Program Manager – Pole Restoration, Trussing and Inspection
Job Type: Full Time
Pay Range: $95k - $120k
About our Role
Iapetus Infrastructure Services (IIS) is seeking an experienced Program Manager to support a large-scale pole restoration, pole trussing, and inspection program for Utility Companies across North Texas and Oklahoma. This position is responsible for the program development, day-to-day management, coordination, quality oversight, and client interface for programs focused on the restoration, reinforcement, preservation, and inspection of wood and steel utility distribution and transmission structures.
The Program Manager serves as the primary operational point of contact between IIS, our clients, and field crews, ensuring programs are executed safely, on schedule, and in accordance with utility specifications and quality standards. This role will also support similar utility infrastructure programs for other IIS clients as workload and availability permit.
The ideal candidate will have direct field experience with pole restoration, steel truss installation, intrusive pole inspection, and preservative treatment programs, combined with demonstrated project management, client relationship, and team leadership capabilities. A working knowledge of utility construction standards, asset management practices, and field safety requirements is essential.
Work Environment: This position is field-based and requires extensive work throughout utility service territories in North Texas and Oklahoma, or other states as assigned. The Program Manager will split time between field operations, client site visits, and administrative duties. Frequent travel with overnight stays may be required. Work will be performed in outdoor environments near energized utility facilities, active construction zones, and roadways. Office or remote work may be required for reporting, planning, and administrative activities.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Pole Restoration & Trussing Program Management (Primary Responsibilities)
- Serve as the primary operational manager for pole restoration and steel truss installation programs, ensuring field activities are executed in accordance with client specifications, engineering requirements, and quality standards.
- Manage field crews performing steel truss system installations, steel stub installations, groundline restoration, and structural reinforcement activities on wood utility poles across our clients North Texas and Oklahoma service territories.
- Oversee the evaluation of poles for restoration eligibility, including review of shell thickness measurements, remaining section modulus (RSM) calculations, and structural assessments performed by field technicians.
- Coordinate crew scheduling, work order prioritization, material procurement, equipment deployment, and logistics to meet program production targets and client deadlines.
- Review and approve daily restoration production reports, photographs, and field documentation to verify completeness, accuracy, and compliance with utility specifications.
- Conduct and coordinate regular field quality assurance inspections of completed truss installations, restoration hardware, backfill compaction, and site conditions.
- Interface directly with our client’s program stakeholders, project engineers, and asset management personnel regarding restoration status, production reporting, and program performance.
- Identify and escalate poles requiring engineering review, replacement, or supplemental reinforcement beyond standard restoration eligibility criteria.
- Manage crew performance, compliance, and field safety expectations throughout restoration and trussing operations.
- Support emergency restoration activities following storm damage, vehicle strikes, fire damage, and other unplanned events as required.
Intrusive Pole Inspection (IPI) & Pole Test and Treat (PTT) Program Oversight
- Oversee field execution of intrusive pole inspection (IPI) and pole test and treat (PTT) programs conducted by IIS field crews, ensuring compliance with our client’s inspection protocols and quality requirements.
- Manage crew activities including sound-and-bore inspections, partial and full excavation inspections, shell thickness measurements, RSM calculations, and preservative treatment applications.
- Review and approve inspection data submissions, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and proper use of approved software platforms including D-Calc, SPIDA, and utility-specified mobile data collection applications.
- Coordinate treatment material procurement, tracking, and documentation in accordance with environmental requirements and utility treatment specifications.
- Monitor field production rates, inspection quality metrics, and program progress against client-established benchmarks and deliverable schedules.
- Facilitate communication between field inspection crews and client program managers regarding pole dispositions, replacement candidates, and inspection findings requiring immediate attention.
- Ensure that poles identified as hazardous, requiring urgent replacement, or presenting public safety concerns are properly documented and promptly reported to appropriate client stakeholders.
- Oversee inspector qualifications, training requirements, and program-specific certification compliance for all crew members performing inspection and treatment activities.
Client Relations, Reporting & Program Administration
- Serve as the primary day-to-day IIS point of contact for client program managers, field engineers, and utility stakeholders.
- Prepare and deliver regular program status reports, production summaries, quality metrics, and exception reporting to our clients and IIS leadership.
- Participate in client meetings, program reviews, kick-off meetings, and field walkthroughs as required.
- Develop and maintain program-specific documentation including crew rosters, equipment inventories, production tracking logs, and quality assurance records.
- Ensure all work is executed in compliance with client safety requirements, OSHA regulations, utility construction standards, environmental regulations, and applicable permitting requirements.
- Manage subcontractor compliance, performance, and documentation requirements when applicable.
- Support IIS business development by maintaining strong client relationships and identifying program expansion and additional service opportunities.
- Provide program management support for other IIS utility infrastructure clients as capacity and scheduling permit.
Steel Pole, Pad-Mounted Equipment & Asset Integrity Program Support
- Manage IIS crews performing visual condition assessments of steel utility poles and transmission structures, ensuring consistent application of client inspection criteria and documentation standards.
- Direct crew activities supporting steel pole preservation programs, including surface preparation, coating application, corrosion mitigation, and treatment activities as specified by the client.
- Oversee identification and documentation of steel pole deficiencies including corrosion, coating failures, structural deformation, hardware deficiencies, foundation concerns, and missing or damaged components.
- Manage inspection programs for pad-mounted transformers, switchgear, underground risers, pull boxes, and associated pad-mounted equipment, including condition assessments, accessibility evaluations, and identification of clearance, vegetation, and safety concerns.
- Ensure field crews maintain required minimum approach distances and comply with client safety requirements when working in proximity to energized facilities, including during steel pole and equipment inspections.
- Oversee field documentation of pad-mounted equipment deficiencies, ensuring accurate GPS coordinates, photographs, and asset condition data are captured and submitted through client-specified systems.
- Coordinate findings from steel pole and pad-mounted equipment inspection activities with client asset management personnel to support maintenance prioritization, replacement planning, and reliability program objectives.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum 3–5 years of direct experience in utility pole restoration, pole trussing, intrusive pole inspection, pole test and treat, or related utility infrastructure programs.
- Demonstrated experience managing field crews, subcontractors, or construction teams in utility, electric distribution, or transmission infrastructure environments.
- Working knowledge of wood pole deterioration mechanisms, structural assessment principles, restoration eligibility evaluation, and steel truss installation practices.
- Familiarity with preservative treatment systems, fumigant applications, and utility-standard treatment procedures.
- Knowledge of steel pole inspection practices, corrosion assessment, and pad-mounted equipment inspection requirements.
- Experience with mobile GIS platforms, field data collection applications, and utility asset management systems (e.g., Fulcrum, ArcGIS, D-Calc, SPIDA, or equivalent).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to interface with utility clients and manage program stakeholder relationships.
- Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
- Ability to travel as required by program operations.
Preferred
- Associates or Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Project Management, Engineering Technology, Business Administration, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- Prior experience managing similar programs, other investor-owned utilities, or rural electric cooperatives in Oklahoma or Texas.
- QAL (Qualified Applicator License) or QAC (Qualified Applicator Certificate)
- PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent project management training.
- CDL or experience managing CDL-required equipment fleets.
- OSHA 30 certification or equivalent utility safety qualification.
- Experience supporting wildfire mitigation, system hardening, or infrastructure reliability programs.
Physical Demands, Conditions, Work Environment
The physical demands, conditions, and work environment characteristics described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Employees must be able to maintain attention and concentration for extended periods of time.
- Work alone in an outdoor field environment; extensive vehicle operation and foot patrol of utility power lines; remote locations as well as urban, city environment; physical demands and travel from site to site, including walking/hiking on various surfaces including flat, dry, wet, slippery, uneven, rough, steep terrain, hills, and slopes; exposure to noise, dust, grease, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; exposure to hazardous traffic conditions.
Physical
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a field environment:
- walk, stand, sit, and operate a motor vehicle for prolonged periods of time;
- frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, run, crawl, climb, reach, twist, grasp and make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties;
- carry, push and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (5 to 10 lbs.);
- operate assigned equipment and vehicles;
- verbally communicate to exchange information with public;
- see and hear in normal range with or without correction;
- operate assigned field equipment, including handheld computer, range finder, water backpack, shovel, and traffic cone.
Safety
Safety is a top priority. Successful candidates will be committed to their personal safety and to the safety of others. This role will require a general understanding and the ability to identify safety hazards and report any unsafe working conditions. The position requires active participation in safety briefings and may deliver industry-specific safety messages to a broad audience when called upon.
Pre-Qualifications
- Applicants must pass a pre-employment drug test.
- All candidates must possess a valid driver's license and have a good driving record.
