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.
Reporting to the Chief Transformation Officer, the Director, Transformation Value Realization will build and lead the value tracking discipline for the enterprise transformation portfolio. Partnering with initiative owners, Finance, and the ETO Program Director, you will design the value realization framework, embed it into governance, and create the single source of truth for benefits, ROI, and KPI performance across programs. The role demands executive presence, financial acumen, and the ability to influence—traits the ETO prizes in its leaders and partners.
Key output from the role includes:
Enterprise Value Realization Framework established
A standard, auditable methodology for defining, baselining, forecasting, tracking, and sustaining benefits (financial and nonfinancial), fully integrated into ETO tollgates and steering routines.
Single Source of Truth for benefits
A portfoliolevel dashboard and data model that provides scenario views (speed vs. risk vs. impact) for decision forums.
Transparent executive reporting & decision velocity
Leadershipready materials that cut through noise, highlight tradeoffs, and drive timely decisions on reprioritization or course correction.
Sustainment mechanisms
Postimplementation reviews, driving accountability for “hold the gains” plans, and ownership agreements that prevent value leakage and institutionalize continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
Value Definition & Baseline
Cocreate value hypotheses with business sponsors; translate intent into quantified KPIs, OKRs, and financial models (revenue, gross margin, OpEx, working capital).
Establish baselines, counterfactuals, and guardrails for success criteria; document calculation logic and data lineage to ensure auditability.
Tracking & Reporting
Build the ETO benefits register and portfolio dashboard; automate pipelines from systems of record (ERP/BI) to provide alignment with Finance.
Produce concise executive materials for steering committees and decision forums; highlight dependencies, risks to value, and mitigation options.
Governance & Cadence
Embed value checkpoints in ETO tollgates; define entry/exit criteria and evidence required at each stage.
Partner with the ETO Sr Program Director to enforce accountability for value milestones; integrate value realization into prioritization and intake processes.
Sustainment & Change
Lead postimplementation reviews and benefit verification; establish plans with line leaders to hold gains and avoid regression; hold leaders accountable for execution.
Collaborate with Change Management to build the behaviors and incentives that enable value realization (e.g., role clarity, training, performance measures).
Strategic Alignment
Ensure all value realization activities directly link transformation initiatives to corporate strategy and enterprise objectives; validate that benefits support strategic pillars and long-term growth priorities.
Provide insights to leadership on how realized value advances strategic outcomes, enabling informed decisions on project and resourcing prioritization.
External Partner Interface
Define success criteria for co-sourced delivery partners; operate with joint governance, transparent reporting, and shared accountability for outcomes.
Qualifications & Experience
Significant experience in value realization, portfolio/program management, finance, strategy, or transformation roles within complex, global enterprises.
Demonstrated track record converting transformation initiatives into measurable outcomes and sustaining benefits post go-live.
Advanced financial modeling and business case development; comfort with scenario analysis and tradeoff framing for executives.
Strong data orientation with expertise in using data to drive decisions and tell stories: ability to define metrics, ensure data quality, and partner with Analytics/IT to build reliable pipelines and dashboards.
Executive communication: succinct storytelling through high-impact materials for leadership decision making.
Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred. Professional certifications (e.g., PfMP, PgMP, PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, CIMA/CPA) are a plus.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as needed.
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.
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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.
Top Skills
Ciena Ottawa, Ontario, CAN Office
385 Terry Fox Dr, , Ottawa, ON , Canada, K2K 0L1
