Area Director for Broadband

Company: Communities Unlimited, Inc.
Location: Montgomery
Posted on: November 26, 2022

Job Description:

Communities Unlimited, Inc.


LOCATION NOTE: This is a telecommuter position, requiring the incumbent to be located in one of the following states and be willing to travel, as conditions allow and as necessary, to client locations.
Position: Area Director for Broadband
Immediate Supervisor: Director of Community Sustainability
Mission Focus: Broadband
Classification: FLSA Exempt

Summary of Position
The Area Director for Broadband position manages the implementation of Communities Unlimited (CU) broadband strategy. This area director will recruit, hire, orient and supervise members of the broadband team. This position is responsible for developing and submitting grant proposals, grant budgets that allow the Broadband program to ensure equitable accessibility to infrastructure and funding for disadvantaged families in rural communities throughout CU's footprint.

The main focus areas for this position are as follows:


Working with Director of Community Sustainability (CS) to coordinate planning, development, and implementation of CU's Broadband program;
Provide CS Community Facilitators timely advising for community specific broadband planning development;
Provide via CS Community Facilitators advising to clients/communities on fiber network designs and costs;
Perform financial analyses and modeling of transactions and financial scenarios; aiding development of high-level designs and cost estimate factors;
Research, advise and draft sections of client grant documents and deliverables;
Assist with evaluating bids on behalf of clients;
Contributing to proposal writing for the CS Team related to broadband funding to directly and indirectly impact clients/communities including but not limited to those designed as part of a fiduciary manager;
Field requests from public agencies, private infrastructure developers, and other potential stakeholders and partners across the 7 state region;


Compile quarterly, semi-annual, and/or annual grant and contract reports for funding agencies;
Develop philanthropic and federal funding relationships and write the necessary grant proposals to secure funding for Broadband program;


Develop and manage program budgets to ensure effective and efficient implementation of all program components;
Develop community partnerships and represent CU and the Broadband program as needed in communities;
Develop partnerships with state, regional and federal agencies engaged in broadband development that actively support CU's work;
Collaborate with staff across all program areas and leverage their expertise and relationships in order to build trust in communities and successfully implement the program related strategies;
Collaborate with CU's Communications Team to develop CU's reputation as a broadband leader in rural communities and with partners and funders;


Represent the broadband team on the Operations Leadership Team;
Perform other duties as assigned to meet organizational needs.

Education / Certification Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in business administration, computer science, information technology or a related field. Or any equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties.

Must have a valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle for travel to project communities and in-state / in-region meetings with CU staff, collaborating partners, stakeholder organizations, and legislative staff.

Must be authorized to work in the USA

Experience/Skills Requirements
A minimum of at least 5 years of related professional experience that include:

At least 5 years of senior level experience in management of telecommunications, business, government, or broadband-related "think-tank" or nonprofit, or related industry
At least 3 years of experience supervising staff
Demonstrated experience of successfully managing a project or program budget in excess of $1 million


A successful Area Director for Broadband will be able to:

Seek opportunities and solve problems with a collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit;
Effectively communicate in both written and verbal formats;
Effectively manage staff pursuant to CU policies and grant / contract metric deliverables;
Effectively build and maintain external relationships with philanthropic, state and federal agency staff, collaborating partnering organizations and other stakeholder organizations;
Deliver results in an environment with high-degree of self-directed time management and project management;
Understand and have the ability to interpret financial statements and develop program budgets;
And, deliver high degree of accuracy with attention to detail in work products.


The position requires travel throughout CU's 7 state territory. This travel may average 25 hours per month, driving to communities and may include overnight stays away from the office location. In addition, periodic travel to CU staff meetings and national conferences is required and may be accomplished by the most cost-effective means to CU (private vehicle, air, or other public transportation).
Tools Used in Job
Proficient use of a computer, internet, smart phone (texting, email, photos, videos, social media, and calls), web-based databases for data-entry, Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required. Use of additional software for project related activities may be required and training will be provided.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described above are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Communities Unlimited offers generous Medical/Dental/Vision benefits with the organization paying the significant majority of the cost. Company paid long-term disability; automatic company 401K contribution once new hires are eligible; 401K match; 12 paid holidays; two weeks paid vacation awarded upon hire (Prorated based upon date of hire); new hires begin accumulating sick leave immediately upon hire at a rate of 8 hours per month. Communities Unlimited reimburses all employees for travel expenses.
An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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Keywords: Communities Unlimited, Inc., Montgomery , Area Director for Broadband, Executive , Montgomery, Alabama