Telecommunications Program Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Program Manager

Program Manager Job Description

As a Program Manager, you will oversee and manage the end-to-end execution of fiber optic network construction, ensuring all activities align with scope, budget, and schedule. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage stakeholders, and ensure compliance with industry standards while driving the successful delivery of infrastructure projects in the field

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and manage multiple large-scale projects, including underground and aerial fiber builds, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and to specification.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams, including construction, engineering, procurement, and regulatory bodies, to ensure seamless project execution across all phases of the OSP deployment.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, including scope definition, resource allocation, scheduling, budgeting, and forecasting, with a strong focus on meeting milestones and client expectations.
• Oversee and manage project budgets, ensuring accurate forecasting and reporting on capital expenditures, resources, and materials, aligning with financial goals.
• Responsible for maintaining customer relationships and ensuring a continuous workflow into the market
• Take full internal and customer accountability for project planning and execution, including design, construction management, zoning and permitting, licensing, system acceptance, NOC integration, and project closeout.
• Monitor construction quality, ensuring all fiber installation work meets industry and design standards and is within scope and contractual obligations.
• Navigate and negotiate change orders for work out of scope.
• Provide detailed daily and weekly reports on project status, milestones, resource usage, and field progress, communicating any changes or issues to key stakeholders.
• Conduct field observations as needed to oversee construction activities, resolve field issues, and ensure that work is being executed according to plans, specifications, and safety standards.
• Actively manage and monitor budgets, schedules, and scopes for multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring all aspects of the project build are on track and within financial constraints.
• Lead the review of OSP designs, ensuring accuracy in drawings and calculations, and compliance with industry standards for underground and aerial fiber builds. Provide feedback on designs to ensure they meet project requirements and are feasible for construction.
• Assists in project sales calls, kickoff meetings, vendor selection and other new business development ideas
• Serve as the central point of contact for project status updates, meetings, and communications, providing leadership teams with regular reports on milestones, progress, forecasts, and resolutions to issues.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to OSP deployments, including zoning, permitting, construction delays, and regulatory hurdles, ensuring clear communication with stakeholders and timely resolution of issues.
• Ensure the maintenance of all OSP project documentation, including permitting, design filings, and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Perform any other duties as necessary to ensure the successful deployment and completion of projects.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong knowledge of telecommunication construction prints and scopes of work
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience related to telecommunications projects
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, business management or equivalent experience
• Expertise in data-driven decision-making, leveraging performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and improve operational effectiveness.
• Skilled in project planning and execution, balancing resource allocation, timelines, and financial objectives to drive business success.
• Effective leader and communicator, skilled in negotiation, conflict resolution, vendor management, quality control and scope evaluation
• Experience in managing work-in-progress (WIP) tracking, backlog oversight, and risk mitigation strategies to minimize delays and inefficiencies.
• Ability to identify bottlenecks and process gaps, implementing corrective measures to enhance productivity and profitability.
• Strong financial acumen in budget planning, cost control, and investment analysis, ensuring alignment with strategic business goals.
• Expertise in pricing strategies, financial structuring, and contract compliance, optimizing profitability and operational sustainability.
• Experienced in financial reporting and forecasting, providing leadership with actionable insights for business growth.
• Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and cross-functional team leadership, aligning diverse teams towards common objectives.
• High-level strategic thinking with expertise in scaling operations for growth and adapting to market changes.
• Able to successfully pass a background check and drug screen
• Ability to travel 25% of the time.
• Have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite