Project Manager

About Core Fiber

Core Fiber Partners is a growing telecommunications company dedicated to delivering reliable, high-speed internet and connectivity solutions to the communities we serve. Through our family of regional brands, we focus on building strong local relationships while providing the technology and infrastructure customers depend on every day.

We operate across multiple states, bringing fiber-forward innovation, dependable service, and customer-focused support to residential and business clients alike. Our team is committed to expanding broadband access, improving network performance, and ensuring our customers stay connected to what matters most.

At Core Fiber, we believe our people are the foundation of our success. We foster a culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Whether in the field, supporting customers, or driving strategy behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in delivering exceptional service and strengthening the communities we serve.

If you’re looking to grow your career in a fast-paced, evolving industry where your work makes a real impact, Core Fiber Partners may be the right place for you.

Position Summary

As a Project Manager at Core Fiber, you will lead fiber deployment projects from design through construction and final network turnover, with emphasis on Oregon-based broadband infrastructure projects, including the organization’s Oregon Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) project. In this role, success is measured not only by timelines but by strict compliance, funding milestones, and public accountability. The Project Manager is the single point of ownership for meeting aggressive build schedules while satisfying state and federal grant requirements, balancing competing priorities across engineering partners, contractors, internal teams, and state program stakeholders, and keeping every decision aligned with budget, schedule, and reimbursement eligibility. The role proactively manages risk, holds partners accountable, and keeps projects moving in an environment where delays and missteps carry real financial consequences. This is a remote position seeking a candidate based in Central Oregon who is available to travel to project sites and Core Fiber offices as needed. The role may also manage non-construction projects, operational initiatives, process improvements, technology implementations, or other cross-functional projects as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Planning and Schedule Management

• Build and maintain the master project schedule covering design, permitting, construction, drop installation, testing, and network turnover milestones.
• Set project milestones and identify critical path items; anticipate schedule risks early and develop mitigation plans.
• Track and enforce adherence to grant-mandated buildout timelines, reporting deadlines, and program-specific milestone requirements.
• Manage project scope and change control; assess and document the cost, schedule, and scope impact of every change request before it is approved.
• Lead project kickoff meetings and define roles, responsibilities, and communication cadences with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage non-construction projects as assigned, such as operational improvements, internal process initiatives, technology implementations, vendor transitions, or other cross-functional business projects.

SOW, Contract, and Budget Management

• Aid in the development of contracts and SOWs that outline deliverables, estimated costs, terms and conditions of contractors, vendors and consultants performing work on projects.
• Monitor contractors and vendors performance against SOW, deliverables schedule, and contract terms; document deviation and coordinate corrective actions with leadership.
• Build and manage project budgets, compare actual costs to forecasts, and report variances to leadership.
• Review invoices from the engineering firm, construction contractors, and permitting agencies for accuracy and contract alignment before they are processed.
• Confirm that project expenditures are properly documented and categorized to support grant reimbursement and compliance reporting.
• Keep organized contract files for each project, including SOWs, amendments, change orders, and related correspondence.
• Support procurement, vendor coordination, and resource planning as needed based on project scope.

Stakeholder Management and Communication

• Act as the primary point of contact for project sponsors, state program contacts, and local partners on project status, deliverables, and issue resolution.
• Develop and implement project communications plans based on the communication needs and requirements of internal and external stakeholders, the project team and executive leadership.
• Prepare and deliver regular status reports to stakeholders, Network Expansion & PMO leadership, and executive leadership covering schedule performance, budget status, risks, and upcoming milestones.
• Facilitate recurring status meetings with stakeholders, the engineering firm, construction contractors, and internal teams.
• Set stakeholder expectations and communicate schedule or scope changes early, paired with proposed solutions.
• Facilitate change management activities, including communication planning, stakeholder engagement, and adoption support.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work with construction leadership on construction progress, contractor issues, and field resource needs.
• Work with permitting leadership on permit submittal schedules, approval status, and any permitting constraints that affect the construction schedule.
• Track design and permitting deliverables with the engineering firm and confirm they feed into the construction schedule on time.
• Lead the construction-to-operations turnover process, confirming that all documentation, testing, and acceptance criteria are met before network handoff.
• Spot resource conflicts and bottlenecks across projects and work with Network Expansion & PMO leadership to prioritize and resolve them.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented environment across project teams and support continuous improvement of project delivery practices.

Grant Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure project activities and documentation comply with applicable federal, state, local, and program requirements, including those tied to Oregon BEAD and other FTTH projects.
• Prepare and submit required grant reports, progress updates, and milestone certifications on schedule.
• Maintain auditable project records, including schedules, budgets, invoices, change orders, and deliverable logs, for grant compliance purposes.
• Track grant reimbursement submissions and coordinate with finance on draw schedules and funding status.
• Support readiness for monitoring reviews, audits, inspections, and reimbursement submissions as required by the funding source.
• Stay current on grant program requirements and proactively raise compliance risks, scope deviations, or budget concerns to Network Expansion & PMO leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor’s degree in project management, construction management, engineering, business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of project management experience in telecom, broadband, fiber optic, or utility construction.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, and contractor and vendor relationships.
• Strong understanding of OSP fiber optic construction phases, including design, permitting, mainline build, and drop installation.
• Experience managing SOW and contract compliance for third-party engineering or construction firms.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder-facing reporting and status communication.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities, and to drive accountability across cross-functional and remote teams without direct authority.
• Ability to manage both construction and non-construction projects, adapting project management methods to the scope, stakeholders, risks, and deliverables of each assignment.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel regularly to Oregon project sites, stakeholder meetings, and contractor meetings; residence in Central Oregon preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP certification or an equivalent project management credential (CAPM, Agile, Scrum, Lean).
• Experience with government-funded or grant-funded broadband deployment programs (Oregon BEAD, BEAD, RDOF, ReConnect, CAF, or similar), particularly in Oregon or similar rural broadband environments.
• Familiarity with FTTH/FTTP deployment at scale, including supporting multiple FTTH projects concurrently.
• Background in OSP engineering or construction management.
• Experience with grant compliance reporting, reimbursement, monitoring, and closeout processes.
• Experience working in a PMO or helping develop project management standards, tools, templates, and governance practices, ideally in a remote or geographically distributed environment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
• This is a remote position. Work is primarily performed from a home office or remote work environment using virtual collaboration tools; however, the organization prefers a candidate based in Central Oregon to support regular travel to Oregon project locations.
• Regular travel within Oregon may be required for Oregon BEAD and other FTTH project meetings, stakeholder engagement, vendor and contractor coordination, inspections, FTTH construction site visits, training, or project-related events.
• For construction, infrastructure, or field-based projects, the position may require visits to active project sites and exposure to typical field or construction environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, use a computer, participate in virtual meetings, and communicate effectively for extended periods.
• Ability to walk, stand, climb, bend, or lift up to 25 lbs may be required when supporting field-based projects.
• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be required during project site visits.
• Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required based on project deadlines, implementation schedules, or urgent project needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $83,807.00 - $139,678.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Were you referred by a current employee? If so, who referred you?

Work Location: Remote