Outside Plant Construction Specialist

Overview

Outside Plant Construction Specialist

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?

Note: This position offers opportunity to telecommute from a home office; however, due to required in-market support, individuals must reside within a 50-mile radius of Eau Claire, WI.

The Outside Plant Construction Specialist is responsible for coordinating, planning, and supervising outside plant field construction and splicing operations in multiple locations. Depending on workload, this person may supervise consulting resources in the engineering and/or construction phase of projects. The successful candidate is 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 company needs are met.

The candidate will be responsible for implementing fiber networks while conforming to existing TDS Outside Plant (OSP) guidelines and TDS OSP standards. The candidate is expected to stay current with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and ensure construction is compliant with NESC standards. Depending on the area, the Outside Plant Construction Specialist may assist in the engineering of OSP projects, including creating labor, material, and overhead project estimates.

The Outside Plant Construction Specialist is expected to oversee numerous construction projects, possibly located in multiple locations. The candidate will continually monitor costs and job progress to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. The candidate is also responsible for ongoing communication with governmental agencies to protect the TDS OSP network and may negotiate with municipalities or other utility companies regarding inner ducts, fiber, and/or complete fiber networks.

This position can be hired at Network Specialist ), Network Specialist I ) or Network Specialist II ) level depending on skills and qualifications. Separate postings outline the minimum requirements for each role; please review both postings and apply to any level for which you are qualified and interested.

• Coordinate OSP projects and/or supervise consultants responsible for coordinating outside plant field construction and splicing operations in multiple locations.
• Provide technical support for special projects such as major road moves or potential on-net builds.
• Work with Finance to ensure proper accounting of facilities placed and interact with the legal department to manage asset transfers.
• Assist in the engineering phase of projects as needed, including creating labor, material, and overhead project cost estimates.
• Provide audits of OSP projects and coach consultants/contractors to ensure accuracy and compliance with NESC and TDS OSP standards.
• Review required reports from field personnel and contractor invoicing for accuracy. Manage project progress, quality of work, and documentation.
• Ensure TDS OSP group complies with Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines and collaborates with other departments (Network Operations, Network Planning, Rights-of-Way, Contract Administration).
• Conduct pre-staking, pre-bid, and pre-construction meetings as required; verify rights-of-way, easements, and permits; design fiber sizing and facility routing.
• Verify that all documentation required to complete projects (bids, build orders, start agreements, VMOPs, close-out docs) is complete.
• Adapt to GIS-based construction tracking methods and evolving construction architectures.

Required Qualifications

• Associate Degree (or equivalent) or 2+ years of professional work experience
• 2+ years of experience in Voice, Data, or Video networking, or 6+ months TDS Telecom technical internship experience
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and insurance

Other Qualifications

• Ability to travel to construction sites daily as required by business needs
• Experience in OSP Construction and/or Engineering (fiber or copper) or related Utility/Municipal Construction and/or Engineering or Construction Project Management
• Fiber optic implementation experience
• Excellent leadership, customer relations, and communication skills
• Self-directed with ability to work independently
• GIS experience (ESRI ArcGIS, AGOL, Spatial analysis) or similar
• Proficiency in a digital environment; understanding of telecommunications industry fundamentals
• Ability to manage multiple priorities; project management experience
• Strong written and oral communication skills; PC software (database, spreadsheets, word processing)
• Working knowledge of NESC construction practices and engineering standards
• Ability to work with diverse work groups; FTTH design and construction understanding; knowledge of unit-based…