BEAD; Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment) Project Manager- Limited

The BEAD Project Manager is a limited-duration position responsible for leading the planning, execution, and closeout of four BEAD-funded fiber optic construction projects in Lewis County, Washington, totaling $35.5 million and serving approximately 3,623 unserved and underserved locations. The position serves as the District’s single point of accountability for project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and compliance with NTIA BEAD Program and Washington State Broadband Office requirements.

Works closely with internal departments and external engineering and construction partners, the Project Manager coordinates all phases of project delivery to ensure successful completion within the four-year funding timeline.
Upon completion of the BEAD projects, the position may be eliminated or the incumbent reassigned based on District needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

• Lead and manage all aspects of four BEAD-funded FTTH construction projects from planning through closeout, ensuring delivery within approved scope, budget, schedule, and grant requirements.
• Develop and maintain integrated program controls, including master schedules, project budgets, cost forecasts, risk registers, milestone tracking, and performance reporting across all four projects.
• Direct and coordinate engineering firms, contractors, consultants, subcontractors, inspectors, and project support staff to ensure effective project execution, contract compliance, and timely resolution of project issues.
• Support grant administration activities, including reimbursement requests, progress reports, milestone certifications, performance reporting, grant compliance documentation, and audit preparedness.
• Ensure adherence to federal and state grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), Build America, Buy America (BABA), Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, environmental and historic preservation reviews, and NTIA BEAD program policies.
• Coordinate permitting, easements, pole attachment agreements, make-ready activities, franchise approvals, and rights-of-way with utilities, governmental agencies, tribal governments, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee construction quality assurance and quality control activities, including inspections, fiber splicing and testing verification, as-built documentation, and acceptance of completed infrastructure.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, GIS, purchasing, warehouse, and broadband program staff to ensure network designs, construction standards, inventory controls, and reporting requirements are consistently met.
• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate program risks related to contractor performance, supply chain constraints, labor availability, permitting, weather impacts, and schedule delays; develop recovery plans as needed.
• Track and report progress toward grant-funded deployment goals, including customer passings, construction milestones, expenditures, and service availability commitments.
• Manage project closeout activities, including final inspections, warranty transitions, retainage release, grant closeout requirements, and completion of all required project documentation.
• Provide regular program status reports, presentations, and recommendations to District leadership, the Broadband and External Funding Manager, and the Board of Commissioners.
• Stay current on broadband industry best practices, FTTH construction methods, evolving BEAD program requirements, and applicable safety standards to support successful program delivery.
• Perform duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position has no supervisory responsibilities. Provides functional direction, work assignment, coordination, and performance oversight for contracted project coordinators, inspectors, construction management support staff, consultants, and other resources assigned to the BEAD program. Coordinates and monitors the activities of multiple engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, subcontractors, and field crews working across four concurrent FTTH construction projects,…