Job Description
We are excited to add this new position. Douglas Fast Net is bringing the future of connectivity to the communities of Lane County, and we're looking for a leader to build the network our neighbors will rely on for decades to come.
As our OSP Construction Manager, you'll own DFN's in-house aerial and underground fiber construction in our North District (Lane County). You'll lead in-house crews, plan the work, keep it safe, and deliver many miles of new fiber a year on schedule and on budget. You'll work alongside other OSP Managers to collectively deliver reliable service to our customers.
If you're an OSP construction supervisor or superintendent tired of living out of a motel, this is a chance to build a network in one place, sleep in your own bed, and see the results of your work in your own community.
Location: Creswell, OR (on-site, reporting daily to our Creswell shop)
Pay: $80,000-$100,000 a year, depending on experience, plus bonus tied to safety, quality, and schedule.
Schedule: Full-time, with an on-call rotation (currently on one week per month)
Why you'll love working here
At DFN, we strive to take care of our employees on and off the job.
- A 200% 401(k) match: for every $1 you save, DFN adds $2, up to 4.5% of your pay. Meaning, together, we're contributing 13.5% of your salary!
- 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision plans for employees, with affordable dependent coverage options.
- A company truck with a gas card, so you aren't putting miles on your own vehicle for work purposes.
- Free 1 Gig high-speed fiber internet if you live within our service territory.
- A PTO package and 10 paid holidays, including two days off for your birthday.
What you'll do
Lead the crews
- Supervise DFN's aerial and underground construction crews, including aerial crews, directional drill operators, aerial and underground drop crews and laborers.
- Hire, train, and coach your team, set clear expectations, and handle performance and employee relations issues with HR's support.
- Get in the field regularly: walk jobs, ride along, and solve problems where they happen.
Plan and run the build
- Turn engineering designs and work prints into weekly crew schedules, matching people, equipment, and materials to the work.
- Own your team's budget, track labor and material costs, and flag overruns early.
- Keep service orders and project milestones moving, and report progress to the Director of OSP Operations.
- Coordinate with the OSP Contract Work Manager so in-house and contracted work fit together.
Build it safely and to standard
- Make sure every job follows OSHA, NESC, Oregon utility locate rules, and DFN safety and quality standards.
- Run tailboards and job briefings, and stop work when something isn't right.
- Inspect completed work and help keep as-builts and project documentation accurate.
Be the face of DFN in the field
- Work with pole owners, cities, counties, ODOT, and property owners on make-ready, permits, and right-of-way as it makes sense outside of engineering.
- Resolve complaints, damage claims, and violations quickly and courteously.
- Find and put in place better ways to build faster, safer, and at lower cost.
What success looks like in your first year
- First 90 days: You know every crew, every active job, and our build standards, and you've put eyes on the North District network. Crews are working from a reliable weekly schedule.
- First 6 months: You're reporting cost and progress against plan. Crews know you and your expectations are clear. You're balancing field and office work appropriately.
- One year: We've hit our build targets with zero lost-time injuries, and you've put one or more process improvements in place that your crews actually use. You're contributing to improvements across the department.
What you bring
Required
- 5+ years of outside plant construction experience in telecom, electric, or another utility, including at least 2 years supervising crews as a crew foreman, supervisor, or superintendent.
- Hands-on knowledge of both aerial (strand, lashing, make-ready) and underground (directional boring, trenching, vaults, conduit) construction.
- Working knowledge of OSHA and NESC requirements and utility locate rules.
- Ability to read construction prints, work orders, and maps.
- Valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
Preferred
- Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) build experience.
- Degree in construction management or a related field. Equivalent experience counts just as much.
- Experience with NISC or similar mapping and work-order systems, plus Microsoft 365.
- CDL, OSHA 30, or project management certification.
You'll thrive here if you
- Know the challenges of OSP construction and have worked through your fair share of roadblocks.
- Lead by example and communicate clearly with crews, engineers, agencies, and the public.
- Want ownership of the work, not just instructions.
- Like a small, close-knit company where your decisions matter and leadership knows your name.
- Share DFN's commitment to customer-first service and community impact.
Where you'll work
You'll report daily to our Creswell shop and spend roughly 60% of your time in the field and 40% in the office. Because outages and emergencies need a fast response, you'll need to live within 30 minutes' drive of the shop. You'll share an on-call rotation with occasional after-hours or weekend call-outs for emergencies.
This is what we would consider "medium" physical work. Expect frequent standing, walking, and driving, plus climbing in and out of trucks, walking uneven ground, and lifting up to 50 lbs. when needed. Field days can mean working near roadways and heavy equipment, in heat, cold, rain, wind, dust, wildfire smoke, and noise. Reasonable accommodations are available.
DFN is a drug-free workplace. Candidates must pass a pre-employment drug screen, and employees are subject to random and for-cause screening as applicable.