Director - Construction Operations

TDS Telecom•Madison, WI

About The Position

At TDS Telecom, connecting people is at the heart of everything we do. We are forward thinkers who leverage cutting-edge fiber internet technology to strengthen communities. We are dedicated to excellence, which drives us to succeed together, creating a better world through meaningful connections. Ready to make an impact? As the Director of Construction Operations, you will serve as the strategic and operational leader for the Internal Construction Crew’s (ICC) fiber‑optic construction program. In this role, you will guide field execution across underground, aerial, and joint trench teams - ensuring every project is delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to ICC’s high quality standards. You will lead and develop state‑level production teams, driving performance, accountability, and operational excellence across all field activities. Your leadership will be essential in coordinating with the Director of Construction Support to align forecasting, splicing schedules, and overall construction readiness with production goals, enabling your teams to consistently meet and exceed expectations. During at least the first year, travel will be required approximately 30–50% of the time as you build relationships, gain operational visibility, and support teams across multiple locations. The ideal candidate will be located in Helena, Butte or Great Falls, Montana, or in a major TDS construction market in Wisconsin (e.g. Madison, Appleton, Delavan, etc.).

Requirements

Bachelors degree (or higher) -OR- 4+ years professional work experience.
8+ years of experience in telecommunications industry as it relates to planning, operations, engineering, supervision, or project management functions.
8+ years in a supervisory role or equivalent leadership experience.

Nice To Haves

Proven ability to manage large-scale field construction operations and deliver measurable production results.
Deep understanding of outside plant construction, safety, and restoration standards.
Strong financial and operational acumen.
Working knowledge of PC hardware and software as applied to engineering and analyses including databases, spreadsheets, GIS, AutoCAD, project management or workflow tools, and emerging geo-spatial applications.
Ability to travel and lead teams across multiple markets.
Proven ability to communicate complex issues effectively to varied audiences, among them senior executives. Must be able to distill complex information to its most salient points for key decision makers.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to build relationships.
Ability to think creatively and to instill this thought process throughout the team.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all field construction operations, including underground, aerial, and joint trench teams. Work cross-functionally with senior leaders to develop company targets for service address completions and on-time project delivery. Establish and communicate department conduit, strand, and fiber footage production goals based on company targets. Partner with state-level ICC managers to develop weekly and monthly build plans, monitor adherence to schedule, and ensure production forecasting is accurate and actionable. Lead resolution of large scale, high-impact escalations, risks, and issues. Ensure ICC leaders have the tools, authority, and support needed to execute effectively.
Develop and manage capital and operational budgets for field construction. Oversee allocation of labor, equipment, and (at times) subcontractor resources. Review budget-to-actuals and adjust deployment strategies to stay within fiscal targets. Provide monthly forecasts, updates, and executive summaries of spend performance.
Oversee adherence to safety, quality, and compliance standards across all construction operations. Drive accountability for procedure adherence and compliance through all levels of the ICC team. Work cross-functionally with other department leaders and safety and quality teams to align safety performance indicators, review root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
Drive cross-functional coordination between engineering, permitting, and construction functions to remove barriers and maintain schedule integrity. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve design conflicts, permitting delays, and field deviations. Oversee project readiness reviews to ensure materials, locates, and access permissions are secured before deployment.
Develop and mentor ICC field leadership at all levels. Provide coaching on leadership development, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making. Champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and high performance.