OSP Program Manager for Long Haul Deployment

Company Description

Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 141,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.

Program Manager, Long Haul OSP Deployment

The Program Manager, Long Haul OSP Deployment is responsible for the successful delivery of long haul fiber deployment programs through direct management of turnkey engineering and construction contractors and oversight of multiple concurrent projects. This role combines strategic program leadership with hands-on project execution responsibilities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with Zayo quality standards.

The Program Manager serves as the primary operational and contractual interface between Zayo, turnkey vendors, and customers. This position is accountable for contract administration, project controls, budget management, regulatory compliance, contractor performance, risk mitigation, and project closeout activities across a portfolio of long haul network expansion projects.

The Program Manager reports to the Director, Long Haul OSP Deployment.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Project Leadership

Lead the delivery of multiple long haul OSP deployment projects simultaneously, including greenfield, overpull, and network expansion initiatives.

Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource forecasts.

Drive project execution from initial planning through engineering, permitting, construction, testing, acceptance, and closeout.

Monitor project performance against scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives .

Identify project risks and implement mitigation and recovery plans to maintain delivery commitments.

Contractor & Vendor Management

Serve as the primary contractual and operational interface with turnkey engineering and construction partners.

Draft, review, negotiate, and administer engineering and construction contracts.

Monitor contractor compliance with contractual requirements, milestone commitments, production targets, safety standards, and quality expectations.

Conduct contractor performance reviews and drive accountability through structured reporting, corrective action plans, and executive escalations when required .

Review and approve contractor invoices, production reports, schedules, and change orders.

Contract Administration & Financial Management

Manage project budgets, capital expenditures, forecasts, and financial reporting.

Evaluate and process change orders, assessing impacts to project scope, cost, and schedule.

Validate quantities, unit pricing, schedule-of-values reporting, and contractor invoicing.

Maintain accurate project documentation, contract records, correspondence, and audit-ready project files.

Provide regular financial and operational updates to leadership and key stakeholders.

Engineering, Permitting & Regulatory Oversight

Collaborate with Fiber Engineering to validate route design, constructability, fiber assignments, and project requirements.

Oversee engineering package development, permitting strategies, and regulatory compliance activities.

Manage complex permitting and environmental requirements, including NEPA, Section 106, Tribal engagement, right-of-way negotiations, state utility commissions, and federal funding requirements.

Ensure compliance with NTIA and other government-funded program requirements, including Davis-Bacon, BABA, and environmental assessment obligations.

Construction & Material Management

Oversee contractor material forecasting, procurement coordination, receiving, inventory tracking, and field deployment activities.

Monitor field production rates and construction progress against established schedules.

Support resolution of field issues impacting schedule, cost, quality, or customer commitments.

Ensure adherence to OSP construction standards, fiber specifications, testing requirements, and safety practices.

Reporting & Stakeholder Communication

Deliver project-level, program-level, and executive-level reporting, including progress updates, financial summaries, risk assessments, and recovery plans.

Maintain proactive communication with customers, internal stakeholders, contractors, and leadership teams.

Facilitate issue resolution across cross-functional teams to minimize project impacts.

Present project status and recommendations to Program leadership and customer stakeholders.

Testing, Acceptance & Closeout

Oversee fiber testing, acceptance, and closeout processes to ensure compliance with Zayo standards.

Review and validate project deliverables, as-built documentation, redlined network diagrams, and inventory updates.

Ensure timely delivery of complete project closeout packages to GIS, Operations, Network Engineering, and Inventory teams.

Verify that all project documentation, testing records, permits, and customer deliverables are complete and accurately archived.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

Lead, mentor, and develop project managers and deployment personnel as assigned.

Foster a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Develop and implement best practices for contractor management, project controls, reporting, and long haul deployment execution.

Partner with regional and functional teams to align deployment strategies with broader network objectives .

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering , Construction Management, Telecommunications, Business, or a related field preferred.

Equivalent industry experience may be substituted for formal education.

Experience

Minimum of eight (8) years of telecommunications, fiber deployment, or OSP project management experience.

Minimum of eight (8) years managing complex outside plant construction projects and contractor relationships.

Demonstrated experience delivering multimillion-dollar fiber deployment projects on schedule and within budget.

Experience administering engineering, construction, and turnkey (EPC) contracts.

Experience managing federal and state regulatory requirements, permitting, and environmental compliance.

Prior leadership experience managing project teams or cross-functional deployment organizations preferred.

Technical Knowledge

Strong knowledge of OSP construction methods, fiber optic infrastructure, and long haul network architecture.

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modeling, budget forecasting, data analysis, reporting, pivot tables, lookups, and project performance tracking.

Understanding of fiber testing standards, acceptance requirements, and closeout procedures.

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, route maps, construction packages, and testing documentation.

Familiarity with GIS platforms, Google Earth, and network inventory systems.

Working knowledge of Salesforce, Sitetracker , and project management systems preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Strong contract negotiation and administration skills.

Excellent financial management , forecasting, and budgeting capabilities.

Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Advanced problem-solving, critical-thinking , and decision-making abilities.

Ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Ability to travel as required to support project execution, contractor oversight, and customer engagements .

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