Company: 123NET
Department: Operations
Reports To: Chieif Operating Officer
Company Overview
Founded in 1995, 123NET is one of Michigan’s leading fiber infrastructure and connectivity providers, delivering fiber internet, data center, colocation, voice, and network solutions to businesses, carriers, municipalities, and residential customers across the state. Headquartered in Southfield, the company operates one of the largest privately owned fiber networks in Michigan.
Position Summary
The Vice President, Fiber Construction is responsible for executive leadership of 123NET's fiber deployment activities across commercial, residential, infrastructure, and grant-funded programs. This role oversees construction execution, contractor strategy, fiber design alignment, permitting coordination, procurement, and workforce planning.
The VP serves as the executive owner for determining the optimal balance between internal labor and contractor labor. The role is accountable for ensuring the organization has the right capacity, contractor relationships, standards, and procurement strategy to support growth while meeting cost, quality, safety, and schedule objectives.
Construction Strategy & Execution
· Develop and execute the long-term strategy for fiber construction operations.
· Establish annual and quarterly construction capacity plans for commercial, residential, grant-funded, and infrastructure projects.
· Determine the optimal mix of internal labor and contractor resources based on cost, capacity, quality, and strategic importance.
· Align construction resources with company growth objectives, market expansion plans, and customer delivery commitments.
· Drive continuous improvement in construction productivity, safety, quality, and project delivery.
Contractor & Vendor Leadership
· Own executive-level relationships with construction contractors, locate providers, engineering partners, and other strategic vendors.
· Establish contractor performance standards, scorecards, accountability measures, and escalation paths.
· Lead contractor negotiation strategy, commercial terms, and long-term contracting approach.
· Develop a scalable contractor ecosystem capable of supporting current and future construction demand.
· Serve as the executive escalation point for contractor-related performance, cost, safety, or delivery issues.
Fiber Design & Construction Readiness
· Oversee internal and third-party fiber design functions through the Director of Fiber Design or other assigned leaders.
· Ensure design standards, quality requirements, permitting readiness, and construction handoff processes are clear and consistently followed.
· Align engineering and design resources with construction priorities and customer commitments.
· Drive standardization of permitting, design review, as-built documentation, and construction package quality.
Procurement & Financial Management
· Own construction procurement strategy for materials, equipment, and contractor services.
· Partner with Finance to develop construction budgets, forecasts, and cost-control processes.
· Identify opportunities to reduce deployment costs while maintaining safety, quality, and long-term network reliability.
· Support capital planning related to fiber expansion, grant programs, residential builds, and commercial construction demand.
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
· Lead construction, design, contractor management, and related operational leaders.
· Develop succession plans and leadership growth opportunities across fiber construction functions.
· Set departmental priorities, operating standards, performance expectations, and quarterly objectives.
· Build a culture of accountability, safety, transparency, and execution discipline.
Key Performance Indicators
- Construction cost per foot
- Design-to-construction cycle time
- Average project delivery timeline
- Budget adherence
- Contractor utilization effectiveness
- Grant project compliance
- Internal labor productivity
- Residential build completion rates
- Safety performance
- Commercial construction readiness
Qualifications
· 15+ years of telecommunications, broadband, utility construction, or related infrastructure experience.
· 7+ years of senior leadership experience managing construction, engineering, field, or contractor organizations.
· Extensive experience managing large construction programs and contractor networks.
· Proven success negotiating vendor, procurement, and contractor agreements.
· Strong financial, operational planning, and resource forecasting skills.
· Deep understanding of fiber design, OSP construction, permitting, materials, and deployment workflows.
· Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, construction management, or related field preferred, or equivalent practical experience.
Leadership Expectations
· Operates as a strategic executive leader while remaining close enough to the field to understand execution realities.
· Creates clear ownership, measurable standards, and consistent accountability across internal and external teams.
· Balances speed, cost, safety, and quality in a way that supports long-term company growth.
· Communicates clearly with executive leadership, Finance, Sales, Project Management, and external partners.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
- Paid time off and holidays.
Work Location: In person
