Fiber Test & Acceptance Project Manager

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.

Zayo is seeking an experienced Fiber Test & Acceptance Project Manager to lead the testing, validation, quality assurance, and final acceptance of long-haul Outside Plant (OSP) fiber optic infrastructure. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end fiber testing and acceptance process, ensuring newly constructed fiber routes meet Zayo's engineering standards, customer specifications, contractual requirements, and operational readiness expectations.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of EXFO or Viavi Fiber Test Analysis Platforms, fiber optic splicing, OTDR testing, insertion loss analysis, and dark fiber acceptance with proven project management, vendor oversight, financial accountability, and problem-solving experience.

Our Fiber Test & Acceptance Project Manager will work closely with OSP Construction, Fiber Engineering, Field Operations, Network Operations, project managers, customers, and external contractors to ensure fiber routes are tested, deficiencies are resolved, and complete, accurate closeout packages are delivered on schedule.

This role requires someone who can manage multiple projects simultaneously, hold testing and splicing contractors accountable, interpret technical testing results, identify risks early, and drive projects through final acceptance and operational handoff.

Location: Remote within the United States.

Work Authorization Requirement: 

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.

Zayo will not provide, transfer, or assume sponsorship for any

employment visa or work authorization for this position now or in the future. 

Key Responsibilities

Fiber Testing, Validation & Acceptance

·       Manage and oversee the complete fiber testing and acceptance process for long-haul, backbone, and OSP fiber deployment projects.

·       Review and analyze dark fiber testing results, including Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), insertion loss (IL), Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS), optical power meter, Fiber Inspection Probe (FIP), Chromatic Dispersion (CD), and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) results, as required by project specifications.

·       Validate fiber testing methodologies, including wavelength selection, pulse width, test duration, launch and receive fibers, bidirectional testing, and customer-specific acceptance thresholds.

·       Interpret OTDR traces and test reports to identify excessive loss, abnormal splice events, reflectance issues, fiber discontinuities, and other performance deficiencies.

·       Review testing results generated through EXFO, VIAVI, Anritsu, or comparable fiber test-analysis platforms.

·       Determine whether fiber test packages meet contractual and engineering requirements or require additional testing, troubleshooting, or remediation.

·       Coordinate with field technicians, fiber splicers, engineers, and vendors to diagnose and resolve testing failures.

·       Ensure completed fiber routes satisfy Zayo's technical and quality standards before final acceptance.

OSP Project Management & Execution

·       Manage multiple concurrent fiber testing and acceptance projects, ensuring completion within established schedules, budgets, and customer commitments.

·       Coordinate project activities from construction completion through splicing, testing, remediation, acceptance, and final closeout.

·       Develop and maintain project schedules, testing milestones, resource requirements, and completion forecasts.

·       Identify dependencies between engineering, permitting, construction, splicing, testing, and network acceptance.

·       Monitor project progress and proactively address risks involving construction delays, vendor performance, material availability, access restrictions, or testing deficiencies.

·       Develop recovery plans when testing or acceptance issues threaten customer delivery milestones.

·       Coordinate access to customer facilities, network points of presence (POPs), and data centers for fiber splicing and testing activities.

·       Provide regular project status updates, risk assessments, and recovery recommendations to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Contractor & Vendor Management

·       Provide daily oversight of OSP splicing, testing, and construction vendors responsible for completing fiber acceptance requirements.

·       Establish clear expectations for production, schedules, workmanship, testing quality, documentation, and contractual deliverables.

·       Monitor vendor performance against project milestones, quality standards, and service-level commitments.

·       Review contractor-submitted testing results and closeout documentation to verify compliance with engineering and customer requirements.

·       Identify vendor performance deficiencies and implement corrective-action plans to prevent recurring issues.

·       Coordinate vendor resources to expedite splicing, testing, troubleshooting, and remediation.

·       Escalate unresolved contractor performance, quality, or schedule concerns to the appropriate leadership teams.

·       Project Budgets, Contracts & Financial Controls

·       Develop, manage, and track project budgets associated with assigned fiber testing and acceptance activities.

·       Manage purchase requisitions, purchase orders, contractor invoices, and change orders.

·       Review contractor invoices and validate work performed against approved scopes, unit rates, contract terms, and project deliverables.

·       Monitor project expenditures and forecasts to identify potential cost overruns.

·       Support vendor bid processes, contractor selection, and procurement activities as required.

·       Maintain accurate financial and operational project records using Salesforce, Sitetracker, Excel, or other project management systems.

·       Coordinate with Finance, Construction, and project leadership to resolve financial discrepancies and maintain budget accountability.

Fiber Closeout Documentation & Network Inventory

·       Review and validate complete dark fiber closeout packages, ensuring technical accuracy, documentation completeness, and contractual compliance.

·       Reconcile fiber test results with construction drawings, route maps, splice diagrams, redlines, as-built documentation, and network inventory.

·       Utilize Google Earth, KMZ files, and related mapping tools to verify route information and identify discrepancies between field documentation and test results.

·       Coordinate correction of inaccurate or incomplete splice records, test results, construction documents, and inventory information.

·       Maintain accurate records of fiber testing results, project milestones, deficiencies, corrective actions, and final acceptance status.

·       Ensure completed documentation and acceptance packages are provided to Engineering, Operations, GIS, Inventory, and other designated stakeholders.

·       Support timely project closeout and customer acceptance.

Outage Response & Emergency Restoration

·       Participate in mandatory rotating on-call responsibilities to support network outages and emergency restoration activities.

·       Coordinate with Network Operations, Field Operations, fiber splicing contractors, and other technical resources during service disruptions.

·       Assist in mobilizing appropriate resources to diagnose fiber damage, perform emergency splicing, and validate restored network performance.

·       Communicate restoration progress, technical findings, and anticipated resolution timelines to stakeholders.

·       Ensure appropriate post-restoration testing, documentation, and network record updates are completed.

·       Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

·       Partner with OSP Construction, Fiber Engineering, Network Operations, Field Operations, customers, and external vendors to resolve technical and operational challenges.

·       Facilitate communication between field resources and internal stakeholders to maintain project alignment.

·       Identify recurring fiber testing failures, incomplete acceptance packages, documentation errors, and process inefficiencies.

·       Develop and implement standardized quality-control processes, acceptance checklists, and corrective-action procedures.

·       Recommend improvements that reduce repeat testing, accelerate project closeout, improve vendor accountability, and enhance network quality.

·       Maintain compliance with Zayo's construction standards, engineering specifications, safety requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

·       Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.

·       Minimum of seven (7) years of telecommunications experience involving OSP fiber infrastructure, fiber construction, optical transport, project management, or related network deployment activities.

·       Minimum of five (5) years of project, contract, or capital management experience, preferably supporting long-haul OSP or large-scale telecommunications infrastructure projects.

·       Demonstrated experience managing fiber splicing, testing, acceptance, and project closeout activities.

·       Proven ability to coordinate multiple projects, contractors, schedules, budgets, and competing priorities.

Technical Fiber Knowledge

·       Strong working knowledge of OSP fiber construction methods, fiber optic infrastructure, splicing practices, and optical network design principles.

·       Practical experience reviewing and interpreting fiber optic test results, particularly OTDR and insertion loss testing.

·       Understanding of fiber acceptance requirements, testing methodologies, and customer-specific performance thresholds.

·       Ability to identify testing deficiencies and coordinate technical troubleshooting and corrective action.

·       Familiarity with EXFO, VIAVI, Anritsu, or comparable fiber testing equipment and reporting platforms.

·       Ability to interpret construction drawings, splice diagrams, route maps, redlines, as-built documentation, and technical closeout packages.

·       Understanding of fiber construction standards, quality assurance, and network inventory requirements.

Project Management & Business Skills

·       Experience managing OSP contractors, field technicians, splicing vendors, and technical project deliverables.

·       Working knowledge of project budgets, capital expenditures, purchase orders, contractor invoicing, and change-order management.

·       Understanding of unit-rate and fixed-price construction contracts.

·       Demonstrated ability to identify project risks, develop recovery plans, and maintain delivery commitments.

·       Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.

·       Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.

·       Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to customers, field personnel, project managers, and senior leadership.

·       Ability to work independently while maintaining strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Technical Tools

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.

·       Experience using project tracking, reporting, and documentation systems.

·       Working knowledge of Google Earth and route-mapping documentation.

·       Ability to maintain accurate project schedules, financial records, testing documentation, and closeout information.

Preferred Qualifications

· Direct experience managing long-haul dark fiber or backbone fiber testing and acceptance.

· Experience interpreting raw OTDR traces in addition to prepackaged testing reports.

· Familiarity with EXFO FastReporter, EXFO ConnectorMax, VIAVI FiberCable2 Suite, VIAVI FiberChekPRO, or Anritsu NetWorks.

·       Knowledge of CD/PMD testing and optical performance requirements for long-haul fiber networks.

·       Experience managing testing and acceptance across multiple routes or large-scale OSP deployment programs.

·       Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, formulas, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and financial reporting.

·       Experience with Salesforce, Sitetracker, or comparable project management platforms.

·       Familiarity with GIS, KMZ files, network inventory systems, and fiber documentation.

·       Experience with federally funded infrastructure projects and associated requirements, including NTIA, Davis-Bacon, Build America Buy America (BABA), and environmental assessments.

·       Experience coordinating emergency fiber restoration and post-restoration testing.

Estimated base salary range: $77,100 - $118,600 USD/annually

#LI-AF1

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.