Manager of Construction – (OSP Fiber)

Swoon; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid time off

401(k) with matching

Employee Assistance Program

Free company services

Job summary

Swoon is seeking a Manager of Construction in Chicago to lead underground fiber deployment as part of our New Market Expansion (NME) initiative. You will oversee OSP fiber infrastructure construction, manage field teams and contractors, and ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.

The role requires a strong background in telecommunications OSP construction, leadership of field crews, and a focus on quality.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on telecommunications OSP construction, installation, repair, and maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of fiber optic construction methods and outside plant infrastructure.
• Experience with underground fiber construction projects.
• Working knowledge of RUS and NEC standards.
• Experience using Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Ability to navigate HES systems for work orders and facility records.

Responsibilities

• Lead the installation of outside plant (OSP) fiber networks, including underground, buried, and aerial construction.
• Oversee daily activities of construction contractors, splicing teams, locate vendors, and project teams.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and according to quality standards.
• Review construction packages, splice diagrams, and engineering documentation.
• Resolve field issues, design conflicts, and construction challenges.
• Monitor project progress, budgets, quality metrics, and contractor performance.

Skills

Telecommunications OSP construction

Field leadership

Project management

Safety compliance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

HES systems

Job description

We're seeking an experienced Manager of Construction to lead the deployment of underground fiber networks as part of our client's New Market Expansion (NME) initiative. In this leadership role, you'll oversee the construction of outside plant (OSP) fiber infrastructure, ensuring projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

If you have a strong background in telecommunications OSP construction, enjoy leading field teams and contractors, and thrive in a fast-paced construction environment, we'd love to hear from you.

We recognize the impact our field leaders have on our success and offer a competitive total rewards package, including:

• Competitive salary: $90,000+ depending on experience
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage – starting day one
• Life insurance (employee, spouse, and children)
• Paid time off
• 401(k) with 100% company match up to 5% (vesting and matching start upon hire)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free company services (when living in a service area)
• Career growth and advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

Construction & Field Operations

• Lead the installation of outside plant (OSP) fiber networks, including underground, buried, and aerial construction.
• Oversee daily activities of construction contractors, splicing teams, locate vendors, and project teams.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and according to quality standards.
• Review construction packages, splice diagrams, and engineering documentation.
• Resolve field issues, design conflicts, and construction challenges.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Construction Engineers, Construction Leaders, Construction Assistants, and field contractors.
• Manage contractor performance and ensure accountability.
• Conduct performance evaluations, coaching, and training.
• Support hiring, promotions, and personnel development initiatives.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture across all field operations.
• Perform quality inspections and ensure compliance with company standards.
• Ensure adherence to RUS and NEC codes for OSP construction.
• Identify defects, investigate root causes, and implement corrective actions.

Operations & Reporting

• Monitor project progress, budgets, quality metrics, and contractor performance.
• Provide regular project updates, risk assessments, and mitigation plans to leadership.
• Evaluate new construction methods and OSP technologies for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• 4+ years of hands-on experience in telecommunications OSP construction, installation, repair, and maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of fiber optic construction methods and outside plant infrastructure.
• Experience with underground fiber construction projects.
• Working knowledge of RUS and NEC standards.
• Experience using Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Ability to navigate HES systems for work orders and facility records.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the assigned market.

Preferred

• Previous experience leading construction teams or supervising field personnel.
• Experience managing multiple contractors and field crews simultaneously.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills in the field.