Director, Resource & Program Office

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.
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You know what your ideal career looks like: a competitive salary, freedom to live your life as you like, and recognition for your accomplishments—all in an inclusive and diverse people-first environment. Our success is driven by a supported, thriving team; this is why Ciena upholds these benefits for all our employees. Ciena empowers you with flexible paid time off, reimbursed and in-house development resources, support for mental and physical well-being, and assets you may need to attain your goals both at and away from work.

How You Will Contribute:

As a Director, Resource & Program Office, you will report to the senior Director, Pricing, Resource and Partner Management to oversee Resource Management, Pricing, and Profitability, you will be responsible for leading and optimizing the strategic management of resources for delivery and engineering, and define/manage long term resourcing strategies including global delivery hubs. You will also be managing pricing & margin improvement initiatives for professional services. This high-impact role requires a deep understanding of the professional services landscape, financial acumen, and a strong ability to drive operational efficiency and maximize revenue.

What Does Ciena Expect of You?

Following key responsibilities will help effectively manage organizational resources.

• Pricing Strategy
  • Develop and execute pricing strategies that align with the company's overall business objectives and market dynamics.
  • Perform Market Research & competitive analysis to arrive at PS market Rate Cards annually. 
  • Work with Presales, Finance teams to operationalize the rate cards. 
  • Support CM, Presales, Sales, Finance and Delivery teams through routine governance on rate cards for feedback, exceptions.
  • Provide support in large and multi-year contracts in negotiations
• Profitability improvement
  • Derive insights on profitability improvements. Work with internal stakeholders to improve processes and systems. 
  • Research and benchmark performance against industry leaders.
  • Develop and implement strategies to enhance profitability, including margin analysis, cost control measures, and revenue optimization. Introduce new ways of working to scale profitably. Gen AI adoption, Factory models etc. Identify and implement process efficiencies to streamline operations and reduce costs.
  • Monitor profitability at individual and project levels to recommend margin improvement opportunities. Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to resource utilization, pricing, and profitability.
  • Report monthly all the margin improvement initiatives and progress to the management
  • Build necessary Power BI dashboards for executive insights working with Finance teams
• Resource Management
  • Develop and implement effective resource allocation strategies to ensure optimal utilization and minimize idle time.
  • Monitor and manage resource capacity, forecasting future needs and adjusting plans accordingly.
  • Oversee the implementation of resource management tools and systems.
• Strategic Planning
  • Annual COGS planning
  • Resourcing Strategies
  • Utilization Benchmarks
• Delivery Hubs and Partner Management
  • Delivery Partner Management
  • Contract Management
  • Cost Benchmarking for skills globally
  • FTE conversions
• Back office Management
  • Support Team Mobility
  • Reporting & IT systems management
• Team Management:
  • Provide guidance, mentorship, and training to team members.
  • Foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.

The Must Haves:

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field.
  • Advanced degree (MBA or MS) preferred.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in resource management, pricing, or financial analysis within the professional services industry.
  • Proven track record of successfully managing resources, pricing strategies, and profitability.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret financial data.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience with resource management software and financial tools.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Skills:
  • Strategic thinking
  • Financial acumen
  • Problem-solving
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Analytical skills
  • Process improvement
  • Relationship building

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