As the nation’s first statewide, “transmission only” company, VELCO manages the safe, reliable, cost-effective transmission of electric power throughout Vermont and as a part of the integrated New England regional network.
Why Join Our Team
Unlike traditional enterprise IT roles, this position operates in a no‑fail environment. You will lead a carrier‑class network where seconds matter, redundancy is mandatory, and reliability directly impacts public safety and grid stability. If you are driven by engineering rigor, operational excellence, and real‑world impact, this role offers a uniquely meaningful leadership opportunity.
The Telecommunications Manager is responsible for all activities concerned with planning, direction, selection, acquisition, design, installation, performance and maintenance of ensuring highly reliable telecom services that support SCADA, protection, control, and field operations. This requires continuous monitoring of industry trends and evolving technologies.
The Telecom Manager will lead the telecom team (engineers, technicians, vendors) and align telecom strategy with OT, IT, and corporate environment where Telecommunications continues to be an innovator and leader in advanced technology to continue to shape the industry and unleash value for the company, its owners and Vermont. The Telecom Manager will be accountable for managing multiple projects and their respective budgets involving cross-functional project teams.
Position Summary
The Telecommunications Manager is responsible for the design, operation, and continuous improvement of carrier‑grade telecommunications services supporting VELCO’s Operational Technology (OT) and enterprise environments.
This role oversees daily operations, long‑term network strategy, staff and vendor management, and multiple concurrent projects. The Manager ensures telecommunications services meet stringent availability, resiliency, performance, and recovery objectives, aligning telecom architecture with OT, IT, cybersecurity, and corporate strategy.
How You Will Make an Impact
You will lead the modernization and operation of a statewide fiber optic and radio communications network, blending legacy infrastructure with modern transport technologies while maintaining uninterrupted service. You will establish operational discipline, performance metrics, and service management processes consistent with carrier and Tier‑1 network environments.
Your leadership will directly enable:
Reliable real‑time grid monitoring and control
Safe and effective field operations
Regulatory compliance
Long‑term scalability and technology evolution
Key Responsibilities
FunctionalManagement
Manage Telecommunications staff and contractors to ensure the successful performance of work in accordance with project plans, permits, and company requirements.
Owns the design and operate telecom with utility grade reliability and redundancy (path diversity, failover, environmental hardening) for real time OT applications (protection and control, SCADA, substation automation, and field communications, including coordination with system operations and engineering).
The Telecom Manager will develop strong peer relationships with leaders in the Telecommunications/OT environment and throughout the company to ensure consistent alignment with business expectations and commitments.
Develop customer services, RF radio services, and maintenance programs to include predictive asset management strategies including the proper data analytics tools.
Develop Carrier interconnections and advance external business opportunities. through forecasting future technology requirements based on analyses of trends and business requirements.
Develop a technical vision that supports VELCO’s corporate vision with its fiber optic network expansion and statewide radio system. Perform cost/benefit analyses of potential technology solutions.
Develop and maintain budgets and schedules for departmental Oversee daily operations: monitoring, incident response, troubleshooting, outage management, and change management for telecom services.
Own telecom standards, documentation, and policies (architecture, configurations, diagrams, procedures, as built records).
Establish, monitor and maintain systems and teams KPI to track performance metrics (availability, latency, incident trends) and drive continuous improvement initiatives
Provide business and technical consultation to management, users and staff.
Oversee purchasing equipment and supplies in accordance with the company’s Procurement policy.
Staff Management
Actively lead, mentor, and coach Telecom team members while fostering a positive environment with a focus on delivering quality work.
Plan, evaluate, and improve the efficiency of the department management processes and procedures to enhance safety, speed, quality, efficiency, and output.
Develop work, development plans and schedules to effectively manage the Telecom team.
Leading knowledge sharing and training for the Team; including personnel development and technical training in support of VELCO’s succession management expectations.
Lead employees to meet VELCO’s expectations for productivity, quality, safety and continuous improvement, while operating in accordance with corporate and departmental policies and procedures.
Actively support the company’s strategic initiatives in support of the company’s mission, vision, and values.
Leverage data analytics and monitoring tools to identify risks and drive improvements.
Maintain understanding of personnel-related laws and regulations and internal policies and procedures sufficient to compliantly manage assigned workers.
Maintain employee work schedules, including assignments, vacations and sick time, and overtime scheduling and authorization. Ensure timecards are completed accurately, in a timely manner and in compliance with internal rules and wage and hourly laws.
As vacancies occur work with leadership and Human Resources to recruit, interview, select, hire, and onboard new employees.
Oversee daily operations: monitoring, incident response, troubleshooting, outage management, and change management for telecom services.
Other duties as assigned.
Ideal Background
This role is well‑suited for leaders with experience in:
Carrier‑grade or service‑provider networks
Fiber transport, RF/microwave, and large‑scale IP networks
24x7 critical infrastructure or utility environments
Operating networks where availability and recovery are mission‑critical
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, information technology, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
3+ years of leadership experience managing technical people, vendors, and complex technology in a 24x7 operations environment.
7+ years of progressively responsible experience in telecommunications engineering or operations, including experience with fiber, microwave, radio, and IP networking; utility or other critical‑infrastructure experience strongly preferred
Knowledge & Skills
Proven record in strong leadership, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills in addition to personnel management.
Knowledge of Telecommunications technologies, software, and hardware, including but not limited to enterprise data and voice systems, SONET, DWDM, Carrier Ethernet, fiber optic and microwave networks, and trunked two-way radio systems.
Experience in managing telecommunications systems supporting mission critical infrastructure, preferably in utility or industrial controls spaces.
Proven record in establishing, monitoring and maintaining Key Performance Indicators for physical systems and overall team management.
Ability to deliver complex and technical information to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated technical operational technology and telecommunications skills along with analytical and problem-solving abilities with high attention to detail are also required.
Superior written and verbal communication skills at all levels and operating areas.
Strong customer focus with the ability to maintain a high level of trust and confidence in OT’s services from the Operational Technology and Telecommunications team as well as internal and external customers.
Solid project management, strong analytical and critical thinking as well as creative problem-solving skills.
Experience in performing event reviews and data-centric analytics, including Root Cause Assessments (RCAs).
Physical/Mental Demands
Must be able to perform typical administrative functions which may involve long periods of keyboarding and periodically of scanning, filing, copying, etc.
Must be able to maintain fast pace while completing complex work, in potentially emotionally- fraught situations, with competing priorities, within tight timelines and with frequent interruptions.
Must be able to work additional hours when necessary.
Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
Valid driver’s license required, and periodic in-state travel required.
Compensation Range:
$120,224.00 - $144,268.80 - $168,313.60/salary
This compensation range represents the minimum, midpoint and maximum pay for this position. Individual offers will be based on various factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, education, skills, competencies, and experience. Please note that most offers for new employees fall under the midpoint of the range, allowing room for continued salary growth. Base pay is just one component of our total compensation package, which may also include comprehensive benefits, generous paid time off and incentive compensation (bonus) potential.
Important Considerations
Visit Velco.com for additional information on VELCO culture, benefits, and the recruiting process.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and ALL qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
VELCO is handling all aspects of talent acquisition internally and will not engage the services of third-party staffing agencies, recruiters, or headhunters. We kindly request that these entities refrain from contacting us.
Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successful reference check, background check (including social media check), physical examination, drug screening.
If you need an accommodation as part of the application or interview process, please send a request to careers@velco.com