena describes its culture as guided by innovation, integrity, and collaboration, and states that it values workforce diversity and does not tolerate discrimination.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
At least 7 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management.
Demonstrated experience managing capital equipment, laboratory infrastructure, manufacturing technology, automation systems, test equipment, or related CapEx categories.
Proven record leading complex commercial negotiations and delivering measurable cost savings, total cost of ownership improvements, and business value.
Strong understanding of contract development, risk management, supplier performance management, and sourcing strategy.
Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, and Legal organizations.
Strong analytical, communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Experience using ERP systems and procurement technologies.

Nice To Haves

MBA, master’s degree, or equivalent advanced education.
Professional certification such as CPSM, CIPS, APICS/CPIM, or equivalent.
Experience in telecommunications, networking technology, electronics manufacturing, high-tech, or advanced manufacturing industries.
Global procurement and multi-site category management experience.
Familiarity with capital investment planning, equipment lifecycle management, laboratory operations, manufacturing automation, and technology development environments.
Experience with sourcing analytics, business intelligence tools, and e-sourcing platforms.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute multi-year category strategies aligned with business objectives, technology roadmaps, manufacturing requirements, and capital investment plans.
Analyze spend data, market intelligence, supplier capabilities, and industry trends to identify sourcing opportunities and long-term value creation.
Partner with Engineering, Product Development, Global Operations, Manufacturing, and Finance to align equipment sourcing decisions with business priorities.
Support capital planning and budgeting with cost forecasting, market insights, lead-time analysis, and sourcing recommendations.
Build and maintain category roadmaps balancing cost, capability, innovation, risk, and scalability.
Lead end-to-end sourcing, including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract awards.
Develop commercial strategies to optimize cost, quality, service, delivery performance, and supplier relationships.
Negotiate commercial agreements, including master purchase agreements, statements of work, maintenance agreements, support contracts, warranties, service-level agreements, and leasing arrangements.
Apply total cost of ownership, should-cost analysis, and value engineering to sourcing and investment decisions.
Drive savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and productivity initiatives across assigned categories.
Establish preferred supplier frameworks and standardization strategies where appropriate.
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and service partners.
Implement supplier relationship management practices, including business reviews, performance scorecards, continuous improvement, and executive engagement.
Evaluate supplier performance across cost, quality, reliability, responsiveness, innovation, and service metrics.
Resolve supplier performance issues with suppliers and stakeholders and implement corrective actions as needed.
Support supplier innovation and technology advancement opportunities that create business value.
Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to develop sourcing strategies and equipment specifications early in project lifecycles.
Support new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, laboratory expansion, automation initiatives, and other strategic investments.
Provide commercial expertise and procurement leadership for capital business cases, investment approvals, and vendor selection.
Partner with Finance to monitor capital expenditures, forecast spending, and align spending with approved budgets.
Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contractual obligations, corporate governance, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Assess and mitigate commercial, supplier, technology, capacity, and supply chain risks.
Develop sourcing and supplier strategies that support business continuity and reduce dependency risks.
Support equipment lifecycle management, including upgrades, service support transitions, end-of-life planning, redeployment, and optimization.
Identify opportunities to improve equipment utilization, standardization, and lifecycle cost performance across Ciena’s global footprint.
Use spend analytics, market intelligence, supplier benchmarking, and category performance data to inform decisions.
Establish and maintain category KPIs, dashboards, and reporting for leadership visibility.
Track and communicate savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, risk exposure, and strategic initiative progress.
Drive process improvements, sourcing excellence, and adoption of procurement best practices across stakeholder groups.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) with company matching in the USA
Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP) with company matching in Canada
Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company-paid holidays
Paid sick leave
Vacation time
Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence in accordance with applicable laws
Discretionary incentive bonus eligibility for non-sales employees