Senior Advisor, Network Standards

Ciena•Ottawa, ON

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. As a Senior Advisor, Network Standards, this role shapes the future of global networking by influencing the standards that underpin data communications and optical networking technologies. This position provides a unique opportunity to lead standards strategy at scale, collaborate with industry leaders, and ensure Ciena’s innovations are aligned with and influence international standards bodies. The role combines deep technical expertise and strategic leadership to drive cross-functional impact across the organization.

Requirements

10+ years of experience leading and contributing to international standards development in data communications and optical networking
Demonstrated contributions within one or more of the following: International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector Study Group 15 (ITU-T SG15), Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.1 (IEEE 802.1), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.3 (IEEE 802.3)
Proven experience leading or managing standards teams, including in virtual team models
Strong ability to align standards activity with business and technology strategy and to drive outcomes in standards
Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in hardware and/or software product development for networking equipment spanning Layer 0 through Layer 3
Leadership roles within Standards Development Organizations, such as chair, or specification editor
Working knowledge of intellectual property policies and patent considerations within standards-setting environments
Business acumen and/or experience in product management roles
Ability to navigate complex, multi-SDO technical landscapes and build consensus with industry and government participants
Ability to understand diverse cultural dynamics, context, and motivations while developing standards.
Ability to invest in long‑term relationships that create mutual trust, goodwill, and future reciprocity beyond immediate transactions.

Responsibilities

Develop and evolve Ciena’s network standards strategies in partnership with internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the company’s business objectives and strategic plan
Lead and coordinate a global, virtual community of international standards contributors, maintaining visibility into contributions and activities, and ensuring strategic impact
Maintain accurate points of contact and visibility into Ciena participation in Standards Development Organizations (SDOs)
Identify gaps in standards engagement and recommend targeted enhancements to ensure comprehensive coverage of strategic standards development
Manage SDO memberships, including joining, renewing, and exiting memberships as required
Drive coordinated strategy and make individual contributions across key SDOs (i.e. ITU-T SG15, OIF, IETF), particularly where technical topics span multiple organizations
Provide strategic insight on emerging standards trends and their implications for Ciena’s technology investments and product roadmap