Sales Compensation, Senior Manager

Ciena•Ottawa, ON

33d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact. This role leads a globally visible sales compensation function, owning the end-to-end commission process and setting the operating model that supports growth, scalability, and compliance. Partnering closely with Sales, Sales Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and Internal Audit, the Sales Compensation Senior Manager influences key decisions, supports senior leadership and the Sales Commission Governance Board (SCGB), and continuously evolves processes, reporting, and analytics to drive operational excellence across the business.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
5–7+ years of experience in sales compensation, finance, or related roles, including people management experience
Proven ability to collaborate and influence across functions and levels, including executive leadership
Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deliverables under tight timelines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
High attention to detail with a strong commitment to accuracy and controls
Demonstrated aptitude for continuous process improvement

Nice To Haves

Experience working with sales compensation platforms such as Varicent or Anaplan
Experience with Salesforce (Salesforce.com Customer Relationship Management (CRM)) or other CRM platforms
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with reporting and analytics tools such as Microsoft Power BI
Experience supporting global or multi-region sales organizations

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a team of four sales compensation analysts, building capability, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement
Own and manage the monthly global sales commission cycle, including bookings assignment, commission calculations, payroll submissions, audits, and analytics
Drive the implementation and annual (or semi-annual) rollout of new sales compensation plans
Design and evolve a scalable operating model by automating, standardizing, and transforming commission processes, reporting, and analytics
Partner cross-functionally to ensure sales compensation programs are effective, compliant, and aligned with business objectives
Support year-end Sales and Marketing Kick Off (SMKO) activities
Provide project and ad-hoc support to the Vice President of Global Sales Operations