Vice President, Real Estate

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.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, as the Vice President Corporate Real Estate & Facilities at Ciena, you will be at the forefront of our global real estate strategies and activities. This role is pivotal in shaping our global real estate strategy, particularly as we adapt to a hybrid workforce where many employees work either partially or predominantly remotely. The ideal candidate will play an important role in our extended leadership team by partnering with functional leaders (predominantly R&D and Sales) and will possess a deep understanding of the human factor in workplace design, ensuring that our facilities not only support but enhance productivity and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

* Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive global real estate strategy that aligns with the company's business objectives, particularly in supporting R&D and sales functions.

* Stakeholder Collaboration: Engage with major business stakeholders, including R&D teams primarily located in Canada and India, to ensure real estate strategies meet their operational needs and facilitate innovation.

* Hybrid Work Environment Design: Create adaptable workplace solutions that accommodate hybrid work models, enhancing collaboration among remote and on-site employees.

* Project Management: Oversee the planning, design, construction, and management of all real estate projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

* Data-Driven Decision Making: Establish metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of real estate investments and workplace strategies, using data to inform continuous improvement.

* Financial Oversight: Manage budgets for real estate operations, including lease negotiations, acquisitions, and disposals, ensuring cost-effectiveness while maximizing value.

* Team Development: Lead a global team of real estate professionals, fostering a culture of excellence through mentorship and professional development opportunities.

What You Bring:

* Thought leadership around the transformation of work and how real estate must evolve with it.

* Proficient in building business and stakeholder relationships.

* Demonstrated experience leading a corporate real estate department with a global portfolio

* Experience in working with and managing outside service providers and consultants.

Personal Attributes:

* Demonstrated negotiation skills with the ability to weigh business requests and make sound decisions relative to cost and people implications.

* Ability to analyze complex situations, summarize information, and understand dependencies across multiple problem sets.

* Capable of building trusted relationships and communicating, interacting, and influencing diverse groups of senior business leaders.

* Initiative-taker who can successfully prioritize and project manage in a fast-paced environment.

* Visionary leader who can develop and motivate teams in a collaborative environment.

* Critical thinker who can challenge assumptions and provide innovative solutions to complex real estate challenges.

* Strong research skills for workplace and design application.

Assets:

* Bachelor's Degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Business, or Engineering

* MBA and MCR certification

* Experience in design management or interior design