Network Specialist I - Aerial Permitting Coordinator

At TDS Telecom, connecting people is at the heart of everything we do. We are forward thinkers who leverage cutting-edge fiber internet technology to strengthen communities. We are dedicated to excellence, which drives us to succeed together, creating a better world through meaningful connections.

About the role

In this role you will be responsible for completing tasks related to securing and maintaining the legal rights of occupancy and use of real property/land and for facility colocation (joint trench, conduits, pole attachments, etc.), for the placement of TDS facilities and equipment in advance of construction. Tasks include preparing and securing permits (e.g. Utility Pole Attachments, Railroad Crossings, Federal, State, County, and Local), easements, rights of entry, and leases pursuant to requirements of law and TDS policy.

In this position, you will regularly interface (via email, phone and in person) with internal teams/departments and externally with contractors, customers, property owners, government permit authorities, utilities and railroads. This position has the ability to work remotely in any of the 40+ States in which TDS Telecom operates.

Responsibilities

• Permits: research requirements, communicate with permit authorities, attend meetings, occasional field work and travel, scope/estimate work, create tasks, work with professional service vendors to obtain data and studies, prepare applications, negotiate and submit fees, expedite and secure rights ahead of construction, update and closeout records, GIS databases and maps, care for annual requirements, payments, bonds, insurance, reporting, etc.
• Easements & Right of Entry Agreements: research local requirements, scope/estimate work, ensure compliance with law and policy, negotiate with private property owner(s), obtain survey and legal description, prepare document, secure signatures, notary, ensure payment, public recording, update records, GIS databases and maps.
• Lease work: assist with negotiation, alerts, payments, W9 issues, location issues, ownership changes, records research, phone calls, document preparation, etc.
• Any other responsibilities, duties or tasks as assigned in support of achieving goals and objectives.
• Assist with Special Projects and Initiatives: committees, mandates, programs, customer driven and success based projects and needs.
• Assist with Operations: vendor and risk management, metrics, reports, scheduling, communications, research, customer service.

Requirements

• Associate degree (or higher) –OR- 2+ years professional work experience.
• 3+ years experience in Voice, Data, or Video networking -OR- 6+ months TDS Telecom technical internship experience.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in permitting.
• Technical knowledge of Real Estate Law, Land Surveying, Project Management, GIS, Telecommunications, Engineering, Construction, and other fields is desirable.
• Ability to quickly learn and comprehend a wide variety of complex work, responsibilities, assignments, customer requests, inquiries, notices, alerts, issues, project documents, details, standards, plans and maps and review them for completeness, risks, policy compliance and to help determine/estimate the scope of work, timelines and costs for tasks and the best practices required for their successful completion.
• Ability to own, care for, and be accountable for successfully creating, organizing, scheduling, resourcing, tracking, updating, reporting, communicating status, expediting, overcoming obstacles/issues, completing, and closing out records for multiple tasks simultaneously within expectations of cost, time, and quality, while working independently and/or with others on a daily and ongoing basis to meet performance and productivity expectations.
• Ability to comprehend and help ensure that larger team and organizational goals and initiatives are successful through a sense of importance and urgency surrounding task throughput, efficient utilization of time, effective communication, and prioritization of tasks, assignments, and responsibilities.
• Ability to quickly and confidently build trusting, positive, and productive internal and external professional relationships with a wide variety of diverse individuals/personalities, who often have different priorities, temperaments, and concerns, by effectively addressing obstacles to success (such as incomplete/missing permit submittal information or unreasonable permit authority requirements) and negotiating fair and reasonable solutions to secure rights to place facilities quickly.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Software, such as Outlook (email), Excel, Word; familiarity with One Note, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Access, Project, Clarity, Ariba, SAP, and AutoCAD is a plus.
• Ability to utilize ESRI GIS Software to map records and maintain geodatabase, write Python scripts, build complex queries, tools, and maps is desirable.

Research shows that many candidates hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the qualifications, even when they possess the skills and experience needed to succeed in the role. If you meet the required qualifications and believe you have the potential to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits

Associates scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week have access to:

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Generous Vacation & Paid Sick Leave
• Seven Paid National Holidays & One Floating Holiday
• Paid Parental Leave (6 weeks after 12 months of employment)
• Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs

Associates working 30 or more hours per week additionally have access to:

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• TDS Service Discounts
• Education Assistance
• Paid Volunteer Time

All associates will have the opportunity to participate in our Associate Resource Groups, which are designed to encourage community and facilitate professional development.

Pay

The listed pay range reflects the minimum and maximum base salary. Actual offers will be based on factors such as skills, qualifications, experience, location, and role-specific competencies. Some positions may also offer additional compensation, such as bonuses or equity awards.

Pay Range: $70,500.00/Yr. - $114,500.00/Yr.