Senior Manager, Local Government Relations

Ziply Fiber•Berwyn, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ziply Fiber is seeking an outgoing, energetic professional to lead and grow a government relations function in the Midwestern United States. This role combines strategic leadership of a multi-state team with hands-on market ownership, requiring the Senior Manager to both direct team performance and personally manage a portfolio of key government relationships. The Senior Manager, Local Government Relations will support multiple states in a collaborative team environment under the supervision of the Vice President – Regulatory and External Affairs. Your team is an integral part of Ziply Fiber’s success in fiber market expansion through building and maintaining strong relationships with municipal public works departments, municipal government leadership and other community leaders, residents, businesses, and internal departments to ensure the organization's interests are represented. Internally, this role will provide local intelligence of various municipal expectations, regulations, specifications and laws to inform fiber market expansion success. The Senior Manager works extensively across many of Ziply Fiber’s departments focused on municipal government and residential/commercial business to positively impact the company’s image and reputation.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience, may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working in government affairs.
Minimum of three (3) years of people management experience.
Strong Microsoft Office skills, comfort with AI tools, and the ability to quickly become proficient in new tools.
Ability to lead and manage projects and tasks while effectively representing Ziply Fiber.
Strong presentation and communication skills, able to effectively communicate to local government staff and officials in both written and oral form.
Regular travel across the Midwest region to meet with government officials, attend hearings and public meetings, and support field operations.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and satisfactory driving record.
Extensive portfolio of relationships across state and local government.
Strategic leadership - Demonstrated ability to set vision, establish multi-year plans, and convert strategy into executable roadmaps with clear KPIs and outcomes.
Executive communication and influence - Polished, persuasive communicator with experience briefing C-suite and public officials; adept at simplifying complexity, negotiating alignment, and managing high-stakes conversations.
Interpersonal Skills – Leads conflict resolution; maintains confidentiality; listens to others; keeps emotions under control. Responds promptly to resident/business needs; solicits feedback to improve service; responds to requests, inquiries, issues timely; meets commitments.
Must demonstrate a high degree of personal and professional integrity due to the nature of information involved and the public visibility of this role.
You thrive working independently as well as with cross functional teams, and you exhibit energy, intelligence, and a drive for success.
Managing People – Includes team in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement. Develops team skills and encourages growth. Prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently; plans for additional workload and schedule changes, sets goals and objectives; develops realistic action plans.
Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to residents, businesses, city/county, community and other employees of the organization.
Strong problem-solving, partnership, and collaboration skills.
Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills to a variety of situations.
Ability to multi-task and collaborate effectively with other personnel to meet deadlines.
Attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to work within critical deadlines.
Ability to adjust to rapidly changing priorities and schedules.
Ability to provide excellent customer service.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for any employer. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the telecom or broadband industry or public utilities.
Knowledge and understanding of operations teams, construction teams, and outside plant teams.
Knowledge and experience working on federal, state, and local broadband, and telecommunications issues.

Responsibilities

Represent Ziply Fiber with local governments in the Midwestern United States, specifically meeting with state and federal officials and local community leaders.
Monitor and analyze state and local legislation, regulatory proceedings, and policy developments affecting Ziply Fiber’s operations and expansion in the Midwest; provide timely briefings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Manage portfolio of markets to: Continuously engage with and understand the objectives of local leadership (Construction, Field Operations, Marketing) ensuring issues are attended to timely and professionally.
Support construction teams and vendors in the resolution of right-of-way, permitting, pole attachment/joint use and similar issues with states, counties, and cities and third parties.
Act as principal contact for Ziply Fiber’s Network Operations team on local government issues.
Work with city/county and community staff and leadership, ensuring we are attending to all issues as they arise.
Support negotiations, in coordination with the Legal/Regulatory team, of franchises, right-of-way use agreements, and licenses.
Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key community members, public and government officials, agency staff, and community-based organizations.
Work with residents and businesses to resolve construction related issues and to create a win-win solution for the resident, business, and Ziply Fiber.
Meet regularly with mayors, city council members, county commissioners, administrators, and staff of cities and counties to articulate the Company’s vision and plans and to obtain support for Ziply Fiber’s initiatives.
Lead multi-disciplinary response to high-profile community or government issues; coordinate with Communications on media strategy and with Legal/Regulatory team on sensitive matters to protect the company’s license to operate.
Consult with leadership on local government affairs strategy for the Midwestern United States.
Serve as intake control leader for internal requests for Local Government Relations support. Delegate work to Local Government Relations team and/or escalate issues to other teams as necessary.
Personally manage a portfolio of key Midwest government relationships, establish Ziply Fiber’s presence with local officials, and develop the staffing plan and business case for a dedicated regional team.
Direct, develop, and scale a multi-state team of Local Government Relations Managers; set goals and KPIs, coach for performance and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Prepare reports of results and KPIs for executive leadership review.
Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.