Senior Manager, Government Relations

Clearwave Fiber LLC•Chicago, IL

2d•$105,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Clearwave Fiber is seeking a relationship-oriented and highly organized professional to serve as Senior Manager, Government Relations. In this role, you will act as a key extension of the Director of Government Relations, helping lead municipal engagement efforts across Clearwave Fiber’s Midwest and Southeast markets. You will play a critical role in fostering trusted relationships with municipal leaders, government agencies, civic organizations, and community stakeholders to support successful market entry, construction execution, permitting coordination, and ongoing operations. This is a highly visible, field-oriented role that requires a strong combination of relationship management, project coordination, and cross-functional leadership. The Senior Manager will serve as a primary municipal point-of-contact in designated markets, independently represent the company at public meetings and community events, and proactively help resolve permitting or governmental escalations that may impact business operations or construction timelines. Internally, you will work closely with construction, operations, legal/regulatory, market expansion, and sales teams to ensure strong alignment between community engagement efforts and broader business objectives. This role is ideal for a strong operator and relationship-builder who thrives in fast-paced environments and has the potential to grow into future senior leadership responsibilities within the organization.

Requirements

5–7+ years of experience in government relations, telecommunications, market expansion, public affairs, business development, infrastructure deployment, or related fields
Telecom, broadband, fiber, cable, or utility industry experience strongly preferred
Experience managing external stakeholder relationships, including municipalities, government agencies, or community organizations
Strong understanding of permitting, municipal processes, infrastructure deployment, and governmental coordination
Proven ability to operate independently while managing multiple priorities and stakeholders across several geographies
Strong project management, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to build trust and credibility with both external stakeholders and internal cross-functional teams
Experience working collaboratively across construction, operations, engineering, legal/regulatory, and commercial organizations
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to navigate complex or ambiguous situations
Ability to clearly communicate updates, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership
Bachelor’s degree required; relevant graduate degree or equivalent professional experience preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with municipal leaders, council members, permitting offices, government agencies, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and other community stakeholders across Clearwave Fiber’s current and future markets
Serve as a primary Clearwave Fiber representative and municipal point-of-contact within assigned markets, ensuring proactive communication and strong ongoing partnerships throughout the construction and operational lifecycle
Attend and represent Clearwave Fiber independently at council meetings, public hearings, community forums, chamber events, and other civic engagements
Help lead and coordinate municipal engagement workstreams in partnership with the Director of Government Relations
Support local permitting, right-of-way, and governmental escalation efforts by partnering closely with internal construction, engineering, operations, and legal/regulatory teams
Maintain regular communication cadence with municipal stakeholders to provide project updates, address concerns, and reinforce Clearwave Fiber’s reputation as a responsive and responsible community partner
Assist in identifying, tracking, and resolving municipal or regulatory risks that could impact construction timelines, operational execution, or market launches
Coordinate cross-functionally to ensure alignment between government relations activities and broader market deployment objectives
Support evaluation and coordination of external consultants, legal counsel, lobbying partners, or government relations agencies as needed
Monitor competitor and overbuilder activity, municipal developments, and broader telecommunications industry trends across target markets
Help develop market intelligence reporting, stakeholder tracking tools, dashboards, and internal updates for leadership
Prepare presentations, briefing materials, and regular updates for senior leadership and internal stakeholders