Manager, Long Haul Technician Operations - Atlanta, GA

Zayo Group•Ferry, MI

1d•$71,800 - $110,400•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Long Haul Technician Operations leads a geographically dispersed team responsible for protecting Zayo’s long-haul fiber network through route patrol, damage prevention, network intelligence, and emergency restoration support. The role oversees employee development, technical competency, operational performance, resource planning, and cross-functional coordination to improve network reliability while keeping route protection as the team’s primary responsibility. The manager leads field-team mobilization during significant fiber damage and customer-impacting incidents, partners with network and field stakeholders to support assessment and restoration, and ensures accurate communication of field conditions and network threats. The role also develops technician capabilities, sets operational expectations, monitors performance measures, manages budgets and field resources, and improves workflows and documentation. The position is based in the Atlanta, Georgia area, with remote and field work. The ideal candidate resides within 45 minutes of the Atlanta metro area. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; employer-sponsored work authorization is not available.

Requirements

Must be located within 45 minutes of Atlanta, Georgia.
Strong knowledge of fiber optic networks, long-haul infrastructure, outside plant operations, Damage Prevention, utility locating, and excavation risk.
Demonstrated ability to lead geographically dispersed field teams and prioritize resources based on network risk and customer impact.
Experience managing operational performance, budgets, workforce capacity, vendors, and field resources.
Ability to interpret operational data, drive process improvements, and communicate effectively with employees, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership.
Strong safety orientation and demonstrated ability to lead during high-pressure network incidents and restoration events.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant telecommunications, fiber network, OSP, Field Operations, or Damage Prevention experience.
Minimum of 2 years of supervisory, leadership, or management experience.
Currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; employer-sponsored work authorization is unavailable.
Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, Business, Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with OTDR and fiber testing equipment, GIS, network documentation, and field workforce-management systems.
Experience supporting long-haul fiber networks, restoration, utility locating, or Damage Prevention.
Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, Business, Management, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee long-haul route patrol, damage prevention, construction monitoring, and approved secondary technical activities at ILA, POP, and other network locations.
Prioritize resources based on network risk, construction activity, customer impact, and route coverage requirements.
Ensure preventive maintenance, fiber testing, alarm investigation, and facility inspections are performed by trained and authorized employees without compromising route protection.
Use geographically positioned technicians to improve response times, reduce unnecessary dispatches, and increase operational efficiency.
Standardize workflows, strengthen documentation, and implement systems that improve patrol management, locate audits, and network maintenance.
Lead field-team mobilization and coordination during significant fiber damage events and customer-impacting network incidents.
Partner with NOC, Service Assurance, OSP, Emergency Restoration, Engineering, and other stakeholders on damage assessment, fiber testing, access coordination, and restoration.
Communicate field conditions, network threats, and restoration requirements accurately and promptly.
Conduct post-incident reviews and apply lessons learned to damage prevention and route protection strategies.
Hire, lead, coach, and retain a high-performing team of geographically dispersed Long Haul Technicians.
Set expectations for safety, route ownership, technical competency, communication, documentation, and accountability.
Develop onboarding, training, certification, and mentoring programs for fiber testing, ILA/POP maintenance, outside plant assessment, locate validation, and restoration support.
Provide performance feedback, identify development opportunities, and support succession planning.
Establish and monitor KPIs related to preventable fiber damage, patrol completion, construction engagement, locate accuracy, safety, restoration readiness, technical productivity, and employee development.
Use operational data and reporting to identify risks, address performance gaps, and drive continuous improvement.
Evaluate workforce capacity and territory coverage to determine resource needs, including headcount, Business Partner support, and route realignment.
Manage territory budgets, overtime, travel, vendor utilization, fleet requirements, equipment, and emergency restoration resources.
Develop business cases for additional resources and align spending with forecasts and business objectives.
Build partnerships across Damage Prevention, Field Operations, NOC, Service Assurance, OSP, Engineering, Emergency Restoration, Construction, GIS/Network Records, Locate Operations, Procurement, Fleet, and external service providers.
Connect field intelligence with teams responsible for network operations, maintenance, restoration, and infrastructure records.
Ensure work follows safety, maintenance, change management, and escalation procedures while respecting organizational ownership and technical authorization boundaries.