Director, Local Government Relations

Position
Title: Director, Local Government Relations

Base Salary: $139,400
to $197,700 annually DOE

Bonus: Target
annual bonus

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

Ziply
Fiber is seeking an experienced, strategic leader who will lead a capable team
of Local Government Relations Managers who are experts at conveying complex
information and ideas across multiple jurisdictions with a wide variety of
opportunities to find success. Our Director, Local Government Relations will
support multiple states in a collaborative team environment under the
supervision of the Vice President – Regulatory and External Affairs.

Your
team is an integral part of Ziply Fiber’s success in fiber market expansion
through building and maintaining strong relationships with municipal public
works departments, municipal government leadership and other community leaders,
residents, businesses, and internal departments to ensure the organization's
interests are represented.

Internally,
this Director will provide local intelligence of various municipal
expectations, regulations, specifications and laws to inform fiber market
expansion success. The Director of Local Government Relations works extensively
across many of Ziply Fiber’s departments focused on municipal government and
resident/business to positively impact the company’s image and reputation.

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.

Strategy and Policy Advocacy

• Define and
lead the multi‑year local government relations strategy aligned to fiber market
expansion and operational goals across multiple states; translate strategy into
annual plans, budgets, and measurable objectives.

• Monitor,
analyze, and respond to proposed local ordinances, fees, and regulations that
affect fiber deployment; prepare public comments and briefing materials.

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

· Direct,
develop, and scale a multi-state team of Local Government Relations Managers
and specialists; set goals and KPIs, coach for performance, and foster a
culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

· Partner
closely with Network/Outside Plant, Construction, Field Operations, Marketing,
Legal/Regulatory, and Brand/Communications to ensure build readiness, timely
issue resolution, consistent messaging, and positive community outcomes.

Franchise Agreements and Issues Management

· Oversee
negotiation, renewal, and compliance tracking for franchise, right-of-way, and
permitting agreements with municipalities; maintain a central record of
jurisdictional requirements, terms, and key dates.

· Serve
as an escalation point for high-profile community or government issues,
coordinating the multi-disciplinary response and elevating major matters to
senior leadership for decision; partner with Communications on media strategy
and with Legal/Regulatory on sensitive matters.

Other Duties

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

Required Position Competencies:

- Strategic leadership - Demonstrated ability to set vision,
establish multi‑year plans, and convert strategy into executable roadmaps
with clear KPIs and outcomes.
- Executive communication and influence - Polished, persuasive communicator with
experience briefing C‑suite and public officials; adept at simplifying
complexity, negotiating alignment, and managing high‑stakes conversations.
- Government affairs expertise - Deep knowledge of local government
processes related to permitting, right‑of‑way, inspections, and pole
attachment/joint‑use; proven success improving timelines and standardizing
practices across jurisdictions.

- People leadership - Track record building and leading multi‑state
teams; coaching, performance management, and talent development with an
emphasis on accountability and engagement.
- Stakeholder and relationship management: Proven ability to build
durable, trust-based relationships with community, public, and government
leaders and staff.
- Negotiation and conflict resolution - Skilled in negotiating
agreements and resolving escalations with municipalities, utilities, and
third parties under time and reputational pressure.
- Risk and crisis management - Ability to anticipate risks, develop
mitigation plans, and lead coordinated responses to protect operations and
brand.
- Program and project leadership - Ability to
orchestrate complex, cross-functional initiatives with clear milestones
and accountability.
- Analytical and policy skills - Ability to read, analyze, and
interpret ordinances, franchise agreements, regulations, and contracts,
and to translate them into clear guidance for internal teams.

Required Qualifications:

· High school diploma or GED.

· Bachelor’s
degree in public administration, political science, business, communications,
law, or a related field required, or equivalent experience in local government
relations, government affairs, or telecommunications.

· Minimum
of seven (7) years of progressive experience in local government relations,
including permitting, right-of-way, and franchise matters.

· Minimum
of five (5) years of people leadership experience directing, coaching, and
developing a team, including experience leading managers and multi-state or
multi-jurisdiction teams.

· Demonstrated
knowledge of, and hands-on experience with, state and local broadband and
telecommunications policy and regulatory issues.

· Demonstrated
experience implementing public policy and compliance programs.

· Must
have experience in the telecommunications industry or public utilities.

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

· Willingness to travel regularly across the multi-state
service territory and to attend evening or weekend council, commission, and
community meetings as needed.

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Ability
to work independently and use sound judgment on jurisdictional, regulatory, and
franchise matters.

· Ability to manage multiple jurisdictions at once and meet
critical deadlines as priorities and schedules change.

· Strong
verbal and written communication and attention to detail.

· Ability
to provide excellent service to municipal officials, community leaders, and
internal partners.

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.

This position requires regular
travel across the multi-state service territory to meet with government
officials, attend council, commission, and community meetings, including
evening or weekend meetings as needed, and support field operations.

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.

Ziply Fiber is a drug free workplace.