Program Manager

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.

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.

Estimated base salary range: $77,100 - $118,600 USD/annually

The base pay range shown is a guideline and reasonable estimate for this role. It takes into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions. Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted range based upon geographic location, work experience, skill level, certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Non- sales roles may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan. Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a sales incentive plan.

Additionally, this position may be eligible for certain benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, disability retirement plans, paid time off.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

Benefits, Rewards & Wellness

• Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave

Zayo is an equal opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

As part of the application, hiring, onboarding, and/or employment process, Zayo or its affiliates, partners, and vendors may collect, store, and use biometric identifiers and biometric information (collectively, “Biometric Data”), such as fingerprints, facial geometry scans or other unique biological characteristics. Zayo uses CLEAR1, a third-party identity verification service, to verify applicant identity during the hiring process. CLEAR1 may collect Biometric Data, including facial geometry scans and/or other biometric identifiers, to authenticate your identity. Biometric Data will be retained pursuant to CLEAR1’s policies, which can be found here: Zayo will not sell, lease, trade, or otherwise profit from any applicant's or employee's Biometric Data. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge this disclosure. Prior to any collection of Biometric Data — including through CLEAR — you may be presented with a separate consent form and asked to provide your written authorization in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI), and other applicable biometric privacy statutes.