Specialist - Partner Accelerator- EMEA

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.

As a key contributor within Ciena’s EMEA Partner organization, this role drives the execution and operational excellence of the Partner Program—enabling partners to accelerate sales, strengthen enablement, and achieve measurable success. The position amplifies regional alignment, enhances partner readiness, and ensures a seamless experience across internal and external stakeholders.

How you will make an impact:

• Drive end-to-end execution of the Partner Program across the EMEA region, ensuring operational consistency and strategic alignment.

• Develop clear, simplified resources to help internal teams effectively understand and leverage partner programs such as Opportunity Registration and Not for Resale (NFR).

• Facilitate business planning with partners, including template creation, administrative coordination, and approval management.

• Lead structured onboarding for new partners and new employees within partner organizations, guiding them through contract submission, ramp activities, and program fluency.

• Create mechanisms to measure partner enablement effectiveness, including follow-up processes for Planner Plus, Quote Plus, and webinars.

• Manage and report regional partner activity on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis to support visibility and decision-making.

• Partner closely with regional leaders to track, analyze, and operationalize partner performance metrics.

The must haves:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in operations, channel programs, or partner management.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a quantitative, business, or related field—or equivalent experience.

• Proven background in business or sales operations supporting partner success and performance metrics.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving capabilities.

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple priorities with urgency and accuracy.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams and regions.

• A track record of operational execution and delivering measurable outcomes.

Nice to haves:

• Experience in business development or sales within a partner‑driven environment.

• Ability to articulate technical concepts and translate them into business value.

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Creativity, high energy, and a collaborative mindset.

• Familiarity with compliance workflows and cross‑functional coordination.

• Experience with partner databases, data cleansing, or workflow optimization.

• Ability to thrive in dynamic environments with multiple concurrent initiatives.

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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.