Category Lead, Capital Equipment – CAPEX

Ciena

. Develop and execute multi-year capital equipment category strategies aligned with business objectives, technology roadmaps, manufacturing requirements, and capital investment plans .

Posted 11/5/2026full-timeRemote • Canada, United StatesSenior💰 CA$140,700 - CA$173,100 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in strategic sourcing and procurement, with a strong focus on capital equipment management, supplier relationship management, and contract negotiation. Proven ability to analyze market trends and drive cost savings while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and regulations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Strategic SourcingCapital Equipment ManagementContract NegotiationSupplier Performance ManagementCross-Functional Stakeholder Influence

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Cost ForecastingMarket Intelligence AnalysisRisk ManagementTotal Cost of Ownership OptimizationSupplier EvaluationBid AnalysisNegotiationCategory Strategy DevelopmentProcurement Process ImprovementKPI Establishment

Soft Skills

Analytical SkillsCommunication SkillsProject ManagementProblem-Solving Skills

Tools & Technologies

ERP SystemsProcurement TechnologiesBusiness Intelligence ToolsE-Sourcing Platforms

Certifications & Qualifications

CPSMCIPSAPICS/CPIMMBA

Industry Keywords

Manufacturing TechnologyLaboratory InfrastructureAutomation SystemsTelecommunicationsNetworking TechnologyElectronics ManufacturingHigh-Tech IndustryAdvanced ManufacturingCapital Investment PlanningEquipment Lifecycle Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ERP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and execute multi-year capital equipment category strategies aligned with business objectives, technology roadmaps, manufacturing requirements, and capital investment plans
Analyze spend data, market intelligence, supplier capabilities, and industry trends to identify sourcing opportunities and long-term value creation
Partner with Engineering, Product Development, Global Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, and other stakeholders on equipment sourcing decisions
Support capital planning and budgeting through cost forecasting, market insights, lead-time analysis, and sourcing recommendations
Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract awards
Negotiate master purchase agreements, statements of work, maintenance agreements, support contracts, warranties, SLAs, leasing arrangements, and other supplier commitments
Optimize total cost of ownership, drive savings and cost avoidance, and improve working capital and productivity
Establish preferred supplier frameworks and standardization strategies
Develop strategic relationships with equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and service partners
Implement supplier relationship management practices, business reviews, scorecards, continuous improvement, and executive engagement
Evaluate supplier performance and resolve issues through corrective actions
Support supplier innovation and technology advancement opportunities
Provide procurement leadership for NPI, manufacturing readiness, laboratory expansion, automation initiatives, capital business cases, investment approvals, and vendor selection
Monitor capital expenditures and forecast spending with Finance
Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, governance, and regulatory requirements
Assess and mitigate commercial, supplier, technology, capacity, and supply chain risks
Support asset lifecycle management, including upgrades, service transitions, end-of-life planning, redeployment, and optimization
Establish category KPIs, dashboards, and reporting for leadership
Track and communicate savings, supplier performance, risk exposure, and strategic initiative progress
Drive procurement process improvements and adoption of best practices

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field
7+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management
Experience managing capital equipment, laboratory infrastructure, manufacturing technology, automation systems, test equipment, or related CapEx categories
Track record leading complex commercial negotiations and delivering measurable cost savings, TCO improvements, and business value
Strong understanding of contract development, risk management, supplier performance management, and sourcing strategy
Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, and Legal organizations
Strong analytical, communication, project management, and problem-solving skills
Experience utilizing ERP systems and procurement technologies
Preferred: MBA, Master's degree, or equivalent advanced education
Preferred: CPSM, CIPS, APICS/CPIM, or equivalent professional certification
Preferred: Experience in telecommunications, networking technology, electronics manufacturing, high-tech, or advanced manufacturing industries
Preferred: Global procurement and multi-site category management experience
Preferred: Familiarity with capital investment planning, equipment lifecycle management, laboratory operations, manufacturing automation, and technology development environments
Preferred: Experience with sourcing analytics, business intelligence tools, and e-sourcing platforms

Benefits

Comp & perks

Discretionary incentive bonus eligibility for non-sales employees
Medical, dental, and vision plans
401(K) with company matching in the USA
DCPP with company matching in Canada
Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company-paid holidays
Paid sick leave
Vacation time
Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence
Accommodation measures for candidates who require them