Director, Leadership & Talent Development

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.

How You Will Contribute

• Develop and execute a multi-year leadership and management development strategy aligned with Ciena’s leadership framework, durable skills strategy, and business priorities.
• Research and integrate innovative practices in leadership development, learning technologies, and talent capability building to ensure programs remain future-ready and impactful.
• Analyze stakeholder feedback, employee sentiment, and capability gaps to identify focus areas that drive measurable outcomes.
• Evaluate current programs and recommend enhancements to improve scalability, engagement, and return on investment (ROI).
• Partner with senior leaders across People and Culture and the business to align leadership and management development with succession planning and workforce strategy.
• Design and deliver creative, high-impact learning programs blending diverse modalities such as self-paced learning, experiential activities, coaching, and microlearning.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program effectiveness and communicate outcomes to senior stakeholders.

The Must Haves

• 10+ years of progressive experience in leadership development, talent management, or organizational learning within a global organization.
• Proven success in designing and delivering impactful programs in mid-sized or smaller organizations, demonstrating adaptability and innovation.
• Expertise in adult learning principles, instructional design, and modern methodologies, including digital and AI-based learning solutions.
• Strong program/project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives in a dynamic environment.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities focused on achieving measurable success and ROI.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive change, and foster collaboration across functions and geographies.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with mentoring, stretch assignments, and peer learning initiatives to reinforce on-the-job development.
• Familiarity with emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in leadership learning and development.
• Background in integrating leadership development strategies with enterprise workforce planning.
• Knowledge of inclusivity practices in leadership training and development.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of continuous learning and growth across leadership levels.
• Proven capability in managing vendor relationships and budgets for program implementation.
• Experience working in a People and Culture structure with senior stakeholders.

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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.

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