Senior Aerial Permitting Specialist

Senior Aerial Permitting Specialist

Mountain Ltd. is seeking an experienced Senior Aerial Permitting Specialist to support broadband and fiber network expansion projects across multiple markets. This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of aerial permitting and pole attachment activities, from initial route evaluation through final project closeout. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of utility coordination, joint-use processes, pole attachment applications, and aerial fiber construction. Success in this role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate complex permitting challenges while working effectively with utilities, engineers, project managers, and construction teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the complete pole attachment application process for aerial fiber projects.
• Coordinate pole data collection activities and work with fielding vendors to ensure accurate project information is obtained.
• Review field data, identify potential permitting issues, and provide recommendations to support project feasibility.
• Prepare and submit permit and pole attachment applications to electric utilities, telecommunications providers, municipalities, cooperatives, and other infrastructure owners.
• Track applications throughout the approval process and ensure timely follow-up on outstanding items.
• Maintain accurate permitting records, documentation, and status reports.

Utility & Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for utilities, pole owners, and joint-use stakeholders.
• Respond to requests for information, engineering comments, and make-ready requirements.
• Coordinate permit approvals, invoicing, status updates, and project communications.
• Identify schedule risks and permitting obstacles and communicate impacts to internal project teams.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with utility representatives and permitting agencies.

Construction Support

• Partner with engineering and construction teams to support project execution.
• Coordinate make-ready activities and monitor permitting milestones that impact construction schedules.
• Assist with post-construction inspections and project closeout requirements.
• Manage remediation activities related to violations, deficiencies, or utility requirements.
• Support resolution of field issues that may affect project timelines.

Project Management

• Manage multiple permitting projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and project objectives.
• Maintain detailed tracking of project status, commitments, approvals, and deliverables.
• Proactively escalate issues and drive timely resolution with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure project documentation is complete, organized, and audit-ready.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in telecommunications permitting, pole attachments, joint-use coordination, or utility relations.
• Experience managing aerial permitting projects through the full application and approval lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of:
• Pole attachment processes
• Joint-use agreements
• Make-ready engineering
• Aerial fiber construction
• Utility coordination procedures
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting FTTH, broadband, OSP, or fiber deployment programs.
• Previous experience with telecommunications providers, utilities, engineering firms, or permitting organizations.
• Familiarity with utility and telecommunications pole owner requirements and application processes.
• Understanding of NESC clearance requirements and aerial construction standards.
• Experience working with engineering, design, and construction contractors.

Technical Skills Experience with the following tools and platforms is preferred:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, Word)
• GIS and mapping applications
• Pole attachment tracking systems
• Utility permitting portals
• Project and workflow management tools
• Document management platforms
• PDF review and markup software

Experience with any of the following platforms is considered a plus:

• O-Calc
• Katapult
• Ike
• SPIDAcalc
• Vetro
• IQGeo
• ESRI ArcGIS
• Jira

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently drives permit approvals and keeps projects moving forward.
• Effectively identifies and resolves permitting challenges before they impact schedules.
• Communicates professionally with utilities, contractors, engineers, and leadership.
• Maintains a high level of accountability, organization, and follow-through.
• Demonstrates sound judgment when evaluating permitting issues and determining next steps.

This role offers an opportunity to play a key part in expanding broadband infrastructure by coordinating critical aerial permitting activities and ensuring projects move efficiently from planning through construction and final closeout. Shape the future. Summit success. Join our team and become part of a legacy that has been at the forefront of engineering excellence since 1979.