Leader, Indirect Procurement

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.

At Ciena, innovation thrives on collaboration. We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented R&D Procurement Specialist to play a pivotal role in acquiring and managing technology products and services for internal use. This individual contributor role is ideal for those who excel in fast-paced environments, embrace complexity, and pivot with agility. If fostering supplier partnerships, ensuring operational excellence, and delivering measurable value energizes you, this is your opportunity to contribute to Ciena’s culture of continuous innovation.

How You Will Contribute:

• Act as the primary liaison between R&D/Product Line Management (PLM) stakeholders, suppliers, and Ciena’s Legal team.
• Manage end-to-end procurement processes, including competitive bidding, supplier evaluation, pricing, term negotiations, delivery scheduling, and contract execution.
• Oversee and maintain the contract lifecycle for products and services, ensuring alignment with Ciena’s procurement policies.
• Collaborate with vendors to ensure timely and accurate delivery while coordinating internally on scope, schedules, and priorities.
• Ensure compliance with procurement standards and governance policies.
• Analyze spend trends and usage to develop actionable plans for cost optimization and operational efficiency.
• Conduct external benchmarking to assess supplier competitiveness and recommend strategies for maintaining market advantage.

The Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 5–8 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or contract management.
• Proven expertise in procuring R&D products and services, including off-the-shelf, embedded, and custom solutions.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating hardware, software, and services contracts.
• Strong market research and supplier investigation skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and global collaboration abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and procurement tools such as ServiceNow, Oracle EBS, Coupa, Scout, or DocuSign CLM.

Nice to Haves:

• Knowledge of automation test equipment.
• Experience leading strategic and tactical planning for R&D assets like test equipment and tool maintenance.
• Familiarity with capital and expense purchasing for R&D initiatives.
• Expertise in managing and maintaining software asset inventory, including reporting and analysis for strategic planning.

Pay Range:

The annual pay range for this position is $84, 700 – $135, 300

Pay ranges at Ciena are designed to accommodate variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions, and locations, reflecting our diverse products, industries, and lines of business. Please note that the pay range information provided in this posting pertains specifically to the primary location, which is the top location listed in case multiple locations are available.

Non-Sales employees may be eligible for a discretionary incentive bonus, while Sales employees may be eligible for a sales commission. In addition to competitive compensation, 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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community to get relevant job alerts straight to your inbox.

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.

Read Full Description