Senior Director Construction Operations Central Region

Description

The Senior Director, Construction Operations provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all Outside Plant (OSP) construction operations across multiple regions and markets. This role is responsible for scaling and optimizing fiber deployment programs, driving operational excellence, and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality infrastructure builds across underground, aerial, and long-haul network environments.

Reporting to executive leadership, the Senior Director oversees Directors and Individuals of OSP Construction and is accountable for enterprise-wide construction performance, including safety, quality, cost, schedule, and contractor execution. This leader will establish best practices, standardize processes, and drive continuous improvement across all construction operations.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a balance of strategic foresight and deep field expertise. The ideal candidate is a proven operator who has successfully led large-scale fiber deployments and built high-performing construction organizations.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all OSP construction activities across multiple regions and markets.
• Lead and manage a team of Directors and individual contributors of OSP Construction, ensuring consistent execution, accountability, and performance alignment.
• Develop and implement enterprise-wide construction strategies to support rapid fiber network expansion and customer delivery commitments.
• Establish standardized processes, metrics, and reporting frameworks for construction execution, productivity, and quality.
• Oversee large-scale underground, aerial, and directional boring programs across diverse geographies.
• Own and manage overall construction budgets, capital deployment, and cost controls across all active markets.
• Drive contractor strategy, including vendor selection, performance management, contract negotiations, and optimization.
• Ensure consistent adherence to safety standards, OSHA compliance, and zero-incident culture initiatives across all teams.
• Implement and enforce quality assurance programs to ensure infrastructure integrity and long-term network reliability.
• Partner with Engineering, Permitting, Operations, and Executive Leadership to align construction priorities with business objectives.
• Oversee risk management, including schedule delays, cost overruns, permitting challenges, and field execution issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to productivity, cycle time reduction, and cost efficiency.
• Lead executive-level reporting on construction performance, including KPIs, forecasts, and risk mitigation plans.
• Support escalation management for critical issues involving municipalities, utilities, customers, and key partners.
• Ensure organizational scalability through workforce planning, leadership development, and succession planning.

• 12-15+ years of experience in OSP construction, telecom, fiber optics, or utility infrastructure.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing large, multi-region construction teams and senior leaders.
• Proven experience leading large-scale fiber network deployments, including metro, long-haul, and data center connectivity builds.
• Deep expertise in:
• Underground conduit systems and civil construction
• Directional drilling and trenching operations
• Utility coordination and joint-use programs
• Fiber placement and splicing readiness
• Demonstrated success scaling construction operations across multiple concurrent markets.
• Strong understanding of permitting, right-of-way processes, and municipal coordination at scale.
• Extensive experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets, capital programs, and vendor contracts.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, safety programs, and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to interpret engineering designs, GIS mapping, and construction documentation.

• Ability to travel frequently (up to 50%) across active markets and project sites.
• Valid Driver's License with a clean driving record.
• Ability to operate effectively in both field and executive environments.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as required by business needs.

• OSHA 30 Certification strongly preferred.
• Experience with large-scale fiber builds supporting hyperscale, data center, or enterprise customers.
• Familiarity with construction and project management platforms (ESRI, Oracle, Netcracker, Smartsheet, Tableau, etc.).
• Experience…