Telecom Construction Project Specialist I

TDS•Lansing, MI

9d•Hybrid

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? Our Network Services team has an exciting opportunity for a Telecom Construction Project Specialist I to join us in our Michigan market! In this role, you'll be responsible for coordinating, planning, and supervising outside plant field construction and splicing operations in multiple locations. Depending upon workload you may be required to supervise consulting resources in the engineering and/or construction phase of the projects. You will be expected to work independently with representatives from network operations, associate managers, consultants, design engineers and construction contractors for TDS Telecom Network Services to ensure that the needs of the company are being met. You will be responsible for the implementation of fiber networks while conforming to existing TDS Outside Plant (OSP) guidelines and TDS OSP standards established for the Telecom Network Services. You'll be expected to stay current with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and ensure our construction is always in compliance with NESC standards. Depending on the area, you may be required to assist in the engineering of the OSP projects. This involves, among other things, creating the labor, material, and overhead project estimates. As a Telecom Construction Project Specialist I you'll be expected to oversee numerous construction projects, possibly located in multiple locations. You will continually monitor costs and job progress to ensure that construction projects are completed on time and within budget. You'll also be responsible for ongoing communication with various governmental agencies to protect the TDS OSP network from being jeopardized by proposed road improvements and may be required to negotiate with municipalities or other utility companies from a network and a legal perspective for the purchase, lease and/or sale of inner ducts, fiber and/or complete fiber networks. Work Schedule: This is a hybrid position with in-office and field work. You will have the flexibility to work from home 2 days a week and 3 days a week will be reporting into our offices in Augusta, MI (212 S Webster St. Augusta, MI 49012) or Perry, MI (129 S Main St. Perry, MI 48872). Due to the nature of the role, it will require you be available to travel within 50 miles of this area for in-market field support. The ideal candidate will reside within 50 miles of Perry, Lansing, or Augusta, or the surrounding areas in Michigan, in order to be available for this in-market support and travel.

Requirements

Associate Degree (or higher) –OR– 2+ years professional work experience
3+ years’ experience in Voice, Data, or Video networking -OR- 6+ months TDS Telecom technical internship experience.
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and insurance

Nice To Haves

Fiber optic implementation experience
Excellent leadership, customer relations and communications skills
Self-directed and ability to work independently
ESRI ArcGIS, AGOL, Spatial analysis or other GIS experience
Proficient working in a digital environment
Understanding of Telecommunications industry and principals
Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Project Management experience
Excellent written and oral communications skills
PC database, spreadsheet, and word processing skills
Working knowledge of NESC construction practices and engineering standards
Ability to work in a cooperative and courteous manner with diverse work groups
Understanding of Fiber to The Home (FTTH) design and construction techniques
Ability to read and understand FTTH construction prints

Responsibilities

Responsible for the coordination of OSP projects and/or supervision of consultants who are responsible for coordinating outside plant field construction and splicing operations in multiple locations and states.
Provide technical support for special request projects such as major road moves or potential on-net builds. The successful candidate must work with Finance to ensure proper accounting of facilities placed and interact with the legal department to ensure that the company is not at risk in any asset transfers.
If needed, assist in the engineering phase of projects. This involves creating labor, material, and overheads project cost estimates.
Provide audits of OSP projects and coach consultants and/or contractors to ensure accuracy and consistency. The audits will ensure compliance with NESC standards and current TDS OSP standards.
Review all required reports from field personnel and contractor invoicing for accuracy.
Manage construction projects by reviewing quality of work, clean up resolution, proper maintenance of project documentation and continual review of project progress.
Ensure that the TDS OSP group complies with Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines and other departments such as Network Operations, Network Planning, Rights-of-Way and Contract Administration.
This position requires the conducting of pre-staking, pre-bid and pre-construction meetings as required. The successful candidate must verify that proper right-of-way, easements, and permits are obtained and designs for proper cable sizing and facility routing. Making sure that proper close.
Verify that all documentation required to complete projects successfully, including bid jobs, build orders, job start agreements, VMOPs and close out documentation is complete.
Adapt quickly in an ever-changing environment to new GIS based construction tracking methods, new construction methods and rapidly changing architecture types.