Contract Telecom Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary:

Working independently and collaboratively with others, this position plays an integral role in executing PEAK's mission, philosophy, and commitment to providing state of the art broadband connectivity to our customers and cooperative members along with exceptional service to our internal and external customers. All employees are also expected to maintain a high level of trust, integrity and ethical standards.

The Construction Project Manager leads the planning, construction, and turn-up of PEAK's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network funded in part through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program as well as additional privately funded capital construction projects. This role owns day-to-day construction execution across the awarded project area - from make-ready and outside plant (OSP) build-out through splicing, testing, and acceptance - while ensuring the program stays on schedule, within budget, and in full compliance with federal grant requirements administered by NTIA and the Oregon Broadband Office. This position will report to both the Philomath and Lebanon office locations.

The position is a hands-on field-and-office leadership role that bridges engineering, contractors, PEAK's operations teams, and grant administration. The ideal candidate combines proven utility or telecom construction management experience with the discipline required to manage a federally funded program with strict documentation, procurement, and reporting obligations.

Essential Functions of the Position:

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits.

Construction Management & Execution

1. Manage all phases of FTTH construction across the BEAD project area, including aerial and underground OSP, make-ready, fiber placement, splicing, and customer drops.
2. Develop and maintain detailed construction schedules, sequencing work to meet program milestones and disbursement requirements.
3. Conduct and oversee field inspections to verify workmanship meets engineering specifications, internal standards, and applicable codes.
4. Coordinate locates, permitting, right-of-way, road crossings, railroad/utility crossings, and any necessary easements.
5. Resolve field issues, change orders, and design conflicts in coordination with various stakeholders.
6. Coordinate and engage with CPI members/PEAK subscribers to address construction concerns, scheduling, preferences, etc.
7. Identify potential high ROI opportunities adjacent to project areas and/or existing plant assets.

Contractor & Vendor Management

1. Lead procurement, selection, and oversight of construction contractors and subcontractors consistent with internal policy and federal procurement standards.
2. Negotiate, administer, and enforce construction contracts, scopes of work, and unit pricing.
3. Review and approve contractor pay applications against verified work in place.
4. Hold regular progress meetings; track productivity, quality, and safety performance.

BEAD Grant Compliance

1. Ensure all construction activity complies with current BEAD program requirements as administered by NTIA and the Oregon Broadband Office, including the June 2025 Restructuring Policy Notice and subsequent guidance.
2. Maintain Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) domestic-content compliance for iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials; collect and retain supplier certifications and any approved waivers.
3. Support and document Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP/NEPA) reviews, including coordination through NTIA's Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool (ESAPTT) and the State Historic Preservation Office where applicable.
4. Maintain certification of compliance with applicable federal, state, and local labor and employment laws and any applicable prevailing-wage requirements.
5. Maintain audit-ready records: invoices, certifications, inspection reports, as-builts, and milestone documentation sufficient to support reimbursement and federal/state audit.

Budget, Schedule & Reporting

1. Own the construction budget for the BEAD award; track actuals against budget and forecast to completion.
2. Prepare and submit construction progress reports, milestone documentation, and reimbursement support to the Oregon Broadband Office on required cadence.
3. Provide regular status updates and contribute construction content to board-level program updates.
4. Flag risks to cost, schedule, or compliance early, with recommended mitigations.

Safety, Quality & Coordination

1. Champion a culture of safety; ensure contractor compliance with OSHA and other safety requirements.
2. Coordinate closely with PEAK's electric operations team on joint-use, make-ready, and any work near energized facilities.
3. Partner with GIS/mapping staff to ensure accurate as-built capture and integration into PEAK's systems.
4. Coordinate with customer service and engineering on service-area readiness and turn-up.

Position Requirements:

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, telecommunications, or a related field - or equivalent combination of education and 5+ years of progressively responsible construction management experience.
• 5+ years managing OSP, fiber, or utility/telecom infrastructure construction, including contractor oversight and budget responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-million-dollar construction programs on schedule and on budget.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience on a BEAD, RDOF, ReConnect, or similarly funded federal/state broadband program.
• Experience in a rural utility environment, including joint-use and pole make-ready.
• PMP, CCM, or relevant industry certification.
• Familiarity with the Oregon broadband office processes and reporting systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of FTTH/OSP design and construction practices (aerial and underground), make-ready, and fiber splicing/testing.
• Familiarity with federal grant compliance, including federal procurement standards (2 CFR 200), BABA, and environmental/historic preservation review.
• Proficiency with construction management, scheduling, and document-control tools, and comfort working in GIS-informed environments.
• Strong contract administration, negotiation, and vendor-management skills.
• Excellent organization and documentation discipline suited to a federally audited program.
• Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, the Board of Directors, customers and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas designed to meet or exceed the organization's strategic goals.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers, vendors, contractors, and other diverse audiences while providing outstanding customer service.
• Highly ethical, self-motivated individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits.

Availability, Physical Demands, and Other Requirements:

Availability and Accessibility

Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions, the importance of personal interactions with coworkers and members of the public, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires regular, consistent availability, accessibility, and presence on-site.

Approximately 40 hours / week may be required to efficiently perform the job duties of this position, including presence at designated internal and external meetings. This position may also require availability and accessibility to respond to and address emergencies and critical situations outside of normal business operating hours in the evenings and/or during weekends.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to ascend and descend utility poles, climb ladders, utilize bucket trucks, load and unload tools and equipment. Lift and manipulate up to 75 pounds.
• Use a personal computer or other technology devices frequently and consistently for the purpose of reviewing, analyzing, creating, transmitting, and presenting documents, data and other business-related information.
• Changes position frequently and works in awkward positions. Required to stand for extended periods of time, sit while driving and/or attending meetings, and walk on uneven ground in all types of Required to push, pull, twist, reach and use finger dexterity to grip/handle tools, equipment controls, etc. Work requires regular entering/exiting of vehicle. Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing and descending a stepladder may also be required.

• Drive on behalf of PEAK and/or report for work in all types of weather.

Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record required.
• CDL preferred or ability to obtain within designated timeframe.
• OSHA or telecom safety certifications preferred.

Environmental Conditions:

The work environment conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. This position works primarily in the field and is exposed to all types of weather conditions including temperature extremes and rainy environments.

Outdoor setting involves all types of property and site conditions, including open spaces, timberlands, urban developments, flat and hilly terrain, building construction sites, and road rights of way. Subject to outside weather/driving conditions.

Disclosures:

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. It is intended as a general guide of the job duties and tasks the person in this position may be asked to perform as part of our PEAK team. It is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the job duties or responsibilities that may be assigned to this position. Position descriptions may occasionally be updated, as necessary, to reflect evolving business needs, and such changes may not be reflected immediately in written form.

Refusal or unwillingness to perform duties and tasks assigned in a positive, professional and productive manner, even if seeming to fall outside of this description, may be considered insubordination and a violation of PEAK policies and expectations.

Equal Employment Opportunity statement:

PEAK is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merits, and business needs.