Director OSP Construction

Lightpath; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightpath is building a next-generation fiber network and seeks a Director of OSP Construction to lead underground, aerial, and fiber deployment across multiple markets. You will oversee field execution, safety, schedules, and budgets while driving high-quality results.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in telecom fiber construction and 5+ years in leadership, with hands-on field experience, contractor management, and coordination with utilities and municipalities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of OSP construction experience in telecom, fiber optics, or utility infrastructure.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing OSP construction teams and contractors.
• Strong hands-on experience with underground conduit systems, directional drilling, aerial fiber deployment, utility coordination, restoration and fiber placement and splicing support.
• Proven experience building and scaling large fiber networks, including long-haul, metro, and data center connectivity.
• Deep understanding of construction permitting, municipal coordination, and right-of-way requirements.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and construction safety practices.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, and vendor contracts.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, GIS mapping, and as-built documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all OSP construction operations across assigned markets.
• Manage underground, aerial, and directional boring construction programs from kickoff through completion.
• Develop and execute construction strategies to meet aggressive project schedules and customer commitments.
• Direct internal teams, inspectors, project managers, and contractors to ensure productivity, quality, and safety standards are met.
• Conduct regular field visits to inspect workmanship, troubleshoot issues, and support construction teams.
• Review and manage project budgets, production goals, and contractor billing.
• Ensure compliance with engineering designs, permits, utility requirements, and municipal regulations.
• Oversee quality assurance for conduit installation, handholes, vaults, restoration, fiber placement, and splicing readiness.
• Drive accountability across vendors and subcontractors for performance, safety, and schedule adherence.
• Coordinate with utilities, municipalities, customers, and internal stakeholders to resolve escalated issues.
• Monitor production reporting, forecast risks, and implement recovery plans where needed.
• Lead damage prevention efforts and ensure all utility strikes, incidents, and safety events are properly reported and addressed.
• Mentor and develop construction managers, field inspectors, and support staff.

Skills

OSP construction

Leadership

Budget management

Safety compliance

Field execution

Vendor management

Reading drawings

Tools

ESRI

Oracle

Netcracker

SmartSheets

Tableau

Job description

Lightpath is building the fiber infrastructure the digital economy depends on - owning, operating, and expanding dense, high-performance networks for enterprises, public institutions, carriers, and cloud innovators. Our all-fiber network supports mission-critical environments, from financial markets and healthcare systems to AI platforms and next-generation cloud architectures. As we expand across the Northeast and into high-growth markets nationwide, we invest ahead of demand - building infrastructure with precision, resilience, and accountability.

To support that growth, we’re building a team of people who take ownership, think long-term, and take pride in tackling complex work with care and integrity. At Lightpath, every role contributes to infrastructure that powers critical systems and real-world outcomes. We look for individuals who value precision, accountability, and collaboration and who want to help build networks, processes, and partnerships that are engineered to last.

Position Summary

The Director of OSP Construction is responsible for leading all aspects of outside plant (OSP) construction operations, including underground, aerial, and fiber optic infrastructure deployment. This role oversees field execution, contractor performance, quality control, safety compliance, budget management, and schedule adherence across multiple active markets.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on field construction experience and a proven track record of leading large-scale fiber deployment projects. This is a leadership role that requires both strategic oversight and the ability to get into the field to support teams, solve problems, and drive execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all OSP construction operations across assigned markets.
• Manage underground, aerial, and directional boring construction programs from kickoff through completion.
• Develop and execute construction strategies to meet aggressive project schedules and customer commitments.
• Direct internal teams, inspectors, project managers, and contractors to ensure productivity, quality, and safety standards are met.
• Conduct regular field visits to inspect workmanship, troubleshoot issues, and support construction teams.
• Review and manage project budgets, production goals, and contractor billing.
• Ensure compliance with engineering designs, permits, utility requirements, and municipal regulations.
• Oversee quality assurance for conduit installation, handholes, vaults, restoration, fiber placement, and splicing readiness.
• Drive accountability across vendors and subcontractors for performance, safety, and schedule adherence.
• Coordinate with utilities, municipalities, customers, and internal stakeholders to resolve escalated issues.
• Monitor production reporting, forecast risks, and implement recovery plans where needed.
• Lead damage prevention efforts and ensure all utility strikes, incidents, and safety events are properly reported and addressed.
• Mentor and develop construction managers, field inspectors, and support staff.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of OSP construction experience in telecom, fiber optics, or utility infrastructure.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing OSP construction teams and contractors.
• Strong hands-on experience with underground conduit systems, directional drilling, aerial fiber deployment, utility coordination, restoration and fiber placement and splicing support.
• Proven experience building and scaling large fiber networks, including long‑haul, metro, and data center connectivity.
• Deep understanding of construction permitting, municipal coordination, and right‑of‑way requirements.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations and construction safety practices.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, and vendor contracts.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, GIS mapping, and as‑built documentation.

Requirements

• Must be located in the Plain City, Ohio area or within commuting distance to Allentown, PA.
• Valid Driver’s License required with a clean driving record.
• Ability to travel frequently between job sites and active markets.
• Ability to work in both office and field environments.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends when needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 Certification.
• Experience with ESRI, Oracle, Netcracker, SmartSheets, Tableau, or similar project tracking platforms.
• Experience working in hyperscale, data center, or enterprise fiber builds.
• Strong background in contractor management and performance optimization.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is a builder and operator—someone who has worked in the trenches, understands field realities, and can lead from the front. This individual must be decisive, highly accountable, and capable of balancing strategic planning with hands‑on execution.

Lightpath is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Lightpath collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.