Senior Manager of Fiber Construction & Deployment

United Communications•Murfreesboro, TN

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Fiber Construction & Deployment leads the end-to-end delivery of fiber infrastructure projects that support network expansion and broadband growth initiatives. This role oversees outside plant (OSP) construction activities, contractor performance, permitting, right-of-way coordination, and capital budget management to ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget. The position partners cross-functionally with engineering, operations, finance, and municipal stakeholders to drive seamless deployment from design through service activation, including brownfield, greenfield, middle-mile, and last-mile builds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Telecommunications, Business Administration, or a related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.
10+ years of progressive experience in fiber optic or telecommunications construction, including Outside Plant (OSP) deployment.
5+ years of leadership experience managing construction teams, contractors, and multi-million-dollar capital projects.
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Knowledge of NESC standards, utility separation requirements, and industry best practices.
Training in fiber optic construction standards, utility coordination, and underground safety practices.
Experience coordinating permitting, right-of-way access, and municipal approvals.
Proven track record managing capital budgets, production metrics, and construction schedules.
Demonstrated experience overseeing brownfield and greenfield builds, including underground and aerial construction.

Nice To Haves

PMP (Project Management Professional) certification preferred but not required.
Prior experience with state or federally funded broadband projects and associated compliance and reporting requirements preferred.
OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification preferred.
Project management training (PMP coursework or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end execution of fiber construction projects, including middle-mile and last-mile deployments across brownfield and greenfield environments.
Oversee Outside Plant (OSP) construction activities, including all underground and aerial build methods.
Manage contractor selection, negotiations, performance standards, and production metrics to ensure quality, safety, and schedule adherence.
Develop and maintain construction schedules aligned with capital forecasts, grant deadlines, and strategic expansion objectives.
Ensure projects are delivered on time and within approved capital budgets; monitor cost controls and forecast variances.
Coordinate permitting, right-of-way access, utility locates, and municipal approvals to mitigate delays and regulatory risk.
Serve as the primary escalation point for construction-related issues, resolving field conflicts and stakeholder concerns.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Sales, and Executive Leadership to ensure a seamless transition from construction to service activation.
Ensure compliance with state, federal, and grant funding requirements, including documentation, reporting, and audit readiness.
Implement quality control standards and inspection processes to support long-term network reliability and scalability.
Track and report production metrics, milestone completion, and risk assessments to senior leadership.
Promote and enforce safety standards across internal teams and contractor partners.
Identify process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce cost per foot, and improve deployment timelines.
Maintain accountability for the overall customer experience throughout the construction lifecycle.