External Affairs Manager - Tampa/St Petersburg Regional Area

Description

Tillman FiberCo is building a 100% fiber network to support the next generation of broadband services. Tillman FiberCo is a portfolio company of Tillman Global Holdings, a holding company focused on building premier digital infrastructure businesses globally. We are currently recruiting for an External Affairs Manager. 

Position Specific Description

This position will be responsible for external affairs in the Tampa/St Petersburg regional area, including government and community relations at the county and municipal levels. This position provides the strategic groundwork for the successful implementation of company policies, initiatives, and objectives by raising awareness, educating, and providing advocacy on behalf of the company to the local and county government, business stakeholders, and general communities.

Requirements and Responsibilities

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key community, public, and local government officials. 
• Establish and maintain relationships with local chambers of commerce, economic development councils, and local community groups.
• Support the business in resolving right-of-way, permitting, pole attachment, and similar issues with municipalities, counties, and third parties. 
• Stay informed and understand the details of the Tilman Fiber network build within assigned areas.
• Support improving right-of-way permitting approval timelines to meet Company deployment targets.
• Identify and coordinate proactive and reactive public messaging /events with the executive leadership team to celebrate Tillman Fiber’s investment and highlight the benefits of the Company’s fiber network.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance community outreach and participation. 
• Monitor local ordinances related to broadband providers, permitting, development, and grants.
• Track and report on key metrics related to community engagement and satisfaction. Stay informed about local issues, trends, and developments affecting the organization.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience working with public sector elected officials and staff
• 2+ years of experience in technology, broadband, telecom and/or utilities industry
• 2+ years expertise in city/county/state government
• The ideal candidate will know about permitting processes and local government agencies
• Existing relationships or the ability to quickly establish relationships and clear lines of communication with local elected officials, policymakers, influencers, decision-makers, and community partners
• High degree of integrity due to the nature of the information involved and visibility of the position
• Strong presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills in interactions at all levels, internal and external
• Ability to travel within the assigned local region as the job demands
• Ability to work nights and weekends to attend meetings and events as required by the job demands
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills