VP, Construction

Essentia, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive leadership role

Job summary

Essentia Inc. is seeking a visionary VP of Construction to lead nationwide fiber deployment across FTTH, Metro, and Long-Haul networks, reporting to the Chief Operations Officer.

You will own the construction strategy, oversee multi-market programs, and drive profitability while ensuring safety and quality across teams and contractors. Lead a growing team, build strong partnerships, and optimize processes with data-driven insights to accelerate deployment while controlling costs.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership in telecom construction or fiber deployment.
• Proven ability to scale projects from multi-million to hundred-million-dollar scopes.
• Experience with aerial/underground builds, permitting, and utility coordination.
• Strong contractor and vendor management with safety oversight.
• Proven track record in leading field operations and improving productivity.
• Experience owning P&L and driving margins.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a national fiber construction strategy aligned to growth.
• Scale field operations and partnerships to meet multi-market demand.
• Oversee end-to-end buildouts, permitting, safety, QA/QC, and compliance.
• Leverage real-time data and dashboards for decision making.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing field organization.
• Drive process improvement and vendor performance to reduce costs.

Skills

Leadership

P&L ownership

Vendor management

Fiber deployment

Safety & QA

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or Engineering

Tools

GIS tools

OSS/BSS

eSpeed platform

D8Acapture

Project dashboards

Job description

About Essentia

Essentia Inc. is a leading telecommunications engineering and infrastructure firm specializing in FTTH, Metro, and Long-Haul fiber network design, engineering, and deployment. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, we serve Telecom Carriers, Hyperscalers, Cable MSOs, Electric Utilities, and forward-thinking Enterprises across the U.S.

Our Tech-Enabled Infrastructure Solutions - powered by our proprietary eSpeed™ Technology Platform - enable scalable, intelligent construction delivery. We merge field execution with digital precision using tools like D8Acapture, our mobile and drone-based data capture platform, to ensure real-time visibility, enhanced productivity, and faster fiber deployment.

Our mission is to connect everyone, everywhere - by making broadband deployment faster, smarter, and more resilient.

Explore more: Who We Are|Brochures & Downloads

Why Essentia | Where Field Rigor Meets Innovation

At Essentia, we don't just build networks - we build trust. Our mission is to deliver rapid, reliable telecom infrastructure through a culture that values character, transparency, and engineering rigor.

We are a 5-time Great Place to Work® certified company, with an Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 69, and recently ranked #9 Best Places to Work in North Carolina. Our workplace culture is values-driven, innovation-led, and performance-focused.

As VP of Construction, you'll shape the future of our delivery model by leading scalable buildouts that combine operational excellence with technological advancement.

The Opportunity | Build What's Next

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, you'll lead the nationwide construction organization through Essentia's next stage of growth. You'll be accountable for scaling fiber deployment efforts, optimizing end-to-end execution, and delivering high-performing, on-budget, on-time projects.

You'll have comprehensive oversight of network buildouts - from contractor networks and permitting to P&L, safety, and quality. This is your chance to architect construction execution at the national level while developing and retaining an elite field and operations team.

Our market is booming - with $100B+ in telecom and infrastructure opportunity fueled by 5G expansion, hyperscale data centers, and historic federal broadband investment. Essentia is uniquely positioned to lead in this transformation, thanks to our sophisticated sales and marketing engine, strategic partnerships, and a vertically integrated ecosystem including Glide Fiber, eNetworks, and D8Averse.

We don't just engineer networks - we engineer intelligence into everything we do.

What You'll Build | Execution-Driven Leadership

Strategy & Operations

• Define and execute a national fiber construction strategy aligned to Essentia’s growth roadmap.
• Scale field operations and contractor partnerships to meet multi-market demands across urban, suburban, and rural geographies.
• Optimize workflows using project automation, GIS platforms, and field reporting tools.
• Own construction P&L and drive profitability through efficient resource allocation and margin improvement.
• Build cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Broadband Solutions, and Customer Operations to drive seamless project delivery.

Network Deployment & Field Execution

• Lead the construction of FTTH, Metro, and Long-Haul fiber networks, ensuring quality, timeliness, and cost control.
• Supervise aerial and underground fiber builds, managing make-ready, permitting, and utility coordination.
• Champion jobsite safety, compliance, and QA/QC best practices across all field activities.
• Leverage real-time data and digital dashboards to guide decision-making and execution excellence.

Team & Culture Development

• Recruit, grow, and mentor a high-performing construction team anchored in safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop structured training programs to boost technical skills and safety certifications.
• Apply performance frameworks to assess talent, improve productivity, and increase team alignment.
• Foster a values-driven culture rooted in Essentia’s five dimensions of trust: Character, Competence, Communication, Concern, and Consistency.

Process Innovation & Vendor Management

• Implement best-in-class construction processes that accelerate deployment and reduce overhead.
• Drive process digitization and automation across scheduling, material logistics, and field reporting.
• Optimize procurement and subcontractor performance to ensure cost-effective material and labor delivery.
• Monitor KPIs across cost, cycle time, rework, and quality - using insights to guide continuous improvement.

What You Bring | Skills That Match the Vision

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in telecom construction, fiber network deployment, or related infrastructure sectors.
• Proven ability to scale construction from $20M to $100M+, across diverse geographies.
• Expertise in aerial and underground fiber construction, permitting, and utility coordination.
• Strong contractor and vendor management background.
• Demonstrated success in leading field operations, enforcing safety compliance, and optimizing team output.
• P&L ownership and experience driving margin and productivity improvements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred Extras

• Experience with hyperscaler fiber deployments, data center connectivity, or mega-scale infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with federal broadband programs (BEAD, RDOF, CAF II).
• Background in electric utility construction or joint-use agreements.
• Exposure to offshoring or global labor sourcing for field operations.
• Knowledge of GIS-based construction tools and real-time project reporting software.

How We Build | Tools, Tech & Approach

We don't just engineer networks - we engineer intelligence into everything we do.

• GIS-based route modeling
• AI-powered design automation
• OSS/BSS and project orchestration platforms
• Permitting & compliance workflow optimization
• eSpeed™ platform for planning, delivery, and ops (See figure 1 below)
• D8Acapture for drone and mobile-based field data collection