Senior Associate, People

Join to apply for the Senior Associate, People & Culture role at Ciena. Overview 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. A key member of the global People Connect (PC) team, this role will deliver a positive employee experience in all operational HR aspects for 18 EMEA countries with 600+ employees and the CALA region. Responsibilities will include managing employee queries as part of People Connect on policies, processes and Workday. The role also includes employee engagement, employee relations, HR compliance, and working with other internal functions and external service providers in close partnership. HR Business Operations Provide HR support & consultation for employees and managers; answer queries about HR programs (company policies, employee relations, annual programs) and other HR‑related topics Partner with Centres of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Legal, Compensation, Benefits, L&D, Global Mobility, HRIS, etc.) to drive positive employee experience outcomes Foster and maintain strong internal relationships with HR & colleagues globally (incl. HRBP’s, TR, L&D, TA, Internal Comms, Legal etc) Prepare employment contracts across all CALA, India/APJ countries. Manage a seamless candidate experience from offer through to onboarding Responsible for ensuring background checks are completed on time including follow‑up with the Hub team on a regular basis and closure of insufficiencies Interface with key internal and external partners i.e. Payroll, Legal, Facilities and IT etc. to ensure coordinated onboarding, separation and other key actions Ensure documentation is filed appropriately and is SOX/ISO compliant Responsible for Workday support to employees/managers and any Workday actions Deliver initiatives to improve the employee experience with HR by identifying and proposing solutions that improve our service delivery model Conduct exit interviews, provide feedback to management, and analyze data Provide support to HRBP’s on local HR matters for CALA, India and APJ Work along with Legal in managing local compliance requirements and reports Participate in audits as an when required New Hire Experience Run weekly outreach sessions for all new joiners, confidently articulating the company orientation content and assisting with employee onboarding queries HR Excellence Contributes to or leads people projects (globally or CALA) that drive improvement and deliver new value for the Ciena people promise Promote self‑service (Tier 0) to employees and managers, freeing up HR team to focus on higher value activities Constantly review and develop Tier 0 content so that it is up to date and relevant Identify new areas for HR improvement, such as automation or process improvement Support the development, set up and review of HR policies and documents across Process HR paperwork and system updates in an accurate and timely manner (e.g., promotions, transfers, leavers, relocations etc) Input and update data to Workday system, ensuring it remains current and accurate Work closely with the payroll team to answer queries and ensure accurate processing each month Maintain all electronic HR files and correspondence in line with GDPR and Data Privacy Laws of LatAm. May need to perform general administrative duties from time to time, including Collaboration with stakeholders You will be in the center of our regional operation, interacting daily with employees and colleagues of all areas and levels, from different cultures and countries. Qualities We Admire Someone that shares our passion for technology and our Core Values (Agility, Integrity, Innovation, Teamwork, and Customer First) Employee relations experience. Knowledge and experience of the CALA region and the employment landscape Detail‑oriented and committed to a high degree of accuracy Strong logical thinker who applies good judgement to employee situations Highly ethical and able to deal with confidential issues with tact & discretion Excellent organizational skills and abilities. Capable of effectively managing multiple demands from a variety of sources, remaining calm under pressure. Have strong focus on customer service and meeting the demands of internal and external clients Must be an effective team player A passion for the entire people process Preferably multi‑lingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic would be an advantage) Workday experience preferable Búsqueda laboral equitativa: El empleador solo podrá solicitarle la información estrictamente necesaria para el desempeño en el trabajo que se ofrece (Ley 6471 de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires) Equitable job search: The employer may only request information strictly necessary for the performance of the job offered (Act 6471 of the City of Buenos Aires) 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr