Manager - Route Acquisition

Overview

At TDS Telecom, connecting people is at the heart of everything we do. We are forward thinkers who leverage cutting-edge fiber internet technology to strengthen communities. We are dedicated to excellence, which drives us to succeed together, creating a better world through meaningful connections. Ready to make an impact?

 

As the Manager - Out of Territory (OOT) Route Acquisition, you will manage TDS associates and/or consultants that are responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising colocations/joint use activities across multiple locations and states. You will work closely with cross-functional teams—including field services, engineering, construction contractors, and 3rd-party consultants—to ensure projects meet company standards, timelines, and budgets. You will also regularly engage with high-level external stakeholders such as director-level contractors, city officials, and public works directors.

 

As the Manager - OOT Route Acquisition, you will oversee colocation efforts for out-of-territory and CLEC/ILEC projects throughout the TDS footprint while ensuring compliance with RUS Outside Plant guidelines and TDS standards. Key responsibilities include monitoring costs, maintaining reports, enforcing adherence to standards and practices, and developing workflows or protocols to improve processes. This role is strategic and influential, driving collaboration and change across internal and external teams to achieve company goals. Additionally, you will set clear expectations, foster a positive work environment, and coach team members to enhance their skills and overall team performance.

 

This position has the ability to work remotely in any of the 40+ States in which TDS Telecom operates.

Responsibilities

• Overall management, handling, control, direction, and supervision of right of way operations and performance (budgets, accounting, issues, internal/external resources, contracts, risks, compliance, methods, standards, personnel matters, strategy, and planning) ensuring the best interests of TDS are met or exceeded daily. This position must effectively manage a diverse set of factors (see above) while also operating on the highest priority program-level tasks at TDS.
• Manages specific programs and project expectations, budgets/costs, scope, quality, deliverables, closeouts, and records. Selects/hires, assigns, delegates, and schedules internal and external resources to work on projects and complete tasks. This position sets strategic agenda for program with little to no initial input to derive effective strategic plans. This position interfaces with multiple senior manager, director, and VP resources daily.
• Develops, creates, refines, and implements methods, standards, expectations, controls, reports, processes, tools, checklists, guides, forms, databases, and procedures related to improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of daily right of way operations and communications.
• Establishes and communicates performance expectations nationally; monitors and reports on performance of consultants and staff, challenging them to exceed expectations; coaches and trains staff and provides a variety of opportunities for staff to increase capabilities and improve performance. Effectively builds, sets agenda/path, and manages a high functioning team of individuals to drive TDS program level goals.
• Provides human resource management and associate apportionment necessary for completion of network projects, including managing in-house deployment staff, engaging, and managing professional consultant engineers during peak periods. Focus is on personnel development through performance assessments, coaching, recognition, and process improvement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree (or higher) -OR- 4+ years professional work experience.
• 7+ years of land surveying, right of way, and/or route acquisition experience.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.

Other Qualifications:

 

• Excellent leadership, project management, customer relations and communications skills
• Thorough Understanding of Telecommunications industry and principals.
• Deep understanding of CLARITY/PM style programs and creating analytic reports
• Thorough understanding of financial tracking and budgetary reporting
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Understanding of Colocation/Joint use process
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Outlook, Excel and Office suite as well as GIS and ESRi
• Working knowledge of RUS construction practices and engineering standards.
• Ability to work in a cooperative and courteous m