Senior Fibre System Planner

Department: Technology & Network Operations

Reports To: Director of Technology and Network Operations

The Senior Fibre System Planner is a strategic role responsible for spearheading the design and deployment of fiber optic networks in complex urban environments. This role goes beyond standard fibre routing; the Senior Planner takes full ownership of the infrastructure lifecycle, from advanced planning, design, permitting, project coordination, to as-built records management. The Senior Planner also supports the construction team in securing critical access agreements in both utility structures/poles and on private property.

The ideal candidate is an expert in navigating the logistical, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges unique to city deployments, including congested underground pathways, Multi-tenant commercial buildings, and stringent municipal codes. Finally, the ideal candidate is someone who is excited by the prospect of managing a new and expanding service provider network.

Urban Network Design & Planning

• Architect detailed fibre network designs tailored for dense urban topography, utilizing new and existing infrastructure.
• Splicing and Route planning for new core and customer network connections.
• Detailed record keeping of Splice Logs, Panel Designs, Circuit allocations and reservations.
• Oversee the creation of highly accurate Bill of Materials (BOM) for new deployments.
• Materials selection and management (inventory control).
• Establish and enforce engineering standards and best practices for urban OSP deployments across internal teams and third-party engineering vendors.
• Leverage and manage relationships with multiple design and construction vendors to produce detailed engineering designs, permit applications, and as-built drawings.

Permitting, Licensing & Access Negotiation

• Lead the end-to-end permitting strategy for urban builds, securing complex municipal approvals, Right-of-Way (ROW) access, and traffic control permits.
• Negotiate and finalize access agreements, easements, and building access contracts with private landlords, property management firms, and commercial building owners.
• Secure infrastructure attachment rights by coordinating directly with utility companies for pole access (make-ready processes) and leased underground duct space.
• Act as the primary liaison between the company and city planners, utility owners, and local regulatory bodies to resolve disputes and expedite approvals.
• Lead site surveys and project walk-throughs to ensure designs account for local constraints and are buildable.

Advanced Project Planning & Reporting

• Develop comprehensive, multi-phase strategic build plans that align with the company's long-term deployment goals and capital expenditure budgets.
• Utilizing GIS mapping tools for design, architecture of new and existing circuits.
• Optimizing fibre use through effective planning and management of splice packages.
• Design and maintain executive-level dashboards and reports tracking critical project milestones, permitting bottlenecks, and budgetary variances.
• Conduct advanced risk assessments for proposed urban routes, identifying potential regulatory, environmental, or structural roadblocks before construction begins.
• Analyze deployment metrics to optimize future build strategies, reducing cost-per-circuit and accelerating time-to-market.

Operations Support

• Supporting Network Incident Management and Change Management where fibre changes are needed or impacted.
• Support the sales organization through the development of build estimates (costs and timing).
• Support the Operations Project Manager in construction project execution.
• Data entry and GIS quality control utilizing 3rd party resources.
• Project finance reporting and operations (Quotes, PO, and Invoice Management).

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for urban OSP deployment, bridging the gap between engineering, legal, construction, and 3rd party contractors.
• Mentor and guide junior planners and field surveyors, ensuring high standards of accuracy in GIS records and as-built documentation.

• Education: Diploma in Telecommunications, Electronics, Geomatics, or a related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in OSP network planning and design, and/or project management with a proven track record of successful deployments in major urban markets.
• Negotiation Expertise: Demonstrable experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating access agreements, ROW designs, and utility attachment permits.
• Urban Deployment Knowledge: Deep understanding of MDU architecture, underground conduit systems, urban utility constraints, and specialized construction methods (e.g., directional boring, micro-trenching).
• Software Proficiency: Advanced command of GIS and fibre management platforms (e.g., 3-GIS, ArcGIS, SpatialNET, QGIS) and project management/reporting tools (e.g., Google Sheets, Excel etc.).

• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to build relationships and negotiate effectively with city officials, hostile landlords, and competing utility providers.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to look beyond individual splices and cables to see the macro-level impact of deployment strategies on business revenue and operational efficiency.
• Advanced Problem Solving: High capacity to pivot routing and design strategies dynamically when faced with unexpected urban underground obstacles or denied permits.
• Communication: Highly refined executive communication skills, capable of translating complex engineering and regulatory challenges into clear business impacts for senior leadership.