Distribution Leader, North America

Ciena•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Senior leader within Ciena’s Global Distribution organization, this role plays a critical part in ensuring customer commitments are met through disciplined execution of the shipping plan and strong collaboration across Direct Order Fulfillment (DOF), Scheduling, Logistics, and Customer Operations. The position drives on-time delivery, cycle-time reduction, inventory accuracy, and continuous improvement across warehouse operations, directly supporting Ciena’s ability to serve customers reliably and at scale.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in warehouse management, distribution operations, order fulfillment, and inventory control
Flexibility and experience supporting shift warehouse operations (Thursday-Saturday and Sundays twice per month)
Demonstrated expertise in Direct Order Fulfillment (DOF) environments and end-to-end warehouse processes
Working knowledge of materials requirements planning (MRP) systems, preferably Oracle, within a warehouse environment
Proven ability to drive results through Lean manufacturing tools and continuous improvement methodologies
Strong analytical, process-oriented mindset with the ability to assess data, identify trends, and implement improvements
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence internal teams and external partners globally
Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives, remain focused under pressure, and communicate progress and risks effectively

Nice To Haves

Background working with third-party logistics providers or outsourced fulfillment partners
Experience supporting warehouse system migrations, expansion, testing, or major process transformations
Exposure to global supply chain operations and cross-time-zone collaboration
Advanced capability in capacity modeling or operational scenario planning

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day Direct Order Fulfillment (DOF) warehouse operations to ensure on-time customer order fulfillment and adherence to the shipping plan
Drive effective warehouse strategies across scheduling, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory cycle counts to improve operational efficiency
Manage and optimize workforce and resource allocation to mitigate bottlenecks and support demand variability, seasonality, and peak volumes
Partner closely with Scheduling, Logistics, Customer Operations, and suppliers to align delivery commitments and resolve issues impacting orders
Analyze capacity trends and perform rough-cut and “what if” capacity planning to support projected shipment dates and business opportunities
Escalate order DOF-related issues and collaborate with Quality and Information Technology teams to address system or supply concerns.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles to enhance performance, accuracy, and scalability