Lumen Hiring for Utility and Government Permit Specialist at Omaha, NE Full Time

The Local Public Affairs Specialist will play a critical role in Lumen’s fiber investment throughout communities – acting as a force multiplier for both economic development, growth, and sustainability in communities.

Operationally you will be responsible and measured your ability to successfully improve infrastructure deployment cycles that meet commitments and guidance provided to the board, shareholders, and to the wall street analyst. Your role would be responsible for proactively collaborating with local governments and utilities to create a positive relationship that results in reduced cycles for permitting, row agreements, and pole permissions from the various governing bodies. You will also be responsible for ensuring that we have favorable terms that are acceptable for our deployment teams and are within the expectations set with regulatory requirements and corporate guidance.

You will work within the Network Implementation team, Government Affairs, Carrier Relations group, and Corporate Communications organizations to understand both the operations, development, and amplification of Lumen’s effort to deliver fiber to 10 million American homes and businesses over the next five years.

A successful candidate will have the ability to quickly establish relationships and clear lines of communication with local elected officials, policymakers, influencers, decision-makers and community partners. You will act as the ‘connective tissue’ between Lumen’s Network Implementation team and local permitting offices to establish predictable permitting timelines and help create innovative solutions when necessary to clear hurdles in local permitting application processes.

As the face of Lumen’s investment, you will coordinate closely with State Government Affairs Directors to understand current relationships and act as a brand ambassador between Lumen and the communities we serve. You will raise awareness of Lumen’s fiber investment with local government, businesses, and community organizations to celebrate the opportunities Lumen’s gigabit fiber internet service brings to every neighborhood.

• Quickly understand the level/volume of Lumen investment in the market
• Improve permitting, ROW approvals, and permission to attach approval to meet company deployment targets.
• Gather and negotiate the required guidelines and specifications for Engineering design requirements from the governing entities.
• Ensure those requirements are documented in databases and cataloged in a library for reference.
• Quality control submittals that are going to our largest and most sensitive areas to ensure the work being submitted meets the requirements of the governing entities.
• Work directly with your local Network Implementation team to understand details of the build and clear existing roadblocks with local permitting offices
• Work with local governments to understand details of permitting application processes
• Work with vendors when necessary to ensure accuracy of information flow between vendors, local permit offices, and other external partners (utilities, community orgs, businesses)
• Work with State Government Affairs Directors to build upon/maintain relationships with appropriate permit offices and city, county, and state lawmakers
• Act as the ‘connective tissue’ between internal and external organizations ensuring clear lines of communication across organizations internally and externally
• Prepare and present PowerPoint presentations to highlight/amplify Lumen’s fiber investment in local communities and opportunities for consumers, businesses, and anchor institutions
• Coordinate announcements/events with Corporate Communications to celebrate Lumen’s investment and highlight the benefits of Lumen’s fiber network
• Represent Lumen in meetings with local government, community partners and neighborhood organizations
• Monitor local ordinance related to broadband providers, permitting, grants and community development
• Work to expand partnerships in communities through available grant opportunities

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in/with permit offices and key public sector elected officials and staff
• Ability to act as the operational driver for both traditional and innovative permit application solutions
• High degree of integrity due to nature of information involved and visibility of the position
• Ideal candidate will have working knowledge of permitting processes of government and utilities and the ability to act as the operational driver for both traditional and innovative permit application solutions
• Excellent manager of relationships and proven record of ability to work with elected officials, policymakers, and senior staff
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Strong verbal and written communications skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Occasional evening and weekend work and the ability to travel between cities within assigned territories

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years’ experience in technology, broadband and/or telcom industry
• 2+ years’ subject matter expertise in city/county/state govt and utility permitting