Manager – Construction Relations

Lumos is looking for a full-time Manager – Construction Relations with experience in telecommunications or underground utility construction. The role focuses on building strong contractor relationships while driving safety, quality, and damage prevention in the field.

As a Manager – Construction Relations, you’ll help strengthen contractor performance across Lumos’s growing fiber footprint. You’ll lead contractor orientation and training, spend time in the field coaching and evaluating crews, and partner across Construction, Engineering, Safety, Quality, and Operations to reduce risk and continuously improve how we build.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop, administer, deliver, and continuously improve Contractor Orientation and continuing education for contractors, subcontractors, supervisors, and field personnel, clearly communicating company expectations for Safety, Quality, Damage Prevention, professional conduct, customer interaction, restoration, traffic control, documentation, and field performance.
• Provide practical training and technical guidance on state 811 requirements, excavator responsibilities, white lining, Positive Response, locate verification, tolerance zones, potholing, safe excavation, utility crossings, HDD/trenchless construction, protection of exposed facilities, questionable locates, and/or damage incident response.
• Conduct planned and unannounced field audits, assessments, and observations to evaluate contractor compliance with company standards, contracts, construction specifications, safety and damage-prevention requirements, laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Coach contractors while maintaining accountability through a progressive approach: Observe - Discuss - Educate - Correct - Document - Follow Up - Escalate when necessary.
• Use damages, audits, quality findings, incidents, complaints, and operational feedback to identify recurring or elevated risks; develop targeted improvement plans and verify that corrective actions produce sustained results.
• Serve as the company’s SME for contractor damage prevention, excavation practices, underground utility protection, and 811 requirements; research and interpret applicable laws, standards, requirements, emerging practices, and technologies.
• Support Construction, Engineering, Safety, Quality, Operations, leadership, and other groups. Participate in significant damage, near-miss, and incident reviews and help translate lessons learned into training, procedures, audit criteria, and preventive actions.
• Build productive relationships with contractors, locators, telecommunications providers, utilities, municipalities, DOT, engineering firms, 811 centers, Damage Prevention Councils, Utility Coordinating Committees, Common Ground Alliance organizations, safety organizations, and other stakeholders; represent the company at appropriate meetings and events.
• Develop field-reference materials and specialized training; analyze contractor performance metrics and trends; recommend program, standard, process, and training improvements; recognize exemplary performance; and maintain appropriate records of assigned activities.
• Develop and maintain reporting for damages, contractor performance, and other relevant measures.
• Support the Construction Relations Director team as needed and required.
• Perform additional duties as requested by the manager.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong knowledge of underground construction, damage prevention, excavation safety, and contractor field operations.
• Working knowledge of state 811/One Call laws and processes, including ticket management, Positive Response, locate verification, tolerance zones, white lining, and safe excavation requirements.
• Experience working with GIS, 811/One Call ticketing platforms, construction records, or similar systems used to track underground facilities and field activity.
• Ability to train, coach, and influence contractors and field teams while maintaining accountability and productive working relationships.
• Knowledge of utility locating, potholing, utility crossings, HDD/trenchless construction, and underground facility protection.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage effectively with field crews, contractor leadership, municipalities, utilities, and internal teams.
• Ability to analyze contractor performance, damage trends, ticketing data, audit findings, and other field information to identify risks and drive improvement.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with sound judgment and the ability to work independently in active field environments.

What Makes You a Great Fit:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in telecommunications, underground utility construction, damage prevention, contractor management, construction safety, quality assurance, inspection, utility locating, training, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience working with contractors and field construction teams; experience with orientations, field training, audits, inspections, damage investigations, or contractor performance improvement strongly preferred.
• Direct experience with 811/One Call processes, ticketing requirements, utility locating, GIS systems, and damage-prevention practices strongly preferred.
• Practical understanding of how underground construction is planned and performed, with the ability to communicate credibly from field crews through contractor and company leadership.
• Proficiency in both Spanish and English strongly preferred.
• Valid, unrestricted driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel 80%+ and work across office, classroom, vehicle, and active construction environments.