Community Broadband Senior Project Manager

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES        

Community Broadband Management 

• Manage the Community Broadband budget, ensuring effective allocation of lease revenue, including strategy development and implementation for a leasing program and the use of associated revenue. 
• Facilitate fiber allocation decisions in collaboration with city leadership, and coordinate with the city’s network team and fiber infrastructure managers to optimize fiber allocations. 
• Access and monitor broadband market activity within and around Boulder to inform strategic decisions, and track government broadband initiatives at the regional level to align efforts. 
• Engage and market dark fiber services to potential users, including public safety agencies, businesses, and community institutions. 
• Lead contract negotiations and present agreements for approval by the City Manager’s Office and City Council. 
• Stay informed on state and federal broadband policies, legislation, and grant opportunities to maximize the city’s strategic use of fiber assets, including programs such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). 
• Allocate funds for fiber maintenance, unexpected costs, temporary staffing, and community broadband projects as directed. 
• Develop, implement and maintain strategies for maximizing remaining backbone capacity, including potential partnerships, as well as managing the city's backbone fiber capacity use to ensure efficiency and sustainability. 
• Develop and manage relationships with the Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders invested in broadband expansion. 

Private Partner Relationship Management 

• Establish and maintain an issue escalation path across communications, planning, construction management, and legal functions. Works in close partnership with the Community Broadband Construction Project Manager and private partner ALLO to effectively coordinate construction progress and resource allocation, and tracks Community Broadband progress and activities against established timelines and schedules. 
• Act as a liaison between private partner(s) and city leadership to resolve significant challenges or concerns tactfully. 
• Develop and provide regular updates to city leadership regarding community sentiment and broadband service adoption. 
• Facilitate resolutions for small and time-sensitive broadband-related issues. 
• Coordinate with Boulder Housing Partners and HHS to support income-qualified broadband usage, and monitor income-qualified broadband offerings, particularly for permanently affordable housing units. 
• Organize and lead semi-annual meetings with key private partners and city leadership. 
• Manage and execute city property lease agreements as necessary. 
• Provide thorough, timely, and engaging updates to city council or community groups as needed.  

Contract & Compliance Management 

• Conduct audits of broadband service agreements to ensure compliance with contract terms.
• Tracks project progress against milestones or other performance indicators. 
• Track private partner commitments, including service coverage guarantees, pricing caps, speed requirements, outreach efforts, and consumer protections. 
• Monitor, review, and analyze broadband infrastructure deployment, ensuring timely installation and acceptance of microducts and fiber components. 
• Oversee private partner compliance with net neutrality, data privacy, and environmental commitments. 
• Verify and audit Community Connect applicant reviews and ensure award processes align with contract requirements. 
• Ensure affordable housing data is updated twice annually so private partner can effectively market low-income broadband offerings. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS   

• Ability to adapt, including navigating changing priorities and evolving approaches. Links short-term planning with strategic, task-oriented thinking to anticipate future consequences of current tactics. 
• Ability to build relationships and is confident and professional in working with others. Puts people at ease, builds bridges and facilitates productive teams. Recognizes the importance of collaboration and can build lasting relationships and connections with other city employees and community members. Works to grow and continually foster a high-trust, high-teamwork environment. 
• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills, including the ability to engage, facilitate and coordinate across multiple stakeholders, including city leadership, community members, and private-sector partners, and to clearly communicate technical information to non-technical audiences and provide written and verbal presentations. 
• Ability to provide excellent customer service, with compassion and empathy. Ability to gracefully set boundaries. Is patient with people and processes and models professional maturity in dealing with all people. 
• Knowledge and experience with conflict management/resolution skills and anticipates potential areas of conflict and proactively works to address and de-escalate. Encourages and engages in productive communication in all settings, particularly those with conflict or disagreement. Able to steer, redirect and/or reframe conversations in productive and collaborative directions. Comfortable with conflict and differences of opinion. 
• Knowledge and experience working with municipal governments, broadband providers, or community technology initiatives. 
• Knowledge and familiarity with state and federal broadband regulations, funding opportunities, and grant programs. 
• Knowledge and proven ability to manage contracts, negotiate agreements, and oversee compliance. 
• Knowledge at a strong level of broadband infrastructure, fiber networks, and digital equity policies. 
• Skill in organization with attention to detail and ability to map out processes, meet deadlines and effectively track progress. Is dependable and reliable. 
• Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain acceptable motor vehicle record.  
• Have and maintain acceptable background information, including criminal history. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree in public administration, business, or technology-related fields. 
• Experience managing public-private broadband partnerships. 
• Project management certification (e.g., PMP) or relevant technical certifications. 

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, telecommunications, engineering, or a related field; or equivalent of eight (8) years’ experience may substitute for the education requirement only. 
• Ten (10) years of experience in broadband program management, telecommunications, infrastructure planning, or contract management. 

SUPERVISION 

Supervision Received: Deputy Director of Utilities; Matrixed to City Manager’s Office, Innovation & Technology, Planning, and Communications 

Supervision Exercised:  None 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS      

• Physical and Mental Effort: Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities that permits the employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person. Sufficient vision or other powers of observation that permits the employee to review, evaluate and prepare a variety of written documents and materials. Sufficient manual dexterity that permits the employee to operate computer equipment and other office equipment. Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to work in a combination of an office setting and an outdoor construction setting, and to operate field equipment. Work may include extended periods of time viewing a computer video monitor and/ or operating a keyboard. Ability to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities and conditions.   
• Work Environment: Combination of an office environment and being outside on construction projects including exposure to weather, noise, equipment, dust, uneven surfaces, excavations, traffic, and other hazards. Works in a setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noises. Ability to work under stress from demanding deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities with minimal supervision in a setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noises. 
• Machines and Equipment Used: Personal computer, telephone, calculator, copy/print machine, and city vehicles.