Quality Program Manager

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.

Join Ciena as a Quality Program Manager and Drive Strategic Quality Initiatives

Are you passionate about leading impactful quality initiatives, managing cross-functional projects, and delivering measurable improvements? At Ciena, we’re looking for a Quality Program Manager to elevate product performance, streamline processes, and enhance customer satisfaction. Reporting to the Director of Quality, this role offers the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams, solve complex challenges, and contribute to the future of networking technology.

How You Will Contribute:

• Lead and manage cross-functional quality programs and projects from inception to completion, aligning with business objectives and timelines.
• Develop and execute comprehensive project plans, including scope, deliverables, schedules, dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Drive initiatives for product quality improvement, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency through collaboration and corrective actions.
• Analyze complex data sets to uncover trends, identify root causes, and provide actionable insights using tools like Power BI, Excel, and other analytics platforms.
• Partner with internal teams (R&D, Supply Chain, PLM) and external stakeholders to resolve product and customer quality concerns, fostering alignment and accountability.
• Optimize quality assurance processes and implement best practices for program management and quality standards.
• Serve as an escalation point for risk management, project challenges, and stakeholder concerns.

The Must Haves:

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification, with proven success in managing complex projects and programs.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in program/project management, quality assurance, or business operations.
• Strong statistical analysis skills and ability to interpret data to drive insights and decisions.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to build trust and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Power BI); familiarity with tools like SQL, Salesforce, JIRA, and AI tools/design is a plus.
• B.S. degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with Quality Management Systems (QMS), standards, and practices.
• Prior experience in customer communications, software application testing, or quality assurance processes.
• Strategic thinker with a passion for driving quality-focused initiatives and delivering measurable results.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in cross-functional environments, including virtual and site-based teams.
• Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to balance competing priorities and ensure timely delivery of projects.

Pay Range:

The annual pay range for this position in Ottawa is $79, 000 – $126, 200

The annual pay range for this position in the USA is $90, 900 – $145, 100

Why Join Ciena?

At Ciena, we’re more than a global leader in networking systems, services, and software—we’re a team of innovators committed to driving the future of connectivity. As a Quality Program Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring our products and processes meet the highest standards, delivering meaningful value to our customers and shaping the future of networking technology.

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