RURALBAND, a Prince George Electric Cooperative (PGEC) subsidiary, is looking for an experienced, Fiber Operations Coordinator. RURALBAND continues to grow while providing "world-class" FTTH broadband internet service and voice over IP (VoIP) telephone service inside and outside the PGEC service territory.

The Fiber Operations Coordinator reports to the Manager of Engineering and Operations (E&O) and is responsible for fiber construction within and outside PGEC electric service territory. This position will provide coordination, oversight, and execution to complete fiber communications networks capable of gigabit speeds to every location. The Fiber Operations Coordinator must understand fiber splicing diagrams, fiber network design, and fiber construction using employees or contracted services. Additionally, this position is responsible for meeting project deadlines while ensuring subscriber satisfaction and profitability.

Essential Job Duties:

• Coordinates with approved contractors to accomplish assigned work related to distribution and drop fiber construction, plan and schedule required work based on design-build schedule, reconciliation of completed work, and coordinates splice scheduling on the distribution fiber system and fiber construction using either staff or contracted services. 
• Maintains accurate count and track of all work using NISC and spreadsheets (to include adequate notes)
• Communicates with internal stakeholders such as the Warehouse Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Fiber Design Engineer, and the Manager of E&O to ensure workflows properly to prevent bottlenecks and downtime, submit weekly reports, perform crew visits to check on progress and address potential problems, communicate with customers and other departments as needed to address delays, problems or give updates. 
• Ensures goals for fiber network construction within and outside PGEC electric territory are met.
• Responsive to opportunities for territory expansion when financially beneficial. 
• Responsible for all construction of fiber networks from communication huts to network interface devices outside of buildings. 
• Manages, oversees and facilitates all construction activities, including work by employees and contractors. 
• Administers construction contracts, including assuring necessary insurance and bonding requirements are met; approved work methods are followed; construction is performed accurately and timely; testing is complete, and all splicing and test data are delivered.
• Assure splice guides, bill of materials, and other design documentation is accurately executed and distributed.
• Responsible for all regulatory and legal compliance for construction, including underground utility locating, traffic management, and soil erosion.
• Manages and monitors the progress of projects, and the quality of the customer experience, while tracking change and delay impact.  
• Communicates verbally and in writing any issues that may arise from time to time, impacting the project's overall performance.
• Monitors construction performance using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as on-schedule completion, within budget completion, cost per foot for construction overhead and underground, landowner complaints, Rework, Q/A Scorecard, and Customer Feedback.
• Responsible for construction contractor invoice approval and tracking.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

EDUCATION:

• Associate or bachelor's degree required, with technical certifications preferred. Experience may be substituted for education.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in fiber construction and operations preferred. Experience with fiber outside plant construction methods and processes, GPON fiber network topology, and construction maps. 

ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

• Must be able to plan and organize work to meet deadlines. Work is varied and requires high accuracy with attention to detail. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are critical. Working as a team player and having leadership ability are essential for this position. Interpersonal skills with employees, customers, contractors, and the public are required. 
• Must have general PC abilities, including Microsoft Office and tablet operating skills. 
• Must be able to operate and navigate electronic maps. 
• GIS experience is preferred 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

The position requires occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds. Visual & audio acuity are essential functions of this position.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Must maintain your full-time residence at a location within 30 minutes from our headquarters office in Waverly.
• < 25% of travel outside RURALBAND service territory for construction inspection, subscriber, and landowner issues.
• Possible overnight travel for meetings or training.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license and operate company vehicles safely and courteously.

RURALBAND, a Prince George Electric Cooperative (PGEC) subsidiary, is looking for an experienced Fiber Network Engineer to join our team as we build a “world class” gigabit Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network. This position will report to the RURALBAND’s General Manager. The Fiber Network Engineer will be responsible for the design and development of the fiber-optic network.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary focus of this position is to manage & maintain all aspects of our FTTH network. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Additionally, this position will analyze and resolve technical problems with the Calix system and corresponding infrastructure, including but not limited to system configuration, deployment, and maintenance of the Calix ring infrastructure.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Responsible for developing, monitoring, and troubleshooting the RURALBAND Fiber Optic Network.
• Deploys and maintains LANs, WANs, DMZs, and wireless networks, including routers, firewalls, WAPs, switches, UPSs, and other hardware.
• Supports the substation electronics, internal networks, and hardware switches configuration on Calix driven platform.
• Designs and develops hardware topology and VLAN segmentation required for routing traffic from a service point to the data center independently.
• Responsible for Cyber security considerations and experience in managing system resiliency are required.
• Resolves problems of any scope related to the fiber network.
• Provides and documents solutions to problems via proven diagnostic techniques.
• Tracks, manages, and documents all aspects of fiber optic network using Calix equipment and cable management.
• Ensures fiber plant database is accurate and up to date by inputting physical fiber asset data and fiber inventory and circuit assignments into the data management systems.
• Coordinates materials and assignment processes (materials/resource availability, provisioning and configuring equipment, equipment testing, service needs, and assignments and scheduling) related to installation, repair, and maintenance needed.
• Configures, installs, and supports station-level electronics related to Calix, Cisco, Juniper, and Sienna switches.
• Assists with cabinet design & layout (site identification, electronics installation, and project coordination.)
• Works with field technicians on service calls and provisioning issues.
• Support end-users (members) at the ONT level when issues are escalated.
• Responds to multiple sources (customer/teammates) requests regarding trouble tickets, troubleshooting, and general service information.
• Researches, develops, and recommends policies, procedures, reports, documentation systems, and resource materials.
• Responsible for the assurance of prompt assistance and timely resolution of issues for Wholesale and Key Accounts.
• Provides education to customers and teammates related to troubleshooting and support.
• Assists in determining requirements for future growth.
• Research existing databases, files, and records for network design, fiber optimization, and new aggregation points.
• Designs routes for fiber-based services, including point to point, Ring, and path diverse routing.
• Assists in reviewing requirements, developing solutions, and conducting cost assessments for pre-sales opportunities.
• Provides concise weekly updates to management and effectively presents project status to leadership.
• Takes initiative to stay current on skills and industry standards.
• Perform all other duties as needed and assigned.

The successful candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience areas below:

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field required. Networking Certifications and advanced degree are desirable.

JOB KNOWLEDGE

• 3 years of experience working in an Internet Service Provider environment.
• Experience with FTTH, DSL, or cable architectures, switches, and firewall technology, and an advanced understanding of layer 1, 2, and 3 network protocols are required.
• Experience with ISP, IT, Cable, Cellular, VoIP, or other telecom experience is a must:
• Depth of working on a Linux-based environment in the configuration of switches, routers, VLANs, and troubleshooting is a must.
• Windows, Linux, Mac, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, telephony, and security devices.
• VoIP including Latency & Jitter management and MOS scores, QoS,
• VPNs, Wi-Fi, network address translation (NAT), and NMS tools.
• Ability to read blueprints, schematics, and drawings.
• Prior experience utilizing Google Earth and how to produce a professional and detailed KMZ file and can interpret outside plant construction KMZ.
• Proficiency in the MS Office Suite, in particular MS Excel.
• Proficient with fiber plant concepts and designs. (Feeder/distribution cables, color codes, x-connects, fiber characteristics, DB loss and attenuation, FTTH designs.
• Prior fiber design experience that includes ring configurations, FTTH projects, and backbone builds.
• Knowledge of GIS-based platforms and fiber inventory systems.
• FTTH network planning and design experience.
• Knowledge of ISP, building entrances, and NESC.
• Familiar with POM equipment
• A proven ability to multi-task and plan/organize work to meet deadlines; with accuracy and attention to detail. Experience establishing and participating in a 24/7 responsive, on-call services support team. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with demonstrated problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work as a team player.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This position will require work hours outside of the normal business to meet project deadlines. In addition:

• Hours may fluctuate to support network outages or service degradation.
• Occasional travel is required for off-site training & research, as well as travel throughout the service territory.
• On-call duty will be required on a rotating schedule.

MECHANIC

PGEC is seeking a Mechanic to provide safe, effective, and efficient maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting on all fleet vehicles, line construction equipment, right-of-way equipment, and related tools.

Essential Job Functions:

The successful candidate will accurately assess vehicles and machinery to diagnose and repair issues.

• Act as a liaise with employees and vendors to determine their automotive requirements and communicate vehicular defects or problems.
• Provides routine inspections of vehicles and informs clients of any issues.
• Prepares quotes and work estimates as requested. Keep an accurate log of all work performed.
• Maintains and cleans garage equipment and tools to ensure all equipment and surroundings are safe to work.
• Adheres to company work safety policies.
• Complies with practices and procedures in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Prince George Electric Cooperative safety manual.
• Promptly reports to the Vice President of Operations any concerns or violations of safety rules and regulations.
• Maintains knowledge of the Cooperative's safety rules and follows safety rules in performing duties. 
• Participates in safety programs and makes contributions that may be beneficial for the safety of fellow employees.
• Follows the required Cooperative policies and procedures.
• Comply with a residency requirement of the Cooperative due to emergency response requirements from the start date and if their residence changes during their employment. 
• Promptly notify the supervisor of any change in residence.
• Familiar with hazardous materials used in the performance of the job and observes all safety and environmental rules and regulations that pertain to the use, handling, and disposal of these hazardous materials.
• Maintains Class A CDL license and performs the necessary inspection on assigned trucks, trailers, and equipment.
• Maintains inspection and maintenance records as necessary for vehicles and equipment.
• Communicate with a two-way radio while observing FCC rules and Cooperative procedures.
• Performs periodic maintenance on vehicles, equipment, and related tools to ensure safe operations and extended service life
• Maintain a reasonable inventory of parts to ensure prompt repair and reduce downtime.
• Maintain a proper state inspection license and perform Virginia Department of State Police inspections on trucks and trailers to ensure safe and roadworthy vehicles.
• Performs all necessary annual state vehicle inspections as required by law.
• Maintains and performs required scheduled inspections of assigned first aid supplies and fire extinguishers for facilities and fleet. 
• Ensure that all required third-party inspections for shop equipment are completed, as necessary.
• Tags all vehicles, equipment, and tools that are not in safe operating condition and awaiting repair as "out of service."
• Participates in vehicle and equipment specification and bidding process.
• In addition to these responsibilities, other duties may be assigned by the Vice President of Operations to perform other duties from time to time.
• All other duties as required.

WAGE AND SALARY INFORMATION

This is a non-exempt position under the Wage & Hour Law, and overtime compensation is paid.

Education/Experience Requirements

EDUCATION:  High school diploma or general education degree (GED).

EXPERIENCE: 2+ years of experience as a mechanic, part of which may be substituted for vocational/technical education.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:  Must have sound knowledge of the proper and safe use of the tools and equipment used in maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting work. Must have a thorough knowledge of first aid and CPR. Must know hydraulic system operation and repair. Must have knowledge of maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of areal devices, digger derricks, trenching and excavating equipment, winches, tools, small engines, and vehicles. Must know about welding and fabrication. Should be willing to attend training courses relating to their area of work. 

ABILITIES AND SKILLS:  Must be skilled in safely and adequately working with mechanic's equipment and tools. Must be proficient in all work required in connection with the responsibilities of the mechanic's position. Must have the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Must possess all skills necessary to execute job knowledge stated in the section above. Must have the ability to work independently to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines. Must be a team player.

• Must be certified Virginia state inspector. 
• Must possess a valid class A CDL Driver's License.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The working environment of this position will vary from inside work to outside work and in inclement weather conditions.

Available for work outside regular business hours to respond to emergencies.

This job requires a combination of standing, sitting, climbing, bending, and walking and excellent visual and auditory skills to inspect trailers and communicate with the other mechanics and employees. The environment is typically noisy. The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and snow/ice conditions.