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.
Vice President, Manufacturing & Network Operations
Job Summary
As demand accelerates for cloud and AI networking infrastructure, Supply Chain is at the center of how Ciena scales—enabling resilience, global reach, and sustained growth.
Reporting to the Chief Supply Chain Officer, the VP of Manufacturing & Network Operations is responsible for translating Ciena's growth strategy into scalable, resilient, and globally executable manufacturing capability. As the leader of a complex network of contract manufacturers, this role orchestrates the systems, processes, engineering discipline, and operational governance required to deliver industry-leading quality, cost competitiveness, and supply assurance. This role ensures Ciena can rapidly adapt production capacity, product mix, and geographic footprint in response to evolving customer demand, technology transitions, and geopolitical dynamics while enabling profitable growth at scale.
Key Responsibilities
- Own overall manufacturing capacity readiness across the CM network, partnering closely with Planning to translate customer demand into executable manufacturing plans. Ensure sufficient capability, capacity, flexibility, and geographic coverage to meet business requirements.
- Govern CM relationships at the executive level: contracts, SLAs/KPIs, business reviews, cost reduction programs, and escalation management.
- Lead manufacturing engineering, ensuring robust, scalable, and yield-optimized processes for high-complexity, low-to-mid volume/high-mix networking hardware.
- Own manufacturing quality systems (incoming, in-process, outgoing, RMA/failure analysis) and drive continuous improvement to hit yield, DPPM, field-quality, and on-time customer delivery targets.
- Partner with NPI leadership to ensure smooth design-to-build transfer reviews, pilot builds, ramp readiness) and manufacturing launch preparedness to support customer commitments and new product introduction timelines; partner with Procurement on component quality and supplier corrective action.
- Own manufacturing capacity strategy in partnership with Planning — line balancing, multi-site dual-sourcing of build capacity, and rapid re-routing of production in response to customer demand shifts, supply disruption, or tariff/geopolitical changes.
- Lead cost reduction and productivity roadmaps in partnership with Procurement.
- Manage manufacturing-related business continuity and disaster recovery planning across the network to protect supply continuity, customer delivery, and revenue commitments.
- Build and lead a world-class manufacturing operations organization, developing the talent, leadership capability, and culture required to deliver operational excellence, continuous improvement, and scalable execution across the global manufacturing network.
The Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (EE/ME/Industrial) or related field; MBA a plus.
- 15+ years in manufacturing/operations leadership in technology hardware, with 5+ years managing outsourced CM manufacturing at scale within a complex, multi-partner ecosystem.
- Deep knowledge of manufacturing processes for complex networking, telecom, or datacenter hardware.
- Track record of driving quality, yield improvement, and cost reduction programs in an outsourced manufacturing model.
- Experience managing global manufacturing networks amid trade/tariff volatility and supply disruption.
- Strong negotiation and executive relationship management skills with CM partners.
The Nice-to-haves
- Experience in optical, photonic, and high-speed networking manufacturing.
- Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
- Experience building or overseeing global, in-region manufacturing as part of geographic diversification.
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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.
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