United Kingdom onlyAs 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.
Partner Manager – EU & UK
How you will make an impact:
- Own and develop service partner relationships across assigned EMEA countries, ensuring alignment with Ciena delivery, quality, and governance expectations
• Drive partner performance across service level agreements (SLAs), quality metrics, and operational outcomes, addressing issues and escalations with urgency and structure
• Strengthen cost competitiveness through request for quotation (RFQ) management, pricing analysis, and commercial negotiation with service partners
• Lead regular partner business reviews, including quarterly business reviews (QBRs), in close collaboration with Customer Operations, Quality, and Procurement teams
• Support forecasting, capacity planning, and demand alignment to ensure partner readiness for current and future service requirements
• Identify operational, commercial, and delivery risks early, leading mitigation actions to protect customer experience and service continuity
• Provide regional market insight to inform partner strategy, including labor trends, pricing dynamics, and competitive conditions
The must haves:
- 5–8 years of experience in partner management, vendor management, service delivery management, or operations within telecommunications or a comparable technical services environment
• Demonstrated commercial acumen, including experience with RFQs, pricing evaluation, and cost management
• Proven ability to manage delivery performance using data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and structured reporting
• Strong relationship‑building skills with both internal stakeholders and external partners
• Experience operating effectively in a matrixed, cross‑functional environment
• Track record of managing service escalations and driving timely, effective resolution
• Clear, confident, and structured communication skills, both written and verbal
Nice to haves:
- Experience managing service partners or vendors across multiple EMEA countries
• Familiarity with telecom installation, deployment, field services, or maintenance environments
• Exposure to partner governance frameworks, performance scorecards, or maturity models
• Experience interpreting contracts, commercial terms, or service policies
• Multilingual capability in one or more European languages
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.
United States
Canada only
Poland only
IN and GB only