Senior OSP Project Manager Fiber Infrastructure (Data Centers)

TEKsystems; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

TEKsystems is seeking an experienced Senior OSP Project Manager for the Chicago and Northern Indiana market. This role focuses on end-to-end ownership of fiber infrastructure expansion, including engineering, permitting, ROW, and vendor coordination with field teams.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience building fiber networks, strong stakeholder management skills, and a deep understanding of the OSP construction lifecycle from design through turnover.

Qualifications

• Strong telecommunications and OSP fiber construction background.
• Experience leading large-scale fiber network deployments.
• Deep understanding of permitting, right-of-way, easements, utilities, and municipal coordination.

Responsibilities

• Own large-scale OSP fiber construction projects from initial planning through final closeout.
• Manage underground and other OSP fiber construction activities throughout the market.
• Coordinate engineering, route planning, permitting, right-of-way, easements, construction, fiber placement, splicing, testing, and activation.
• Provide leadership across construction managers, inspectors, engineering resources, vendors, contractors, and field teams.
• Manage relationships with municipalities, utilities, permitting authorities, and other local stakeholders.
• Oversee multiple contractors, projects, and construction workstreams simultaneously.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, forecasts, and delivery commitments.
• Manage CAPEX, project costs, change orders, and overall budget performance.
• Review GIS/KMZ files, OSP engineering packages, route designs, construction drawings, and as-built documentation.
• Ensure contractors meet expectations around safety, construction quality, schedule, productivity, and documentation.
• Identify permitting, construction, vendor, scheduling, financial, and resource risks before they impact project delivery.
• Provide clear reporting around project progress, milestones, budgets, risks, dependencies, and upcoming priorities.
• Take true end-to-end ownership of project delivery rather than simply coordinating between different teams.

Skills

OSP fiber construction

fiber network deployments

underground fiber construction

permitting & ROW

vendor management

schedule & budgets

GIS/KMZ reading

stakeholder management

leadership & communication

Tools

GIS software

Job description

• Strong underground fiber construction experience.

Senior OSP Project Manager Fiber Infrastructure

Location: Chicago / Northern Indiana Market

Work Environment: Remote with field presence throughout the market

Industry: Telecommunications / OSP Fiber / Dark Fiber Infrastructure

About The Opportunity

We are partnering with a rapidly growing fiber infrastructure organization that owns, operates, and continues to expand its own fiber network.

The organization provides high-capacity fiber connectivity supporting businesses, carriers, data centers, and other customers with significant network requirements. A major part of its growth strategy is expanding its physical fiber footprint, including dark fiber and large-scale network construction.

This is not an organization simply maintaining an existing network. They are actively building for the future and investing in new infrastructure and capabilities.

The environment combines the resources of an established organization with the entrepreneurial feel of a growing operation. For an experienced OSP professional, this is an opportunity to get involved during a major period of expansion and potentially grow into broader market, program, or operational leadership responsibilities over time.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior OSP Project Manager to support fiber infrastructure expansion throughout the Chicago and Northern Indiana market.

This person will take ownership of major OSP construction projects and needs to understand the entire lifecycle of building a fiber network.

This is not an IT Project Manager position and is not a general commercial construction PM role.

We need someone who understands OSP fiber construction in the real world, including engineering, permitting, right-of-way, underground construction, vendors, contractors, municipalities, fiber placement, splicing, testing, activation, and final closeout.

The ideal candidate will be more than someone who manages vendors after they have already been selected. We want someone with strong market knowledge who understands the construction landscape, knows what makes a strong OSP vendor, and can help identify quality partners for future network expansion.

Responsibilities

• Own large-scale OSP fiber construction projects from initial planning through final closeout.
• Manage underground and other OSP fiber construction activities throughout the market.
• Coordinate engineering, route planning, permitting, right-of-way, easements, construction, fiber placement, splicing, testing, and activation.
• Provide leadership across Construction Managers, inspectors, engineering resources, vendors, contractors, and field teams.
• Manage relationships with municipalities, utilities, permitting authorities, and other local stakeholders.
• Oversee multiple contractors, projects, and construction workstreams simultaneously.
• Help evaluate and recommend construction vendors capable of supporting future network expansion.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, forecasts, and delivery commitments.
• Manage CAPEX, project costs, change orders, and overall budget performance.
• Review GIS/KMZ files, OSP engineering packages, route designs, construction drawings, and as-built documentation.
• Ensure contractors meet expectations around safety, construction quality, schedule, productivity, and documentation.
• Identify permitting, construction, vendor, scheduling, financial, and resource risks before they impact project delivery.
• Provide clear reporting around project progress, milestones, budgets, risks, dependencies, and upcoming priorities.
• Take true end-to-end ownership of project delivery rather than simply coordinating between different teams.

Required Experience

• Strong professional background in telecommunications and OSP fiber construction.
• Experience leading large-scale fiber network deployments.
• Strong underground fiber construction experience.
• Deep understanding of permitting, right-of-way, easements, utilities, and municipal coordination.
• Significant contractor and vendor management experience.
• Full-cycle understanding of OSP construction from initial engineering through final turnover.
• Knowledge of fiber placement, splicing, testing, activation, and closeout.
• Experience managing project schedules, budgets, CAPEX, forecasts, and change orders.
• Ability to read GIS/KMZ files, route maps, OSP designs, construction drawings, and as-built documentation.
• Ability to independently solve construction, permitting, and vendor-related issues.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Knowledge of the Chicago and Northern Indiana OSP construction market is highly valuable.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is someone who has spent years actually building fiber networks, not simply managing projects associated with telecommunications.

Strong Backgrounds Could Include

• OSP fiber construction
• Dark fiber infrastructure
• Long-haul fiber networks
• Carrier infrastructure
• Broadband construction
• Network deployment
• Telecommunications construction

Relevant Titles May Include

• Senior OSP Project Manager
• OSP Program Manager
• OSP Construction Manager
• Fiber Construction Manager
• Fiber Program Manager
• Network Deployment Manager
• Regional OSP Manager
• Market Manager
• Telecommunications Construction Manager

Why This Opportunity

Fiber and data center infrastructure is going through what can be described as a modern-day infrastructure gold rush across the U.S.

This organization is investing in its own fiber footprint and continuing to expand its network infrastructure and internal capabilities. Experienced OSP professionals have an opportunity to bring their market knowledge to the table, influence how projects are executed, build relationships with strong construction partners, and play a meaningful role in continued network expansion.

For someone who already knows OSP construction and wants the next step in their career, this is an opportunity to get into a growing operation and grow alongside it.

The long-term career opportunity can extend beyond individual project management into broader program, market, and operational leadership as the organization continues to expand.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 10, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.