Local Government Relations Manager

Position Title: Local Government Relations Manager

Base Salary: $85,000 to $120,000 annually DOE

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, flexible spending account, paid sick leave and paid time off, parental leave, quarterly performance bonus, training, career growth and education reimbursement programs.

Ziply Fiber is a local internet service provider dedicated to elevating the connected lives of the communities we serve. We offer the fastest home internet in the nation, a refreshingly great customer experience, and affordable plans that put customers in charge. 

As our state-of-the-art fiber network expands, so does our need for team members who can help us grow and realize our goals.  

Our Company Values: 

• Genuinely Caring: We treat customers and colleagues like neighbors, with empathy and full attention. 
  

• Empowering You: We help customers choose what is best for them, and we support employees in implementing new ideas and solutions. 
  

• Innovation and Improvement: We constantly seek ways to improve how we serve customers and each other.  
  

• Earning Your Trust: We build trust through clear, honest, human communication. 
  

Job Summary

The Local Government Relations Manager supports Ziply Fiber’s network expansion by building strong relationships with local governments, public works departments, utilities, and community leaders. This role serves as a key liaison across multiple jurisdictions, helping navigate permitting, right‑of‑way, construction coordination, and community issues. It also provides critical local insight to internal teams to support timely project execution and maintain positive community partnerships. The position plays a central role in strengthening Ziply Fiber’s presence and reputation as a collaborative and community‑focused infrastructure partner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities listed below are a range of duties performed by the employee and not intended to reflect all duties performed.

Leadership and Issue Resolution

·        Continuous engagement with and understanding the objectives of local leadership (FDC, Field Ops, Marketing) ensuring issues are attended to timely and professionally. Support local leadership in the resolution of right-of-way, permitting, pole attachment/joint use and similar issues with states, counties, and cities and third parties.

·        Work with the local leadership team (FDC, Field Ops, Marketing) on known issues providing support to resolve issues timely.

·        Ensures teams are aware of current field issues, inquirers and work together towards a satisfactory resolution.

·        Focuses on meeting and maintaining consistent service levels.

·        Carefully and thoroughly tracks complaint resolution performance.

Community and Government Relations

·        Cultivating and maintaining strategic relationships with key community, public and government officials.

·        Meeting regularly with mayors, city council members, county commissioners, administrators, and staff of key cities and counties to articulate the Company’s vision and plans and to obtain support for Ziply Fiber’s initiatives.

·        Act as principal contact for Ziply Fiber’s Network Operations team on local government issues and resolution of constituent inquiries.

Stakeholder and Business Engagement

·        Establishing and maintaining relationships with local chambers of commerce, economic development councils, and local community groups.

·        Works with residents and businesses to resolve issues related to all construction efforts and to create a win-win solution for the resident, business, and the company.

Construction and Build Area Support

·        Work with city/county and community for active build areas ensuring we are attending to all issues as they arise.

Other Duties

·        Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.

Required Position Competencies:

• Interpersonal Skills – Focuses resolving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens to others; keeps emotions under control.  Responds promptly to resident/business needs; solicits feedback to improve service; responds to requests, inquiries, issues timely; meets commitments.
  
• Must demonstrate a high degree of personal and professional integrity due to the nature of information involved and the public visibility of this position.
  
• You must thrive working independently as well as with cross functional teams, and you exhibit energy, intelligence, and a drive for success.
  
• Managing People – Includes team in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement. Develops team skills and encourages growth.  Prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently; plans for additional workload and schedule changes, sets goals and objectives; develops realistic action plans.
  

• Takes responsibility for activities; makes self-available to others; provides regular performance feedback.
  
• Ability to effectively present information in one on one and small group situations to residents, businesses, city/county, community and other employees of the organization.
  
• Communication – Writes and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification, responds well to questions, demonstrates group presentation skills, active participation in meetings.
  

• Strong problem-solving, partnership, and collaboration skills.
  
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and analytical abilities.
  
• Extensive portfolio of relationships across state and local government.
  

Required Qualifications:

·        High school diploma or GED.

·        3 - 5 years’ experience working in a customer support centric environment.

·        Demonstrated experience working directly with local governments, public works departments, utilities, and/or agencies involved in right-of-way, permitting, construction oversight, or municipal coordination.

·        Experience navigating governmental processes, municipal codes, public works standards, and utility coordination requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

·        Public policy/compliance implementation experience.

·        Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 Applications.

·        Ability to lead and manage projects and tasks while effectively representing Ziply Fiber is essential. 

·        Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and satisfactory driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

·        Bachelor’s degree preferred. Relevant training or experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

·        Experience in the telecom industry.

·        Experience collaborating with state, county, and municipal officials on infrastructure projects, right-of-way management, or public utilities coordination.

·        Knowledge and understanding of operations teams, outside plant teams is preferred.

·        Knowledge of, and experience working on, federal, state, local, broadband, and telecommunications issues.

·        Familiarity with municipal public works processes, utility permitting workflows, and coordination requirements for fiber or infrastructure deployment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·        Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills to a variety of situations.

·        Ability to multi-task and collaborate effectively with other personnel to meet deadlines.

·        Strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills.

·        Ability to work within critical deadlines.

·        Ability to adjust to rapidly changing priorities and schedules.

·        Ability to provide excellent customer service.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for any employer. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for bending, stooping, sitting, walking, or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to computer screens and requires extensive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and multi-line telephone system. The work is primarily a modern office setting.

At all times, Ziply Fiber must be your primary employer. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, employees may not hold outside employment nor be self-employed without obtaining approval in writing from Ziply Fiber. In holding outside employment or self-employment, employees should ensure that participation does not conflict with responsibilities to Ziply Fiber or its business interests.

Diverse Workforce / EEO:

Ziply Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. Ziply Fiber will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, and the presence of a non-job-related handicap or disability or any other legally protected status.

Ziply Fiber requires a pre-employment background check as conditions of employment. Ziply Fiber may require a pre-employment drug screening.