Director of Field Network Operations

Director Of Field Network Operations

The Director of Field Network Operations provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for i3 Broadband's Field Network Operations organization. This role is responsible for developing and executing long-term operational strategies that ensure the reliability, availability, resiliency, and scalability of the Company's broadband network infrastructure.

The Director oversees all field operations functions across the service footprint, including network maintenance, restoration, field support, preventive maintenance programs, operational readiness, and workforce effectiveness. This leader establishes enterprise operating standards, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures consistent execution across all operating regions.

Working closely with Network Engineering, Network Operations Center (NOC), Construction, Customer Operations, Finance, Procurement, and Executive Leadership, the Director is accountable for delivering safe, efficient, and customer-focused field operations that support i3 Broadband's growth objectives and service commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide strategic leadership, guidance, and accountability to Field Network Operations leaders and their teams, fostering a culture of safety, operational excellence, customer focus, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute the strategic vision, operational objectives, and performance metrics that drive network reliability, resiliency, and service excellence.
• Align field operations priorities, resources, and initiatives with corporate objectives, growth strategies, and customer commitments through effective partnership with executive leadership.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development initiatives to build a high-performing and scalable organization.
• Evaluate organizational structure, staffing models, and resource allocation to ensure operational effectiveness and support future business growth.

Operational Excellence

• Ownership and oversight of the day-to-day network operations, maintenance, restoration, and field support activities across all service areas.
• Ensure timely prioritization and resolution of network outages, service-impacting events, and operational escalations.
• Establish performance standards and operational KPIs related to network uptime, restoration intervals, maintenance compliance, and customer experience.
• Monitor operational performance trends and implement corrective actions to improve service delivery.
• Direct the development and execution of preventative maintenance programs to maximize network reliability.
• Ensure consistency in operational procedures, deployment standards, and maintenance practices across all markets.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for internal teams and outsourced contractors to ensure consistent execution, quality standards, and customer experience.

Network Reliability & Incident Management

• Serve as executive escalation point during major network outages, emergency restoration efforts, and critical customer-impacting events.
• Lead cross-functional incident response and recovery efforts involving Engineering, Construction, Customer Operations, and vendors.
• Conduct post-incident reviews to identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Direct operational readiness planning for severe weather events, network emergencies, and disaster recovery situations.
• Ensure after-hours support programs and escalation processes are effective and properly staffed.

Financial Management & Vendor Oversight

• Develop, manage, and monitor operational budgets, maintenance expenditures, and capital project support budgets to ensure alignment with business objectives and financial targets.
• Lead forecasting and planning for staffing, fleet, equipment, technology, and other operational resources required to support current operations and future growth.
• Drive cost management initiatives that improve operational efficiency while maintaining service quality, network reliability, safety, and customer experience.
• Oversee vendor and contractor performance, including contract compliance, service-level agreement (SLA) adherence, quality standards, and overall operational effectiveness.
• Evaluate sourcing strategies and vendor partnerships to optimize costs, enhance operational performance, and support organizational objectives.

Operational Strategy, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop, implement, and maintain operational policies, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure operational governance and change management processes are followed for all network modifications, minimizing operational risk and customer impact.
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), Method of Procedure (MOP) standards, and quality control requirements.
• Drive operational efficiency initiatives that improve productivity, reduce downtime, and optimize resource utilization.
• Accountable for achieving network performance objectives related to uptime, outage duration, restoration intervals, preventive maintenance compliance, and customer-impacting service metrics.
• Ensure compliance with applicable telecommunications regulations, safety standards, and company policies.
• Provide strategic leadership and coordination across Engineering, NOC, Construction, Finance, Procurement, Safety, and Customer Operations to ensure alignment of operational priorities and business objectives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Network Engineering to support network design, upgrades, capacity planning, and technology evolution initiatives.
• Collaborate with Construction teams to ensure seamless transition of newly built infrastructure into operations.
• Provide operational insights and reporting to executive leadership regarding network performance and operational risks.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture throughout the field organization.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA standards, company safety programs, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Lead regular audits of field practices, facilities, vehicles, equipment, and contractors.
• Ensure employees are properly trained, certified, and equipped to perform work safely.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Network Engineering, Engineering, Business Management, Information Technology, or related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive telecommunications or broadband operations experience.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing network operations, field services, construction support, or related technical organizations.
• Experience leading multi-site teams, managing major outages, and supporting fiber-optic broadband networks.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven strategic leadership and organizational management abilities.
• Strong business acumen and budget management experience.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent project and program management skills.
• Data-driven approach to operational performance and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions:

• Regular travel to field locations, market offices, operational facilities, and vendor sites.
• Availability to respond to major outages, emergencies, and critical operational incidents.
• Periodic after-hours involvement in escalated service-impacting events.
• Exposure to field environments, construction sites, network facilities, and restoration activities.
• Ability to attend field audits and operational inspections in varying weather conditions.
• Occasional evening and weekend work as business needs dictate.

Equal Opportunity:

i3 Broadband is an equal-opportunity workplace that respects the diversity of our customer base and our team. We will treat customers, employees, and applicants fairly without regard for gender, race, age, or any other characteristics protected by law. Our employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business need.