Fiber Design Specialist - Manager

Overview:

Provide strategic leadership for the Fiber Optic Network Design function by managing multiple programs, driving operational excellence, ensuring technical governance, and building high-performing teams. Accountable for delivering complex fiber design projects that meet client expectations, quality standards, financial objectives, and organizational goals while fostering continuous improvement and innovation.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Define and execute the strategic roadmap for Fiber Optic Network Design operations.

Align business objectives with project execution, resource planning, and client expectations.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.

Program & Portfolio Management

Oversee multiple fiber network design programs from initiation through successful delivery.

Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contractual SLAs and KPIs.

Monitor program performance, utilization, profitability, forecasting, and resource capacity.

Technical Governance

Provide technical leadership across HFC, FTTH, FTTx, MDU, Permit, HLD, LLD, and Service Design projects.

Establish engineering standards, design methodologies, and best practices across all design functions.

Review and approve complex engineering solutions, ensuring scalability, compliance, and network reliability.

People Leadership

Lead, mentor, and develop Managers, Team Leads, Design Engineers, and Technical Specialists.

Build high-performing teams through coaching, succession planning, competency development, and performance management.

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

Client & Stakeholder Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, senior leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams.

Serve as the executive escalation point for critical project, operational, and customer issues.

Conduct governance meetings, business reviews, and performance presentations with stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

Establish operational processes, governance frameworks, and performance metrics to improve delivery efficiency.

Drive Lean, automation, and process optimization initiatives to reduce cycle time, improve quality, and increase productivity.

Ensure effective workload balancing and resource optimization across projects.

Quality & Compliance

Establish quality standards and governance processes for all design deliverables.

Ensure compliance with client requirements, regulatory guidelines, industry standards, and organizational policies.

Lead design audits, quality reviews, and corrective action initiatives to achieve continuous improvement.

Financial & Resource Management

Manage departmental budgets, project financials, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives.

Monitor project profitability, resource utilization, hiring plans, and operational expenses.

Support business growth through efficient workforce planning and capacity management.

Risk & Delivery Management

Identify strategic, operational, and technical risks across programs.

Develop mitigation strategies and ensure timely resolution of escalated issues.

Maintain business continuity through proactive planning and governance.

Business Development Support

Support pre-sales activities, solution development, effort estimation, staffing plans, and proposal reviews.

Collaborate with business development teams during RFPs, client presentations, and solution discussions.

Identify opportunities for service expansion and operational improvements.

Reporting & Governance

Present operational dashboards, KPIs, financial performance, delivery status, and risk assessments to senior leadership.

Drive governance meetings, executive reviews, and client steering committee discussions.

Ensure accurate reporting and documentation across all programs.

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Telecommunications, Electrical, or related field) preferred.

Minimum 11 years of experience in fiber optic network design and engineering.

Extensive experience in Fiber Optic Network Design across HFC, FTTH, FTTx, MDU, Enterprise, and Broadband network deployments.

Strong expertise in High-Level Design (HLD), Low-Level Design (LLD), Permit Design, Bill of Materials (BOM), Fiber Planning, and Network Architecture.

Advanced knowledge of 3GIS, SpatialNet, QGIS, AutoCAD, FiberCAD, and other GIS/CAD platforms.

Deep understanding of fiber architecture, outside plant (OSP), inside plant (ISP), cable routing, splicing, permitting, construction standards, and telecom engineering practices.

Strong knowledge of client delivery models, quality frameworks, SLA/KPI management, and operational governance.

Excellent strategic planning, leadership, stakeholder management, negotiation, financial management, and decision-making capabilities.

Proven experience managing multiple large-scale programs, cross-functional teams, and geographically distributed operations.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, risk management, and change management skills.

Experience driving digital transformation, automation, process improvement, and operational excellence initiatives.

Demonstrated ability to build client relationships, lead business reviews, and deliver sustainable business growth.