Director, Construction in Markham, Ontario at telMAX

DIRECTOR, CONSTRUCTION

Your Position & How You Will Contribute:

Reporting to the VP, Design and Construction, the Director, Construction will provide strategic leadership and executive oversight for all FTTH outside plant construction, compliance, and inspection activities across multiple programs and regions. This role is responsible for establishing construction standards, contractor performance expectations, and governance frameworks that drive consistency and scalability across all network build activities. As a senior leader, the Director will manage a portfolio of programs through a team of managers and construction leaders, while partnering closely with Design, Project Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Municipal Affairs to support telMAX’s network expansion objectives. The successful candidate will be a strong people leader with deep telecommunications construction expertise, exceptional business acumen, and the ability to translate strategic vision into operational execution.

Responsibilities & Key Duties:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Construction & Compliance Managers, building a high-performing and accountable organization.

• Establish departmental goals, KPIs, performance metrics, and reporting structures aligned with corporate objectives.

• Develop workforce capacity plans to ensure adequate internal resources and contractor availability to support growth targets.

• Promote succession planning, employee development, and leadership growth within the Construction & Compliance organization.

• Contribute to long-term infrastructure expansion strategies and identify new network development opportunities within the region.

Construction Delivery & Financial Oversight

• Oversee construction portfolio performance, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with approved scopes.

• Provide executive oversight of construction budgets, forecasts, labour planning, and capital expenditures, identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.

• Review and approve major change orders, contract modifications, risk mitigation plans, and project escalations.

• Oversee project closeout governance, ensuring all contractual obligations, documentation requirements, and client acceptance criteria are fulfilled.

Vendor Performance, Quality & Compliance

• Drive contractor and vendor performance management programs, including scorecards, evaluations, corrective action plans, and strategic partnership development.

• Develop and implement construction standards, quality assurance programs, and inspection processes to ensure consistent project execution.

• Ensure all construction activities comply with municipal, provincial, and federal regulatory requirements, permitting conditions, and environmental obligations.

• Ensure robust quality control processes validate workmanship, testing results, and as-built documentation prior to project turnover.

• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across all construction operations.

Stakeholder Management & Reporting

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with municipalities, utilities, regulatory bodies, and key external stakeholders.

• Provide regular portfolio updates, performance reporting, and strategic recommendations to the Vice President, Engineering & Construction.

• Identify organizational risks and operational challenges, and implement proactive mitigation strategies.

• Champion process improvements and operational efficiencies that support scalable network deployment.

What You Bring:

• Proven leadership abilities with a demonstrated history of building and developing high-performing teams.

• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to balance operational demands with long-term objectives.

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including executive-level presentations and negotiations.

• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, capital programs, and cost controls.

• Excellent conflict resolution and problem-solving skills in complex, fast-paced environments.

• Deep understanding of contractor management, quality assurance, compliance programs, and construction governance frameworks.

• Ability to drive accountability, performance management, and continuous improvement across a multi-disciplinary organization.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in telecommunications construction, utilities, or infrastructure delivery, including significant leadership of FTTH outside plant programs.

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing managers or multi-disciplinary construction teams.

• Extensive experience with underground and aerial fibre construction methodologies and large-scale network deployments.

• Proven track record managing multiple concurrent construction programs with accountability for budgets, schedules, quality, and safety.

• Strong background in contractor management, contract negotiations, change management, and performance accountability.

• Experience with municipal permitting, regulatory requirements, and utility coordination.

• Proficiency in project management, scheduling, and construction management software platforms.

• Valid driver’s licence required.

Education:

• College diploma or university degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Telecommunications, Project Management, or a related discipline.

• A master’s degree is an asset.

• PMP designation, Gold Seal Certification, CET, P.Eng., or equivalent professional designation is considered an asset.

• Health & Safety certifications and industry-specific telecommunications certifications are considered assets.