Project Manager

Ciena is committed to our people-first philosophy. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a personalized and flexible work environment that empowers an individual’s passions, growth, wellbeing and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

Why Ciena:

• We are big proponents of life-work integration and provide the flexibility and tools to make it a reality with remote work and potentially, part-time work.
• We believe an inclusive, diverse, and barrier-free work environment makes for empowered and committed employees.
• We recognize the importance of well-being and offer programs and benefits to support and sustain the mental and physical health of our employees and their families and also offer a variety of paid family leave programs.
• We are committed to employee development, offering tuition reimbursement and a variety of in-house learning and mentorship opportunities.
• We know that financial security is important. We offer competitive salaries and incentive programs, RSU’s (job level specific) and an employee share option purchase program.
• We realize time away to recharge is important. We offer flexible paid time off!
• Great work deserves recognition. We have a robust recognition program, with ongoing and enhanced awards for exemplary performance.

How You Will Contribute:

• Reporting to the Senior Manager of Field Service Project Management, as the Services Project Manager, you will be responsible for overall management of implementation of medium to large size EF&I projects, with medium/high complexity, within a Customer network. Primary responsibility of Services Project Managers is to successfully manage Customer projects, driving achievement of Customer and Ciena costs, schedule, and quality goals on the project.
• Ensure that Service target margins are achieved, contributing to accurate revenue recognition, ensuring committed schedules and deliverables are met, and that projects meet Customer expectations for quality and service.
• May support pre-sales activities, providing project management subject matter expertise, and contributing to Customer proposals and RFP responses, as required.
• Typically interface with the Ciena Program Managers/Franchise Leaders, Customer project management, and Ciena Operations teams, Field Operations, Sales and System Engineers, Bid Management, Service Delivery Groups, and Finance to ensure project deliverables and financial targets are met.

Your primary activities will include:

• Accountable for Services (EF&I) Project Financials, Timelines, and Quality.
• Validate Project “Scope of Work” against Sales Order to develop detailed project plans.
• Provide Project SOW Package to Functional teams to facilitate Internal Resource Planning and/or Partner RFQs.
• Oversees and ensures proper planning to meet sales forecasts, based on input from Program Management and other internal teams.
• Make certain that deviations to the project schedule are investigated and properly followed up.
• Manage project scope internally and externally utilizing the Job Change Order process and tools.
• Create and maintain Project Plan throughout project lifecycle reviewing with internal and external team at the appropriate intervals.
• Ensures proactive and frequent contact with Customers relating to all project activities.
• Works closely with Engineering, Deployment Coordinators, and Partners on project implementation within the EF&I Services Organization.
• Partners directly with internal and external Customers to translate requirements into structured and executable tasks and milestones.
• Works closely with vendors to ensure quality and cost-effective field deployment activities in support of the overall project plan. This includes sending out detailed RFQs and ensuring that the partner responses are within budget and accurately reflect the requested scope, and then issuing POs upon acceptance of FPQ.
• Works with vendors to assure timely financial closeout including JCOs and invoicing.
• Help drive quality in all aspects of the project services from site and network engineering through to installation, turn-up, and test.
• Will be responsible for multiple Subsea and terrestrial projects encompassing a product area or supply chain area and may help direct less senior Services Project Managers in their duties.
• Facilitate communication between internal groups, internal functions, and outside suppliers/customers as necessary in support of the project execution
• Document and communicate project status, obstacles, and resolutions to management.
• Document and facilitate the resolution of engineering and field issues as they arise.
• Accountable for developing and coordinating carefully designed and approved action plans to successfully complete EF&I projects.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all aspects of EF&I projects, during the on-site implementation phase.
• Assure all parties maintain close communication and coordination regarding project status and milestones.
• Assurance of proper staffing depending on complexity or nature of the project scope.
• Maintain project schedules and report to Management regularly or as agreed.
• Participate in, or lead, process improvement initiatives as assigned.
• Provides input to department budgets as assigned.
• Assure all necessary internal and external acceptance criteria has been identified at the beginning of a project and then met at the end of the project (i.e. scripts, test results, as-builts, NOC)
• Maintain project in project management tools including, but not limited to:
  • Project financials: revenue & cost, plan & actual
  • Job Change Orders for scope change or cost overruns
  • Plan, Forecast and Actual Completion dates along with RCA of “missed plan dates”
  • Resource requests, assignments, and costs (time sheet approval)
  • Informative and up to date project status notes & QRE completion risk (Red, yellow, green)
  • Accurate completion percentage
  • Vendor PO completion percentage
  • Project completion checklist

What Does Ciena Expect of You?

• Initiative – you’re a self-starter who works with limited direction and is committed to delivering against aggressive deadlines.
• A customer first mentality – what’s important to the customer is also important to you.
• Agility – with an ability to flex between the strategic and tactical, you manage competing and ever-changing priorities and maintain a balanced and methodical approach to problem solving.

• Communication expertise – you possess the ability to tailor your message and ideas to the audience to ensure understanding and consensus.
• The flexibility to work independently and as part of a broader team – you thrive in a team environment, are comfortable working independently, and know how to get things done in a virtual environment.
• Relationship builder – with a proven ability to influence at all levels, you’re able to quickly develop trusted connections and get work done through others.
• A commitment to innovation – you keep abreast of competitive developments and are always keen to formulate new ideas and problem solve.

The Must Haves:

• A BS or BA degree in related fields is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• PMP certification is preferred and will be required within one year of being hired.
• Possess a minimum of 7 years of Telecommunications-related industry operational experience and/or implementing projects within those markets.
• Possess a minimum of 5 years in a lead role in previous Professional Services and/or participation in medium to large-scale projects preferred.
• Proficiency with various software applications including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).

Good To Have:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Project.
• Candidate profile
  • Self-motivated and can define work from high-level departmental goals
  • Self-improvement - Focused on professional development and adapts readily to change.
  • Judgment - Makes moderately complex decisions while weighing the pros and cons.
  • Decisiveness - Delivers decisions in the face of competing alternatives.
  • Developing Others - Provides direct instruction and/or on going coaching to those junior to themselves.
  • Organizational Awareness - Understands formal and informal structure and the climate / culture of the organization.
  • Team Player - Works well in a cross functional team environment and demonstrates emotional intelligence
  • Outstanding planning, scheduling, and coordination skills.
  • Superior communication, organization and leadership skills.
  • A hands-on manager that will manage by Team Building

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At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.