Contracts Professional/Negotiator

Job Details

Description

Since 1992, Ciena has been driven by a relentless pursuit of network innovation. We believe in a network that grows smarter, more agile, and more responsive every day. This means that when you digitally interact in your world - picking up the phone, streaming video, texting a friend or loved one – your interactions are being enabled by Ciena technologies. Ciena makes your social / entertainment / business existence REAL.

Introducing Blue Planet, a Division of Ciena

Since 1992, Ciena has been driven by a relentless pursuit of network innovation. We believe in a network that grows smarter, more agile, and more responsive every day. This means the majority of your daily, digital interactions in your world, whether streaming video, using your voice A.I, video or voice calls to a friend or loved one – are enabled by Ciena technologies.

Blue Planet, the Software division of Ciena, provides market-leading intelligent automation software and specialized professional services to help clients modernize their IT and network operations. Driven by policy and AI-based insights, Blue Planet delivers the closed-loop automation tools needed to align IT and networking processes—critical to facilitating digital transformation and an adaptive network. If you want to be part of the company that delivers these outcomes, then the Blue Planet division of Ciena is the place to be. (Visit http://www.blueplanet.com.)

We are in search of a talented, self-motivated Contracts Negotiator to join the Blue Planet legal team. You will be part of a high-performing, customer-focused group working collaboratively with the sales team and other support roles in a fast paced, growing business with particular focus on software licensing, professional services and SaaS. The primary job responsibility is to provide negotiation and transactional support to our customers in Blue Planet’s North American region, however, will include other projects and a global presence at times. You will work in close collaboration with the Sales Team, Commercial Management Team, Finance and Operations to ensure best in class, seamless support to our customers.

Responsibilities

Draft, review and negotiate a diverse set of agreements, ranging from complex technology agreements, various forms of software licenses, support and maintenance, professional services contracts and non-disclosure agreements. You will advise on liabilities, legal restrictions and risks associated with such agreements covering both traditional licensing and SaaS applications. Understanding commercial and business issues involved in such negotiations will also be valuable.
Manage internal communications, facilitate escalations and approvals, address queries with our customers and internal stakeholders.
Collaborate and partner effectively with the business, sales account teams, finance and commercial management, including providing advice and counsel to executives and sales professionals on legal, financial and commercial issues related to a broad range of commercial transactions.
Support Head of Legal for Blue Planet with respect to large complex transactions (some of which may be international).
Support the Blue Planet partner team to help onboard partners and resellers by negotiating lab licenses and reseller/OEM and services agreements.
Actively contribute to knowledge management initiatives, such as playbooks, contract templates, negotiation positioning, training and lessons learned.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives in the negotiation and contracting area, helping to improve contracting efficiencies, processes and agreements that scale globally.
Review contractual documents to ensure adherence to company policies, including revenue recognition issues.
Participate in special projects within Blue Planet as assigned, including efforts to develop, implement and enhance processes and policies that improve transaction velocity, efficiency and standardization.
Willingness to work on certain international matters as needed.
Develop a general understanding of the Blue Planet technologies, solutions, product and strategies.

Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (law degree is desired, but not required).
8+ years' experience in reviewing, drafting, managing and negotiating a wide variety of commercial contracts, with a strong emphasis on software licensing agreements, professional services/project implementation agreements (including negotiating from the customer’s form agreement, if approved). Solid understanding of legal concepts and contractual terms with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Experience with international customers/issues and a willingness to accommodate various time zones.
Excellent negotiator with strong influencing skills that can plan, manage and conduct negotiations on a non-confrontational win-win basis.
Strong customer service skill set.
Must have excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills and a strong sense of teamwork.
Must possess excellent judgment and be able to work independently and juggle multiple priorities, in a fast paced high-growth environment.
Strong leadership skills, with the highest degree of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
Prior SaaS experience a strong plus.

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About Ciena
Ciena is a network strategy and technology company with a passion to provide an experience, to you and our customers that is as rewarding as the outcome. We attract the best and brightest– those with outstanding talent, motivation, and the right attitude to contribute to our success. Our culture balances our openness and informality with professionalism and trust and is built on the foundation of our core values: Customer First, Integrity, Velocity, Innovation, and Outstanding People.

Ciena enables everyone to have a voice and a network that supports them while on the journey to discovering their passion and purpose. We trust each individual to do what they can to reach their full potential and make an impact on the business, whenever, wherever they are in the world. With Ciena’s highly innovative, forward-thinking business practices, we reward people for pushing the boundaries. Unlock your potential at Ciena!

Being You @ Ciena
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we want to foster an environment that values and respects all individual’s strengths, perspectives, ideas, and ability to meet the needs of our customers globally. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status or any other category protected by applicable law. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Ciena is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, you should advise Ciena in a timely fashion of the specific accommodation measures required for you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

Job ID

Job Title

Contracts Professional/Negotiator

Application Deadline

October 24, 2020

Salary Range

no minimum salary specified - no maximum salary specified

Job Location

Battimore, MD

Website

https://ciena.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Careers/job/Baltimore/Contracts-Professional-Negotiator_R0

Contact Information

Name: Lorna Russell
Phone Number: (410) 981-7485
Email: lrussell@ciena.com
Best Method of Contact: EMAIL