Program Manager – Subsidy Builds

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Plan and execute fiber construction initiatives that are supported by federal, state, and local subsidy funding.

• Oversee management of schedule, budget, location data, milestones, risks, and compliance.

• Collaborate with engineering, design, permitting, construction, operations, vendors, Finance, and Regulatory & External Affairs.

• Transition subsidized builds from award stage to customer-ready service activation and certification.

• Convert subsidy award commitments and build strategies into comprehensive work plans, prioritized actions, and measurable outcomes.

• Provide structured updates on completed tasks, upcoming milestones, compliance deliverables, risks, and required support.

• Develop and present executive reports on schedule performance, budget status, locations, compliance readiness, risks, and recovery strategies.

• Act as the primary FDC program owner for designated subsidy-funded portfolios.

• Set up program, milestone, risk, and compliance reviews; document decisions, responsible parties, due dates, and recovery plans.

• Assist in sequencing and prioritizing based on funding deadlines, construction readiness, resource availability, vendor capacity, and permitting limitations.

• Verify eligible locations, award assumptions, design readiness, permitting status, construction scope, and serviceability criteria.

• Create readiness and compliance checklists for transitions among design, permitting, construction, service activation, and milestone certification.

• Analyze forecasts against subsidy buildout commitments, ready-for-sale goals, and funding milestones; identify recovery actions.

• Highlight high-cost, high-risk, or potentially ineligible segments and coordinate alternative solutions.

• Monitor contractor and vendor performance, escalating issues that affect schedule, budget, commitments, or compliance.

• Track program and location-specific milestones across engineering, permitting, construction, service availability, and funding checkpoints.

• Maintain oversight of bottlenecks, aging tasks, location discrepancies, certification dependencies, and cross-functional risks.

• Coordinate the removal of blockers with engineering, permitting, construction, operations, vendors, and Regulatory & External Affairs.

• Uphold governance frameworks, documentation standards, escalation procedures, and workflows for subsidy-funded construction programs.

• Assist in milestone certifications and location-level reporting, including USAC HUBB submissions.

• Keep audit-ready documentation in SiteTracker and related systems, including as-builts, service availability, speed, or latency evidence, and certification records.

• Manage and validate broadband serviceable location data in Esri ArcGIS, IQGeo, or similar platforms; oversee KMZ/KML transfers.

• Reconcile eligible and constructed locations with award records, FCC National Broadband Map, or BEAD fabric; assist in challenge, true-up, and correction processes.

• Monitor spending against approved budgets, funding applications, and capital forecasts; identify variances and coordinate mitigation strategies.

• Maintain milestone, WIP, and risk scorecards along with a live risk register for each assigned subsidy program.

• Stay updated on FCC, NTIA, USAC, and state broadband office guidance.

• Collaborate with state broadband offices, USAC, and other funding administrators.

• Prepare for audits, funding reviews, and regulatory inquiries internally.

• Perform additional duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.

⛳️ Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• A minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in telecom program or project management, including fiber planning, engineering, permitting, or construction.

• Comprehensive understanding of the fiber build lifecycle, network readiness, and subsidized buildout obligations.

• Familiarity with permitting processes, coordination with third-party utilities, and federal or state broadband subsidy requirements.

• Experience in managing complex portfolios and transforming location-level, construction, and compliance work queues into organized execution plans.

• Proven track record of driving accountability in cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrated success in leading large, cross-functional telecommunications construction programs that involve engineering, permitting, construction, operations, finance, vendors, and regulatory stakeholders.

• Strong analytical abilities to connect schedule, budget, GIS, location, and compliance data to broader program results.

• Effective communicator capable of simplifying complex funding, regulatory, and construction requirements while influencing technical, operational, and cross-functional teams.

• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and proven capability to manage competing priorities.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Smartsheet, program tracking tools, and GIS or location-management platforms.

• PMP or equivalent project management certification is preferred.

• Experience with SiteTracker, Esri ArcGIS, IQGeo, KMZ/KML, address-management systems, USAC HUBB reporting, or similar funding-reporting platforms is preferred.

• Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills.

• Capacity to multi-task and collaborate effectively with others to meet deadlines.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and organizational abilities.

• Ability to work within critical deadlines.

• Adaptability to rapidly changing priorities and schedules.

• Commitment to providing excellent customer service.

• Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the US for any employer; sponsorship is not available.

• Must meet pre-employment background check requirements; pre-employment drug screening may be necessary.

• Ability to fulfill physical requirements, including occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds and prolonged periods of sitting, walking, standing, bending, or stooping.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401k plan.

• Flexible spending account.

• Paid sick leave and paid time off.

• Parental leave.

• Target annual bonus.

• Quarterly performance bonus.

• Training opportunities.

• Career growth and education reimbursement programs.