What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director - Network Operations position at Lumos?
Lumos is looking for a full-time Director – Network Operations! If you are an experienced leader in telecommunications network operations – particularly within FTTH who’s excited for a fast-paced experience, ready to help us grow, and ready to recommend process changes that ensure we’re harnessing our technology to the best of our ability while broadening our ability to set up and maintain our service, we want to hear from you!
Our Director – Network Operations leads all Network Operations and the centralized Project Engineering Team at Lumos with responsibility for network performance and the career development of a diverse team of experts across 10 states. The Director is responsible for all projects, site activations, maintenance activities, network survivability, disaster preparedness & recover, CAPEX and OPEX budgets, and the career development of employees throughout Network Operations and Project Engineering. Collaborates closely with peers and teams in NOC, OSP, Customer Care, Service Operations, Accounting & Finance, Warehouse, and Engineering to achieve process improvements, systems enhancements, and operating efficiencies. Responsible for providing monthly executive summaries on network performance, optimization, and expansion plans & results.
*** This position is Hybrid, yet successful candidates must reside within Virginia or North Carolina. ***
Company Summary
Lumos provides 100% Fiber-Optic Internet access to more than 375,000 homes and businesses in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and has recently announced expansion into Ohio and Kentucky.
We believe that the possibilities of tomorrow can’t be built on the infrastructure of yesterday. That’s why we’re building a 100% Fiber Optic network from the ground up for families, businesses, and communities, backed by local, expert customer service. An Internet built for that most hopeful of all things – the future. Because whatever the future holds, Lumos makes it faster.
Our Mission and Values
At Lumos, we are driven by our commitment to a brighter tomorrow. We take pride in being the first to deliver 100% Fiber Optic Internet for families, small businesses, and communities. We know the possibilities of tomorrow can’t be built on the infrastructure of yesterday. And when we deliver uninterrupted Internet and limitless capacity, we create new opportunities for everyone.
We believe that the past is over, and the future is fast. That’s why we are who we are: the disruptors of the status quo. Guided by our purpose and startup mindset, we step up, move first, and adapt as we go. Here, there’s no hierarchy, only hustle.
We are all servant leaders, confident in our purpose and humble enough to pay close attention to the details. We all have the power to help solve problems and find solutions for our customers and teammates - and we do - by putting people first and doing whatever it takes to build loyalty with our customers and within our team.
We’re passionate about our customers’ experience. Their futures don’t stand still, and neither do ours. We’ll never stop reinventing ourselves to meet our customers’ evolving needs - because we know that our work, delivering 100% fiber optic internet, truly changes people’s lives.
Essential Functions
Provide direction, support, and leadership to the employees and teams across Network Operations and Project Engineering (5 direct reports and 30 indirect reports).
Manage business partners supporting all expansion arears for equipment installation, systems upgrades, trouble isolation, and maintenance.
The Director – Network Operations’ organization includes:
Network Operations in Virginia and North Carolina, including legacy networks.
Network Operations in all 10 states throughout Lumos’s footprint.
Centralized Project Engineering.
Dispersed workforce through business partners in expansion states and markets.
Eventual Lumos positions based on market size and force-to-load modeling.
Maintenance:
Oversee all MOP (High Risk) maintenance activity involving Network Operations.
Manage outages and restoration efforts, including after hours and escalations.
Trouble detection and isolation, including collaborating with OSP with OTDR direction/distance testing (traces).
Process Management:
Establishing installation standards.
Records management.
Site activation process.
Improve and maintain cabinet activations with OSP Directors in each market.
Manage splitter capacity dynamically based on network growth, sales activity, and service demands.
Analytics and Reporting:
Daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
Network Performance.
Site Activations.
Maintenance KPIs
New Service KPIs.
Team and individual performance.
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery.
Develop and manage plans.
Active in emergency event management.
Triage and restoration efforts.
Financials:
Capital Projects.
Operating and Expense Budgets.
Network modeling for expansion markets.
Inventory Management, including all maintenance spares, critical infrastructure, power plants, and site maintenance.
Project Management:
All collocation projects in all new states and markets.
Responsible for all project approvals submitted by Project Engineering.
Network Management, specifically vendor management for equipment installation, site activation, and maintenance.
Ensure cabinet activations in support of monthly homes passed/available objectives.
Decommissioning of legacy switches with migration to soft switch (legacy).
Site decommissioning (legacy).
Copper to fiber conversions (legacy).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated experience leading multiple teams in telecommunications network operations.
Excellent analytical abilities and presentation skills - with experience presenting complex financial and operational information to decision-makers.
Proven experience with telecommunication installation support and management functions, voice, and VoIP. Knowledge of telecommunication standards related to central office and equipment installation.
Competence with infrastructure, cabling, and distribution systems.
Exceptional computer skills using MS Office, particularly Excel and multiple types of software.
Other Experience & Requirements
7 years’ telecommunications experience within Network Operations and related disciplines.
High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Proactive, independent, and the ability to lead others to keep on-task and on-target.
Fiber or Telecom industry experience is essential.
Benefits & Perks
Our commitment to communities includes recruiting and rewarding the Lumos team members who are working together to build a brighter tomorrow.
We have:
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
Competitive compensation packages, including bonus options for eligible positions.
Paid Time Off and 12 Paid Holidays / Personal Days.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
100% employer-paid life and disability insurance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with access to professional support for life’s challenges.
401K plan w/ up to 5% employer contribution and a self-directed brokerage option.
Wellness program offering education and cash incentives for gym attendance and nutrition programs.
Employee referral bonuses.
Discounts on Lumos Fiber Internet for employees who live in our service areas.
At Lumos we recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. We have a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws.
