Director of Utility Locates

Wire 3 is dedicated to providing affordable, high-speed, and high-bandwidth internet services to households in our local communities. Our mission is to not only deliver the best internet experience in Florida but also provide the exceptional customer care our customers deserve. With cutting-edge fiber optic technology at its core, Wire 3 ensures ultra-fast, reliable connections, minimizing disruptions, and maximizing your online experience. Backed by private equity, Wire 3 is on an exciting trajectory of rapid growth. We're actively seeking driven, talented individuals to join our team of passionate and collaborative professionals who share a common vision of excellence. If you're looking to be part of a dynamic and fast-growing organization, we'd love for you to help us continue delivering industry-leading service to our customers.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Director of Utility Locates is responsible for the end-to-end management of Wire 3's utility locate operations across all active construction markets. This role oversees Regional Locate Coordinators and Wire 3's internal network locators, coordinates with utility owners and third-party locate contractors, and drives field performance to consistently achieve locate production targets across multiple regions. The Director serves as the primary liaison between field operations, utility stakeholders, and external contractors to ensure safe, compliant, and timely locates across all service regions. The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on experience in utility locating, proven multi-region management capability, and established relationships across the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama utility and one-call landscape.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervise and develop Regional Locate Coordinators, providing direction, performance coaching, and accountability across all assigned regions Oversee Wire 3's internal network locators, managing workload allocation, scheduling, and quality of output Utilize and champion Wire 3's systems and AI integrations to analyze trends, identify opportunities, and recommend strategies to improve locate productivity and efficiency Conduct regular one-on-ones, team meetings, and field ride-alongs to assess performance and ensure alignment with operational goals Recruit, onboard, and train new locate personnel as the team scales with Wire 3's network expansion Drive weekly locate production to meet or exceed stated footage backlogs across all regions; monitor pacing at the market level to stay aligned with OSP construction demands Monitor and report on KPIs including footage output, ticket clearance rates, locate accuracy, and market-level pacing; present performance updates to field operations leadership Identify operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements to maximize throughput and efficiency across all locate workstreams Maintain locate tracking systems and ensure data integrity across all regional reporting Attend and facilitate meetings with utility owners to coordinate locate schedules, resolve conflicts, and maintain positive working relationships Serve as Wire 3's primary point of contact for third-party locate contractors; manage scopes of work, performance, and compliance and negotiate service agreements Escalate contractor performance issues as needed and represent Wire 3 in utility owner forums, joint-use meetings, and inter-agency coordination sessions Ensure all locate activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local one-call regulations including 811/CGA standards across all operating states Champion a safety-first culture across all field teams and contractor partners; manage damage prevention programs and lead investigation and response to locate-related incidents Maintain current knowledge of regulatory changes and update internal procedures, policies, and training accordingly Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES

Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and hold accountable distributed field teams across multiple regions Excellent verbal and written communication skills for stakeholder engagement, contractor management, and executive reporting Deep understanding of damage prevention regulations, 811/CGA one-call compliance requirements, and applicable state-level locate laws Proficiency with locate management systems, GIS mapping tools, and Microsoft Office Suite; comfort with AI-integrated operational tools a plus Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret field production data and translate insights into operational decisions Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills for managing contractor and utility owner relationships Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple markets in a fast-paced, high-volume construction environment Valid driver's license with a clean driving record; ability and willingness to travel to field sites and stakeholder meetings as required

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience will be considered 7-10+ years of experience in utility locating, underground infrastructure, or field operations required Minimum 3-5 years in a supervisory or management capacity overseeing multi-person field teams required Proven track record of managing locate production targets at scale in high-volume, multi-region environments Demonstrated hands-on experience in the utility locating field with a thorough understanding of locate processes, equipment, and industry best practices Proven experience working with multiple utilities across the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama markets with familiarity of regional utility owners, regulatory environments, and one-call requirements in these states Experience in fiber, telecom, or broadband network infrastructure strongly preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Regular travel to active construction and locate sites, regional offices, utility owner meetings, and field teams across Wire 3's operating markets Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions during site visits, field audits, and stakeholder meetings Ability to navigate active construction sites safely including walking, standing, and traversing varied terrain Prolonged periods at a desk and on a computer when performing administrative, reporting, and planning work

BENEFITS

Salary + Bonus Eligible Company-paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents Dynamic environment with diverse growth opportunities Emphasis on learning and development to support career and personal growth Work-life balance 120 hours paid time off (PTO) after 90-day probation period 40 hours of paid sick leave 6 major paid holidays off 401(k) plan with company match.

EOE STATEMENT

Wire 3 is an

Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind:

Wire 3 is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Wire 3 are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by the laws or regulations in the locations we operate. Wire 3 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Wire 3 encourages applicants of all ages.