Manager Long Haul Technician Operations

Company Description

Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 141,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.

The Manager, Long Haul Technician Operations leads a geographically dispersed team responsible for protecting Zayo’s long-haul fiber network through proactive route patrol, damage prevention, network intelligence, and emergency restoration support. This role oversees employee development, technical competency, operational performance, resource planning, and cross-functional coordination to improve network reliability while ensuring route protection remains the team’s primary responsibility.

Role Mission

Protect the route. Prevent damage. Know the network. Develop the team. Be ready to restore.

Build and lead a team that serves as the eyes, ears, and first line of defense for Zayo’s long-haul fiber network. Proactively identify infrastructure threats, strengthen restoration readiness, and deliver qualified technical support while keeping network protection and reliability at the center of every decision.

Location Requirement: Please note that this role will be located in the Atlanta, GA area and working remote and in the field. Our ideal candidate will reside within 45 minutes of the Atlanta metro area. 

Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, such as OPT, TN, H1B or any other type of work visa, now or in the future.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Technical Leadership

Oversee long-haul route patrol, damage prevention, construction monitoring, and approved secondary technical activities at ILA, POP, and other network locations.

Prioritize resources based on network risk, construction activity, customer impact, and route coverage requirements.

Ensure technical activities, including preventive maintenance, fiber testing, alarm investigation, and facility inspections, are performed by trained and authorized employees without compromising route protection.

Identify opportunities to leverage geographically positioned technicians to improve response times, reduce unnecessary dispatches, and increase operational efficiency.

Standardize workflows, strengthen documentation, and implement systems that improve patrol management, locate audits, and network maintenance.

Emergency Restoration & Incident Response

Lead field-team mobilization and coordination during significant fiber damage events and customer-impacting network incidents.

Partner with NOC, Service Assurance, OSP, Emergency Restoration, Engineering, and other stakeholders to support damage assessment, fiber testing, access coordination, and restoration.

Ensure timely, accurate communication of field conditions, network threats, and restoration requirements.

Conduct post-incident reviews and incorporate lessons learned into damage prevention and route protection strategies.

People Leadership & Development

Hire, lead, coach, and retain a high-performing team of geographically dispersed Long Haul Technicians.

Establish expectations for safety, route ownership, technical competency, communication, documentation, and accountability.

Develop onboarding, training, certification, and mentoring programs to build capabilities in fiber testing, ILA/POP maintenance, outside plant assessment, locate validation, and restoration support.

Provide ongoing performance feedback, identify development opportunities, and support succession planning.

Performance & Resource Management

Establish and monitor operational KPIs related to preventable fiber damage, patrol completion, construction engagement, locate accuracy, safety, restoration readiness, technical productivity, and employee development.

Use operational data and reporting to identify risks, address performance gaps, and drive continuous improvement.

Evaluate workforce capacity and territory coverage to determine resource needs, including headcount, Business Partner support, and route realignment.

Manage territory budgets, overtime, travel, vendor utilization, fleet requirements, equipment, and emergency restoration resources.

Develop business cases for additional resources and ensure spending aligns with forecasts and business objectives.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Build strong partnerships across Damage Prevention, Field Operations, NOC, Service Assurance, OSP, Engineering, Emergency Restoration, Construction, GIS/Network Records, Locate Operations, Procurement, Fleet, and external service providers.

Serve as a key connection point between field intelligence and the teams responsible for network operations, maintenance, restoration, and infrastructure records.

Ensure work follows established safety, maintenance, change management, and escalation procedures while respecting organizational ownership and technical authorization boundaries.

Qualifications

Must be located within 45 minutes of Atlanta, GA

Strong knowledge of fiber optic networks, long-haul infrastructure, outside plant operations, Damage Prevention, utility locating, and excavation risk.

Demonstrated ability to lead geographically dispersed field teams and prioritize resources based on network risk and customer impact.

Experience managing operational performance, budgets, workforce capacity, vendors, and field resources.

Ability to interpret operational data, drive process improvements, and communicate effectively with employees, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership.

Strong safety orientation and demonstrated ability to lead during high-pressure network incidents and restoration events.

Familiarity with OTDR and fiber testing equipment, GIS, network documentation, and field workforce-management systems preferred.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, Business, Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.

Minimum of 5 years of relevant telecommunications, fiber network, OSP, Field Operations, or Damage Prevention experience.

Minimum of 2 years of supervisory, leadership, or management experience.

Experience supporting long-haul fiber networks, restoration, utility locating, or Damage Prevention strongly preferred.

Estimated base salary range: $85,000 - $110,400 USD/annually.

#LI-Hybrid

The base pay range shown is a guideline and reasonable estimate for this role. It takes into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions. Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted range based upon geographic location, work experience, skill level, certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Non- sales roles may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan. Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a sales incentive plan.

Additionally, this position may be eligible for certain benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, disability retirement plans, paid time off.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

Benefits, Rewards & Wellness

• Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave

Zayo is an equal opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

As part of the application, hiring, onboarding, and/or employment process, Zayo or its affiliates, partners, and vendors may collect, store, and use biometric identifiers and biometric information (collectively, “Biometric Data”), such as fingerprints, facial geometry scans or other unique biological characteristics. Zayo uses CLEAR1, a third-party identity verification service, to verify applicant identity during the hiring process. CLEAR1 may collect Biometric Data, including facial geometry scans and/or other biometric identifiers, to authenticate your identity. Biometric Data will be retained pursuant to CLEAR1’s policies, which can be found here: https://www.clearme.com/clear1-credential-policy-crp. Zayo will not sell, lease, trade, or otherwise profit from any applicant's or employee's Biometric Data. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge this disclosure. Prior to any collection of Biometric Data — including through CLEAR — you may be presented with a separate consent form and asked to provide your written authorization in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI), and other applicable biometric privacy statutes.