Director - Planning

Lumos is looking for a full-time Director Planning! If you are a Director Planning 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 scope leading a team of network planners performing strategic architecture market planning to effectively capture our robust multi-year FTTP growth plans. Reporting to the VP, Planning and Program Management, this role will lead a technical team responsible for analyzing, planning, designing, and mapping the proposed fiber infrastructure deployment solutions targeting attractive FTTP expansion opportunities into underserved markets and new neighborhood developments.  The position will require organizing data, resource allocation,, and capabilities to assess the most effective overall FTTP architecture design methodologies involving long haul, feeder, and distribution fiber topologies integrated with the required network equipment and various vendor partner deployment components.

The successful person will lead to deliver best in class deployment considerations using an optimized innovative approach as measured by:

• Drive the execution of strategic projects by coordinating efforts across teams, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, budgets, and on-time delivery.
• Provides cost savings metric opportunities coupled with facilitating network reliability that delivers an exceptional customer experience.
• Scaling our growth capabilities through strengthening network vendor and deployment partnerships.
• Accelerating our speed to market targeting attractive market demand opportunities.
• Directs day-to-day operational and technical aspects of multiple large scale business projects.
• Reviews planning estimates to ensure most efficient and cost effective practices are applied.
• Produce business case propels with supporting documentation for presentation to investment committee.
• Collaborates with Engineering & Construction leadership to ensure planning estimates and designs meet deployment standards, accurate costing, and develop technical documentation.  
• Efficiently identify and implement process improvements to streamline the overall FTTP delivery solutions.
• Acts as a primary point of contact and subject matter expert for internal and external stakeholders ensuring their needs are addressed and fostering strong relationships.

The Director, Planning is highly visible within Lumos and outside of the Company, comfortable presenting proposed recommendations to senior leadership and the Board of Directors, ensuring disciplined follow through in documented dissemination/communications of plans for execution via systems platforms and software (including emerging mapping tools). This position will play a critical role in closely partnering with our cross functional fiber expansion team (consisting of Market/Business Development, Sales, Product, and Finance leaders) to develop, map, and align on prioritizing the company’s multi-year growth initiatives underway based on market demand opportunities for fiber deployment. 

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 cannot 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.

Learn more at  Lumos | High-Speed Fiber Internet Provider (lumosfiber.com)

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

• Lead a team recommending network optimization involving the evaluation and assessment of network design options and vendor partnership opportunities based on market industry trending and company strategic imperatives for FTTP market expansion and sales revenue growth.
• Develop Market Expansion planning and mapping design guidance to support the company’s growth initiatives and network delivery while proactively initiating ongoing research that ultimately provide efficiencies and cost savings metrics.
• Serve as an active integral part of cross functional Fiber Expansion TEAM consisting of Market Development, Sales, Product, and Finance) in providing timely and quality mapping design and cost estimates for network and customer driven expansion opportunities.
• Produce Planning guidelines and documentation eco-system utilizing systems platforms and emerging software tools that align to seamless and efficient execution of network plans.
• Comprehensive Budget Management, Costing/Estimating, Financial Modeling investment analysis, KPI development, Presentations and other areas based as required.
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Experience:
• 10+ years, proven progressive leadership experience successfully deploying extensive fiber broadband networks.
• In-depth successful fiber Industry deployment leadership experience in OSP, Engineering, Planning, and/or Construction disciplines required.
• In-depth knowledge of the FTTP industry best practices/standards pertaining to fiber construction, estimating/costing, equipment (Core, Access, and Premise) Technology, OSP (Long-haul, local Metro, and Distribution), and other required infrastructure facilities (i.e. POP/CO spec. requirements). 
• Proven experience performing vendor evaluations based on defined requirements that deliver innovative network broadband solutions.
• Must be proficient with MS Office product suite and working knowledge of fiber inventory management and 3GIS mapping systems.
• Key Competencies:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience defining, evaluating, solving, and presenting alternatives to complex engineering problems and in applying engineering and economic principles while conducting studies and surveys. reactive, independent, and ability to take initiative to keep on-task and on-target.
• Working knowledge and understanding of analyzing a technical system or design into component parts.
• Skilled at leading projects, conducting meetings, and motivating a cross-functional team toward a common goal.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. 

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary office work requiring near-constant use of sight, speech, hearing, comprehension, and computer and peripheral equipment. 
• Computer and common office equipment.
• Ability to travel moderately as the demands of the job require. 

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.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.