Senior Director, Indirect Procurement

Ciena • Baltimore, MD

2d

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 the Senior Director of Indirect Procurement, you will be a key leader within Ciena’s Procurement organization, responsible for driving the strategy, execution, and transformation of global Indirect Procurement. This role requires a visionary leader who has career success in transformation and one that can foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and innovation while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and business stakeholders. You’ll develop and lead a high-performing procurement team, champion industry-leading practices, and ensure alignment with Ciena’s strategic objectives to deliver measurable value across the organization.

Requirements

• Minimum of 20 years of experience in Procurement, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of leadership experience in a senior procurement roles within a global organization, with a proven track record of coaching high-performing teams and driving transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior leaders in complex, matrixed environments, delivering measurable business results through strategic procurement initiatives.
• Polished communicator in developing and delivering presentations for different levels of audience
• Highly collaborative, an excellent networker, adept at fostering trust, has strong interpersonal/people skills; cultivates strong internal partnerships, builds bridges across departments, excels at stakeholder engagement
• Expertise in supplier negotiation, contract management, and building collaborative supplier relationships.
• Proficiency in data analytics and procurement technologies (e.g., Power BI, Oracle, Excel) to drive decision-making and process optimization.
• Strong financial acumen, with a solid understanding of financial statements and business performance drivers.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced certifications in Procurement or Supply Chain Management (e.g., CPSM, CSCP).
• Experience with using or implementing source-to-pay technologies (e.g., e-sourcing, Oracle, Coupa, CLM tools, spend analytics).
• Proven success in leading initiatives related to sustainability, supplier diversity, or risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire, and develop a global Indirect Procurement team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Serve as the strategic face of Indirect Procurement, building trusted relationships with senior business leaders and executives to position Procurement as a valued partner and driver of organizational success.
• Develop and execute Ciena’s global Indirect Procurement strategy, including optimizing sourcing processes, supplier management, and procurement governance to achieve cost efficiency and operational excellence.
• Drive thought leadership and strategic influence by leveraging market intelligence and industry trends to anticipate opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimize spend.
• Establish and champion Procurement policies, tools, and technologies to enhance transparency, efficiency, and drive compliance across the organization.
• Collaborate with Finance and FP&A teams to set and achieve annual savings targets, ensuring alignment with company-wide financial goals.
• Define and implement robust reporting mechanisms to track procurement value, cost savings, and supplier performance, delivering actionable insights to executive leadership.
• Lead global sourcing, negotiation, and contract management initiatives to secure favorable terms, mitigate risks, and enhance supplier relationships.
• Drive strategic initiatives in sustainability, supplier diversity, and risk management, aligning procurement practices with Ciena’s broader corporate goals.

Benefits

• Ciena offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, participation in 401(K) (USA) & DCPP (Canada) with company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation time.
• We also comply with all applicable laws regarding Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees