Network Specialist- Outside Plant Construction

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and plan outside plant field construction and splicing operations in multiple locations.
• Supervise consulting resources during the engineering and/or construction phases of projects.
• Implement fiber networks while adhering to TDS Outside Plant (OSP) guidelines and standards.
• Ensure compliance with National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and TDS OSP standards.
• Assist in the engineering phase of projects, including creating labor, material, and overhead project cost estimates.
• Provide audits of OSP projects and coach consultants and/or contractors to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Review all required reports from field personnel and contractor invoicing for accuracy.
• Manage construction projects by overseeing quality of work, clean-up resolution, and project documentation.
• Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines and other relevant departments' standards.
• Conduct pre-staking, pre-bid, and pre-construction meetings as required.
• Verify that proper right-of-way, easements, and permits are obtained and designs for cable sizing and facility routing are correct.
• Complete necessary documentation for successful project completion, including bid jobs, build orders, job start agreements, VMOPs, and close-out documentation.
• Adapt to new GIS-based construction tracking methods, new construction methods, and rapidly changing architectural types.

Qualifications

• Associates degree (or higher) OR 2+ years of professional work experience in Voice, Data, or Video networking OR 6+ months of TDS Telecom technical internship experience.
• 2+ years experience in OSP Construction and/or Engineering (fiber or copper or coax) OR related Utility/Municipal Construction and/or Engineering OR Construction Project Management, Utility Installation Technician, General Trades experience preferred.
• Fiber optic implementation experience.
• Excellent leadership, customer relations, and communications skills.
• Self-directed and able to work independently.
• Proficient in ESRI ArcGIS, AGOL, Spatial analysis or other GIS experience.
• Understanding of Telecommunications industry and principals.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• PC database, spreadsheet, and word processing skills.
• Working knowledge of NESC construction practices and engineering standards.
• Ability to work in a cooperative and courteous manner with diverse work groups.
• Understanding of Fiber to The Home (FTTH) design and construction techniques.
• Ability to read and understand FTTH construction prints.