Director, Government Relations — National Security and Economic Security Policy

Ciena • Remote-US-DC, DC

4d • $152,400 - $243,400

About The Position

The Director, Government Relations — National Security and Economic Security Policy will lead Ciena’s engagement on government initiatives affecting the development, manufacture, movement, sale, and trusted use of networking equipment worldwide. Reporting to the Vice President, Government Relations, the Director will anticipate and help shape national-security, economic-security, supply-chain, cybersecurity, trade, and technology policies that could create risks or opportunities for the company. The role translates evolving government requirements into business implications and coordinates policy responses across Government Relations, Legal, Trade Compliance, Product Security, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Sales, and other functions.

This role requires a global perspective. Ciena is headquartered in the United States, sells worldwide, manufactures primarily in Mexico and Thailand, has major research and development operations in India and Canada, and depends on global logistics, distribution, and component-sourcing networks. The Director will assess how policies interact across jurisdictions and how measures aimed at one country, supplier, technology, or sector may affect broader operations and market access. The company is seeking a candidate in the DC area.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, international affairs, law, economics, political science, engineering, cybersecurity, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in government, corporate government relations, public policy, national security, international trade, telecommunications, technology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of how national-security and economic-security policies affect globally integrated technology companies.
• Experience engaging senior government officials, legislators, regulators, or national-security agencies.
• Ability to analyze complex policy proposals and translate them into clear commercial and operational implications.
• Strong writing, briefing, advocacy, coalition-building, and executive-communication skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional work without direct authority over participating functions.
• Sound judgment when handling sensitive, confidential, or politically complex matters.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in law, public policy, international affairs, business, cybersecurity, or a related discipline.
• Experience with telecommunications networks, networking equipment, semiconductors, critical infrastructure, or other advanced-technology industries.
• Familiarity with export controls, sanctions, supply-chain security, cybersecurity regulation, government procurement, domestic-content requirements, or investment screening.
• Experience working across North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific.
• Government service in a national-security, trade, economic, telecommunications, cybersecurity, or foreign-policy role.
• Experience developing advocacy strategies that combine direct government engagement, industry coalitions, and evidence-based thought leadership.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Vice President and company stakeholders to develop public policy priorities, weighing risk, impact, and the company’s ability to influence policy positions.
• Monitor and assess national-security and economic-security initiatives affecting telecommunications and networking equipment, critical infrastructure, advanced technologies, global supply chains, and international trade.
• Evaluate how proposed policies may affect product design, component sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, research and development, market access, customer eligibility, and government procurement.
• Develop risk assessments, scenarios, and executive recommendations that distinguish immediate compliance requirements from longer-term strategic exposure.
• Track potentially conflicting or overlapping requirements across the United States and other priority markets.
• Develop and execute advocacy strategies for national-security policies, including identifying priority messages, audiences, and engagement channels.
• Represent Ciena and build relationships with Congress, U.S. departments and agencies, foreign governments, regulators, embassies, and international institutions responsible for relevant policy areas.
• Develop company positions and supporting materials, including regulatory comments, consultation responses, legislative proposals, briefings, testimony, and executive talking points.
• Advance company priorities through direct engagement, trade associations, and industry coalitions, selecting the approach suited to each issue.
• Coordinate policy responses across Government Relations, Legal, Trade Compliance, Product Security, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Sales, and other functions.
• Travel domestically and internationally as required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Participation in 401(k) (USA) and DCPP (Canada) with company matching.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid sick leave and vacation time.
• Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence in accordance with applicable laws.
• Non-Sales employees may be eligible for a discretionary incentive bonus; Sales employees may be eligible for a sales commission.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director