Underground Fiber Manager

Drm-Inc; Gillette (WY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Drm-Inc in Wyoming seeks an Underground Fiber Manager to oversee underground fiber-optic construction projects across the state and surrounding areas. You will supervise field crews, coordinate subcontractors, ensure safety, and manage schedules, quality, permits, and project closeout documentation.

This role requires hands-on knowledge of trenching, boring, conduit installations, fiber placement, and accurate field reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of underground utility or telecom construction experience.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory, foreman, or construction management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing underground fiber construction methods and equipment.
• Strong understanding of utility locating, excavation safety, traffic control, and damage prevention.
• Ability to read construction drawings, maps, utility prints, staking sheets, and technical specifications.
• Experience managing multiple crews, subcontractors, schedules, and active job sites.

Responsibilities

• Manage underground fiber construction projects from pre-construction through final closeout.
• Supervise internal crews, subcontractors, equipment operators, and field supervisors.
• Coordinate daily construction activities, crew assignments, equipment, materials, and production goals.
• Review construction plans, route maps, permits, utility records, bore profiles, and project specifications.
• Conduct pre-construction meetings, site walks, safety briefings, and daily production meetings.
• Oversee trenching, plowing, directional boring, conduit installation, fiber placement, handhole and vault installation, and site restoration.
• Ensure compliance with safety policies, OSHA requirements, traffic control plans, and environmental requirements.
• Verify utility locates are requested, documented, maintained, and properly marked before excavation begins.
• Monitor production, labor utilization, equipment usage, material consumption, and subcontractor performance.
• Track project schedules, identify delays, and develop recovery plans when work falls behind.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, inspectors, customers, municipalities, counties, state agencies, landowners, and utility representatives.

Skills

Underground construction experience

Supervisory experience

Reading construction drawings

Communication & leadership

Willingness to travel

MS Office / PM software

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in CM/Engineering/Telecom

Tools

GIS

GPS equipment

Field construction/project management software

Job description

Pay Range:

Competitive salary, dependent on experience and qualifications.

Job Summary

The Underground Fiber Manager oversees underground fiber-optic construction projects throughout Wyoming and surrounding areas. This position is responsible for field operations, crew supervision, subcontractor coordination, safety compliance, scheduling, quality control, permitting support, project documentation, and business development activities related to fiber infrastructure construction.

The ideal candidate has hands-on knowledge of underground utility construction, including trenching, plowing, directional drilling, conduit installation, fiber placement, handhole and vault installation, restoration, and utility-locate procedures. This role requires regular travel to project sites and the ability to manage work in diverse terrain and weather conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage underground fiber construction projects from pre-construction through final closeout.
• Supervise internal crews, subcontractors, equipment operators, and field supervisors.
• Coordinate daily construction activities, crew assignments, equipment, materials, and production goals.
• Review construction plans, route maps, permits, utility records, bore profiles, and project specifications.
• Conduct pre-construction meetings, site walks, safety briefings, and daily production meetings.
• Oversee trenching, plowing, directional boring, conduit installation, fiber placement, handhole and vault installation, and site restoration.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, OSHA requirements, traffic control plans, environmental requirements, and project-specific standards.
• Verify utility locates are requested, documented, maintained, and properly marked before excavation begins.
• Enforce safe excavation practices and address locate conflicts, utility exposures, and field hazards.
• Monitor production, labor utilization, equipment usage, material consumption, and subcontractor performance.
• Track project schedules, identify delays, and develop recovery plans when work falls behind.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, inspectors, customers, municipalities, counties, state agencies, landowners, and utility representatives.
• Verify completed work meets design requirements, depth and separation standards, customer specifications, and applicable codes.
• Manage testing, punch list completion, redlines, as-built documentation, bore logs, photo records, and project closeout packages.
• Review field quantities, subcontractor invoices, timecards, change-order documentation, and production reports.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, procurement, and workforce planning activities.
• Protect existing utilities, private property, public rights-of-way, and environmentally sensitive areas.
• Investigate incidents, utility strikes, quality issues, and customer complaints, and implement corrective actions.
• Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate field personnel while promoting accountability, teamwork, and professional conduct.
• Respond to changing field conditions, emergencies, weather delays, and customer priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of underground utility or telecommunications construction experience.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory, superintendent, foreman, or construction management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing underground fiber construction methods and equipment.
• Strong understanding of utility locating, excavation safety, traffic control, and damage prevention practices.
• Ability to read construction drawings, maps, utility prints, staking sheets, and technical specifications.
• Experience managing multiple crews, subcontractors, schedules, and active job sites.
• Strong leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate daily reports, production records, cost documentation, and closeout files.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and field construction or project management software.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel and work extended hours when project conditions require.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Telecommunications, Business, or a related field.
• Experience with rural broadband, middle-mile, last-mile, or fiber-to-the-premises projects.
• Experience coordinating projects involving State’s, municipalities, counties, railroads, federal land, tribal land, or private rights-of-way.
• Familiarity with prevailing-wage, federally funded, or a grant funded infrastructure projects.
• Competent person training for trenching and excavation.
• Flagger or traffic-control certification.
• Experience with GIS, digital as-built systems, GPS equipment, and electronica daily-reporting platforms.
• Knowledge of fiber splicing, testing, OTDR results, and loss-budget requirements.

Preferred Knowledge & Skills

• Horizontal directional drilling
• Trenching, plowing, and rock excavation
• Conduit, innerduct, and microduct installation
• Fiber placement, pulling, and blowing methods
• Handhole, vault, pedestal, and marker installation
• Utility potholing and daylighting
• Grounding, bonding, and tracer wire requirements
• Rights-of-way and easement restrictions
• Erosion control and environmental protection
• Surface restoration and customer acceptance
• Cold-weather construction and remote-site logistics
• Daily production tracking and unit-based construction billing
• Fiber splicing and testing fundamentals
• OTDR testing results and loss-budget requirements
• Work is performed in both office and outdoor construction environments.
• Regular exposure to traffic, dust, mud, noise, heavy equipment, uneven terrain, and changing weather conditions.
• Ability to walk active construction routes and inspect trenches, bore sites, handholes, and restoration areas.
• Ability to stand, bend, climb, and lift up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work in extreme heat, cold, wind, snow, and other weather conditions.
• Regular travel and occasional overnight stays required.
• Evening, weekend, or emergency work may be required based on project needs.

Performance Expectations

Success in this position will be measured through:

• Safety performance, including prevention of utility strikes and compliance findings.
• Completion of planned production goals and project milestones.
• Quality inspection results, rework levels, restoration quality and customer acceptance.
• On-time project completion and schedule adherence.
• Effective labor, equipment, material, and subcontractor cost control.
• Accurate and timely project documentation and closeout packages.
• Employee development, retention, accountability, and professionalism.
• Performance incentives
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance
• Fuel card, phone, and computer
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Per diem and lodging for qualifying travel
• Training and professional development opportunities

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Resources at Phone: [phone].

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.