Director of Engineering Operations at SQUAN

The Director of Engineering is responsible for the oversight and management of the engineering department. This includes management of project forecasts, personnel utilization, budgets, quality, execution of deliverables, and scheduling. This role also entails working with executives, directors and managers across the organization to ensure client and company objectives are met. This role oversees all aspects of fielding, design, permitting, and GIS work performed within the organization and through our subcontracting partners.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Drives profitability by ensuring Productivity, Utilization, and First pass Yield program (PUF) is implemented and followed

• Collaborates on annual budget and updates quarterly/monthly as appropriate for engineering budget items

• Fosters a positive, metrics driven work culture of accountability, quality, and professional/career growth of the team

• Accountable and responsible for the division financial forecast

• Ensures resources are properly allocated across the various engineering teams based on workload and capability

• Manage and mentor senior managers, managers, and other personnel

• Oversee and manage the performance management process including goal setting, feedback, and reviews to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and foster continuous improvement

• Oversees the team responsible for field data collection, design, permitting, GIS, and collaborates with construction support services team members

• Mentors/coaches team on forecasting, scheduling, budgeting, utilization, industry standards, client guidelines, manufacturer specifications, and Squan standards/processes

• Develops and implements operational policies and procedures to ensure efficiency and quality

• Monitors and analyzes key performance indicators to identify areas for improvement and areas for positive reinforcement

• Collaborates with other divisions to achieve company goals and alignment across the organization as a whole

• Ensures compliance with relevant federal, state, and local regulations

• Ensures compliance with client standards, Squan standards and policies, and adherence to all other applicable codes and standards

• Works with project managers to develop and validate monthly project level forecasts that roll up to the division financial forecast

• Identifies potential risks to the financial forecast early on and communicates these with urgency

• Works with Technical team to develop efficient processes and identify areas for training

• Develop and implement various initiatives as prescribed by the Squan leadership team

• Maintains positive relationship with our clients and works closely with key accounts to grow relationships

• Assists BD team with sales initiatives and strategy

• Attend corporate leadership meetings and create necessary reports for presenting engineering topics

• Accountable for deliverables being on budget, on time, and of high quality

• Ensures the team utilizes a value-based engineering approach to make design/routing/environment decisions to create an efficient, quality, constructable designs

• Works closely with internal construction leaders, Squan directors, managers and functional leads to develop and maintain best practices that deliver quality designs that can be constructed efficiently

• Proactively communicates with clients and is readily available to be an escalation point to resolve issues that may arise

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President or Squan Executive leadership team

 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to coach/mentor senior managers, managers, and other engineering personnel

• Ability to create and validate a complex schedule with multiple dependencies, varying durations, and multiple milestones

• Comprehensive understanding of business finance and accounting

• Ability to align financial budget with forecast, resource plan, and current utilization of resources.

• Ability to communicate complex concepts in everyday, easy to understand terms

• Ability to conduct interviews and adequately assess candidates for management and senior management roles

• Ability to give both positive and negative feedback in a manner that is well received and understood, taking into account varying personality types

• Excels at organization, time-management, problem-solving, communication, and attention to detail

• Strong sense of urgency and the ability to prioritize

• Able to successfully manage and oversee a large portfolio of projects and clients

• Ability to manage a large, diverse team across multiple offices with some fully remote employees

• Good organizational skills with the ability to plan, coordinate, and track project development

• Strong work ethic, leads by example, and does what it takes to get the job done

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD, and with various other software programs

• Ability to communicate professionally at all times with clarity, at the frequencies required

• Ability to understand different personalities and adjust approach accordingly

• Ability to pro-actively identify needs and problem solve

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a minimum of 12 years of experience in telecom industry in either engineering or construction, 5 of which must be managing a team producing over $5m in engineering revenue per year or $40m in construction revenue per year

• Expert knowledge of Outside Plant Engineering and Telecommunications design

• Valid driver’s license and excellent driving record

• Must be able to pass pre-employment drug test and background check

• Ability to travel as needed (estimated to be 25% of the time)

 

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business administration, or a related degree

• Experience managing turnkey (design/build) telecom projects greater than $75m in revenue

• Experience in power distribution engineering and design

• Long standing history and solid reputation with key personnel at ILEC/CLEC telecom companies

• Working knowledge of Esri GIS software products