Vice President - Global Tax

Ciena Government Solutions•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena builds the critical infrastructure powering the AI era. We’re a technology company shaping the future of networking, guided by innovation, integrity, and collaboration. Through development opportunities, meaningful work, and flexibility, Ciena supports growth and well-being—on and off the job. Connect with a career that matters. Ciena seeks a Vice President, Tax who will serve as the senior tax leader for Ciena, accountable for shaping and executing a global tax agenda that supports a public, multinational technology company. The role will balance strategic tax leadership with hands-on operating rigor across planning, compliance, reporting, and business partnership. This executive will be expected to bring sound judgment, strong technical credibility, and the ability to translate complexity into practical advice for senior stakeholders. The mandate is well suited for a leader who can elevate tax as a strategic function while ensuring the company remains disciplined, compliant, and efficient across jurisdictions. This individual will be expected to lead with integrity and humility and serve as a change agent and represent Ciena globally. They will support senior management decision making around the world.

Requirements

Serve as the senior tax leader for Ciena, accountable for shaping and executing a global tax agenda.
Balance strategic tax leadership with hands-on operating rigor across planning, compliance, reporting, and business partnership.
Bring sound judgment, strong technical credibility, and the ability to translate complexity into practical advice for senior stakeholders.
Lead with integrity and humility and serve as a change agent.
Support senior management decision making around the world.
Lead the global tax function across direct tax, indirect tax, international tax, transfer pricing, tax accounting, tax compliance, and tax controversy.
Develop a forward-looking tax strategy aligned with Ciena’s growth priorities, global footprint, capital structure, and operating model.
Partner closely with the CFO and senior finance leadership on matters including earnings, cash, legal-entity structure, transfer pricing, supply chain, and business expansion.
Establish global tax policies and procedures with the objective of repatriating cash efficiently, reducing current tax liability, and lowering the effective tax rate.
Oversee quarterly and annual tax provision processes, external reporting support, and all matters related to tax accounting and disclosure.
Ensure strong governance, controls, and risk management across the tax function, including effective management of audits, examinations, and advisor relationships.
Support strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, integrations, restructurings, and other enterprise transactions by providing clear, commercially grounded tax guidance.
Build and lead a high-performing tax organization, including internal team development and effective use of external advisors (Deloitte) where appropriate.
Establish tax as a trusted advisor to the business by partnering effectively with Treasury, Legal, Controller, FP&A, HR, and operating leaders.
Elevate the talent across the organization and build a strong pipeline for the future.
Review and monitor changes in domestic and foreign tax legislation, rulings, regulations, and litigation.
Understand the relevant impact and recommend and implement responsive action to manage existing positions and capture new opportunities.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Deloitte as an external advisor.

Responsibilities

Lead the global tax function across direct tax, indirect tax, international tax, transfer pricing, tax accounting, tax compliance, and tax controversy.
Develop a forward-looking tax strategy aligned with Ciena’s growth priorities, global footprint, capital structure, and operating model.
Partner closely with the CFO and senior finance leadership on matters including earnings, cash, legal-entity structure, transfer pricing, supply chain, and business expansion.
Establish global tax policies and procedures with the objective of repatriating cash efficiently, reducing current tax liability, and lowering the effective tax rate.
Oversee quarterly and annual tax provision processes, external reporting support, and all matters related to tax accounting and disclosure.
Ensure strong governance, controls, and risk management across the tax function, including effective management of audits, examinations, and advisor relationships.
Support strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, integrations, restructurings, and other enterprise transactions by providing clear, commercially grounded tax guidance.
Build and lead a high-performing tax organization, including internal team development and effective use of external advisors (Deloitte) where appropriate.
Establish tax as a trusted advisor to the business by partnering effectively with Treasury, Legal, Controller, FP&A, HR, and operating leaders.
Elevate the talent across the organization and build a strong pipeline for the future.
Review and monitor changes in domestic and foreign tax legislation, rulings, regulations, and litigation.
Understand the relevant impact and recommend and implement responsive action to manage existing positions and capture new opportunities.