Manager OSP Operations

About Lightpath

Lightpath is building the fiber infrastructure the digital economy depends on - owning, operating, and expanding dense, high-performance networks for enterprises, public institutions, carriers, and cloud innovators. Our all-fiber network supports mission-critical environments, from financial markets and healthcare systems to AI platforms and next-generation cloud architectures. As we expand across the Northeast and into high-growth markets nationwide, we invest ahead of demand - building infrastructure with precision, resilience, and accountability.

To support that growth, we're building a team of people who take ownership, think long-term, and take pride in tackling complex work with care and integrity. At Lightpath, every role contributes to infrastructure that powers critical systems and real-world outcomes. We look for individuals who value precision, accountability, and collaboration and who want to help build networks, processes, and partnerships that are engineered to last.

Job Summary

The Manager OSP Operations leads a team of field technicians and general contractors in maintaining and restoring Lightpath'sfiber network. A hybrid understanding of fiber engineering (network diagram/design layout) as well as critical thinking ability to solve complex problems in the field and or inside the plant. Has a command of the technician's scope of work as it relates to identifying, triaging, and recovering an outage or degradation. Able to direct all the disciplines and teams involved in an outage bridge situation to remediate the NOC ticket effectively through hands on drive and escalation where needed. Able to vendor manage, budget manage and drive internal/external network SLA's.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Manage the day-to-day operations of the Outside Plant, including maintenance, emergency restoration, and facility protection. Expected to take full ownership of all Operations of the PHX market.
• Vendor Management: Lead a diverse team of internal technicians and external contractors. You'll be responsible for vetting vendors, negotiating contracts, and holding them accountable for quality and safety.

• Emergency Response: Serve as the primary lead for fiber outages. You will coordinate 24/7 restoration efforts, ensuring our customers are back online as quickly as possible.

• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all work-aerial and underground-strictly adheres to NESC, OSHA, and local municipality standards.

• Fiscal Stewardship: Develop and manage the annual OSP OpEx budget, focusing on cost-efficiency without sacrificing network integrity.
• GIS & Documentation: Maintain the "source of truth." Ensure all plant modifications are accurately captured in our GIS/Inventory systems (e.g., IQGeo, ArcGIS, or OSPInsight).

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead training sessions and mentor team members on industry practices and project execution.
• Provide coaching and support to peers and junior staff.
• Drive best practices, process development/improvements and standards.

Data & Systems Management

• Maintainaccuraterecords for internal project planning tools.
• Monitor and drive key metrics surrounding program delivery timelines, quality and resource allocation.
• Ensure clean andaccurateinventory records acrossallinternal tools.

Customer & Vendor Coordination

• Establish effective communication with internal teams, vendors, and customers.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure accountability.
• Provide weekly updates on customer calls surrounding project completeness, weekly achievements, risk and forecast as appropriate.

Operational Support

• Provide real-time support for field maintenance and repair.
• Organize work efficiently using time management techniques.
• Performadditionaldutiesassigned to support companyobjectives.

Technical Qualification

• Knowledge and experience in fiber construction practices, including preparation of as-builts for various installations for both fiber and Lit services.
• Advanced knowledge of fiber characterization requirements, including but not limited to FEC Testing, Bidirectional OTDR & OLTS Analysis, and fiber scoping/reflection standards.
• Mastery in the operations of fiber optic testing equipment, preferably EXFO & Viavi brand OTDRs & test gear.
• Deep knowledge of splice case design and documentation, including a detailed understanding of various fiber deployments (I.e. PON/GPON, Dark Fiber, and DWDM systems).
• Experience with fiber inventory management systems such as IQGeo, ArcGIS, OSPInsight, and QGIS.
• Familiarity with micro trenching, HDD, and aerial make-ready.
• Strong understanding of NESC/OSHA compliance.
• Expertise in outage bridge leadership and MTTR reduction.
• Strong expertise in different optical network equipment deployment, preferably ADVA & Ciena brand gear.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in OSP construction and/or maintenance, with at least 4 years in management or supervisory capacity.
• 4-year degree in Business Management or another related program is a plus
• Ability to function independently and self-motivate.
• Strong leadership skills including sound hiring practices, mentorship, and coaching techniques.
• Experience managing budgets, developing scopes of work, and contractual documents for vendor outsourcing.
• Strong interpersonal skills for supporting and communicating with cross-functional teams.
• Strong aptitude for training and mentoring less experienced team members.
• Excellencein MS Office suite
• Strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills with the ability to prioritize assignments.

Lightpath is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Lightpath collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.