Senior Network Planning & Build Architect

Senior Network Planning & Build Clienthitect

Location:

Bellevue, WA

Duration: 6+ Months of Contract with Possible Extension

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Execution

Drive network planning and build strategy execution, translating business goals into actionable roadmaps

Lead strategic initiatives such as 5G expansion, fiber densification, rural coverage, and capacity upgrades

Partner with leadership to define OKRs/KPIs (coverage, capacity, cost efficiency, deployment velocity)

Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities to optimize network investment decisions

2. Program & Portfolio Governance

Oversee end-to-end program management across planning, design, site acquisition, and deployment lifecycle

Establish governance frameworks, RAG reporting, and executive dashboards

Drive accountability for milestone delivery across cross-functional teams (RAN, Transport, Core, Operations)

Ensure alignment to budget, timeline, and regulatory commitments

3. Cross-Functional Alignment & Execution

Act as the central coordination point across:
Network Engineering (RAN/Core/Transport) Site Acquisition & Construction Vendors/OEMs and Managed Service Partners Finance, Procurement, and Regulatory teams

Break silos and ensure seamless communication and execution across domains

4. Executive Advisory & Decision Support

Serve as a trusted advisor to the Network Planning & Build leadership

Provide data-driven insights on network performance, coverage gaps, and capacity planning

Prepare executive reviews, board materials, and investment cases

Support decision-making on network investments, vendor selection, and prioritization

5. Operational Excellence & Transformation

Drive process optimization and tools rationalization across planning and deployment workflows

Introduce automation, AI/ML insights, and digital transformation initiatives in network planning

Improve cycle times for site rollout, permitting, and deployment execution

Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost, quality, and speed

6. Vendor & Ecosystem Management

Coordinate with OEMs, contractors, and partners for network deployment execution

Track vendor performance, SLAs, and delivery commitments

Support commercial and operational governance of vendor ecosystem

7. Communication & Stakeholder Management

Manage executive communications, reporting cadence, and leadership reviews

Ensure alignment between field teams, engineering groups, and executive leadership

Represent the leadership team in critical internal/external forums

Key Outcomes / Success Metrics

Network rollout milestones delivered on time and within budget

Improved coverage, capacity, and network performance metrics

Reduction in deployment cycle time and cost per site

Strong cross-functional alignment and execution discipline

High-quality executive reporting and decision enablement

12–18+ years in telecom (Network Planning / Deployment / Engineering / Program Management)

Proven leadership in large-scale network build programs (5G, fiber, RAN transformation)

Experience working with cross-functional engineering and vendor ecosystems

Education Bachelor's/Master's in Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field