Senior Manager - Spares Operations

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.

This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

Leads the enterprise Critical Sparing Program, ensuring network and CPE restoration capabilities remain ready, responsive, and reliable through disciplined execution, urgency, and accountability. Owns end-to-end operational performance across equipment availability, expedited fulfillment, logistics, recovery, repair, replenishment, asset lifecycle governance, escalations, financial management, and continuous improvement. Ensures accelerated replacement of out-of-box and service-impacting equipment failures to protect the customer experience, minimize downtime, and enable timely restoration and installation activities. Maintains 24x7 operational readiness for critical customer events, network incidents, emergency response, and business continuity requirements. Partners cross-functionally to drive operational excellence, network resilience, and customer experience.

Work Location

This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

•  Own urgent, disciplined execution across the full spares lifecycle, including fulfillment, transportation, proof of delivery, depot replenishment, reverse logistics, repair/RMA, reclamation, asset recovery, billing, reconciliation, and closure.

•  Establish program governance, operating controls, priorities, and improvement plans that directly support restoration speed, customer experience, service-level commitments, and financial objectives.

•  Maintain 24x7 operational readiness for network and CPE outages, critical installations, severe weather, disasters, and business continuity events as a core member of the Emergency Response Team.

•  Serve as the senior escalation leader for urgent program issues, order failures, DOA replacements, transportation delays, repair constraints, and other customer- or service-impacting events requiring immediate action.

•  Represent the Sparing Program in senior leadership forums, customer reviews, Service Assurance activities, network reliability initiatives, and enterprise operational events where readiness, response, and risk mitigation are critical.

•  Lead managers, analysts, and operational teams with clear accountability, timely decision-making, performance expectations, workforce planning, and succession development.

•  Own performance management and business reviews covering availability, delivery SLA, restoration milestones, repair turnaround, return compliance, freight performance, asset recovery, and capital avoidance.

•  Use analytics, root-cause analysis, and decisive corrective action to resolve process gaps, duplicate orders, high-failure parts, DOA/damage trends, logistics issues, and recurring service risks.

•  Partner with Inventory Planning, Service Assurance and Technology Planning and Engineering on deployed-base analysis, sparing requirements, min/max levels, forecasting, depot strategy, gap mitigation, and capital recommendations; partner with Vendor Quality and Strategic Sourcing on hardware quality, supplier performance, repair effectiveness, and corrective action.

•  Drive automation, predictive capabilities, system integration, and process improvements that improve traceability, reduce manual effort, accelerate restoration, and strengthen operational control.

What We Look For in a Candidate

•  Progressive leadership experience in supply chain, logistics, field services, service assurance, asset lifecycle management, telecommunications, network operations, or a comparable mission-critical environment.

•  Demonstrated ability to lead teams, complex programs, urgent escalations, service-level performance, and cross-functional execution in high-pressure operations.

•  Strong analytical capability with the ability to convert operational data into timely decisions, decisive corrective action, and concise senior-level communication.

•  Preferred experience with critical spares, field operations, service assurance, telecommunications infrastructure, SAP S/4HANA, ERP systems, transportation, inventory planning, OpsConsole, and analytics platforms.

Success Measures

•  Inventory readiness and delivery SLA performance

•  Restoration speed, escalation response, and event readiness

•  Repair turnaround, return compliance, and lifecycle closure

•  Asset recovery, capital avoidance, cost control, and financial accuracy

•  Emergency readiness, operational effectiveness, and continuous improvement

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$132,232 - $176,310 in these states: AL  AR  AZ  FL  GA  IA  ID  IN  KS  KY  LA  ME  MO  MS  MT  ND  NE  NM  OH  OK  PA  SC  SD  TN  UT  VT  WI  WV  WY 
$138,844 - $185,124 in these states: CO  HI  MI  MN  NC  NH  NV  OR  RI 
$145,456 - $193,940 in these states: AK  CA  CT  DC  DE  IL  MA  MD  NJ  NY  TX  VA  WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:

- Benefits (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/benefits-statement)
- Bonus Structure (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/compensation-information)

#LI-Remote

Requisition #: 343570

Life at Lumen

Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.

To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:  
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Privacy Notice

Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.