Design Manager - Telecommunications Position Summary BAAC Construction is hiring an experienced Design Manager to lead the design and permitting of long-haul fibre optic networks across Alberta.

In this role, you will lead internal staff and subcontracted engineering partners, taking projects from route selection through permitting and approvals to issued-for-construction (IFC) packages and as-builts. You will ensure all deliverables meet technical, environmental, regulatory, and permitting requirements, and keep design aligned with permitting, procurement, and construction timelines.

You will also play a key role in building BAAC's internal design and construction specifications, drawing on industry best practices and standards, and provide clear, concise updates to leadership.

This position is ideal for an experienced fibre design leader who knows Alberta permitting first-hand and wants the opportunity to build and shape a design function as the company grows.

Location

Reporting office located in Calgary, Alberta

Projects across Alberta, in both urban and rural settings

Travel to project sites as required

What You'll Do Design Leadership

Lead and oversee end-to-end long-haul fibre design packages across Alberta

Lead route feasibility, detailed path engineering, and the integration of survey and field data

Review and validate:

OSP designs

Bills of materials (BOMs)

Splicing plans

Construction drawings

Crossing details

Help develop and implement BAAC's internal design and construction specifications based on industry best practices and standards

Define as-built requirements and ensure all records are completed and delivered

Permitting & Approvals





Own the permitting strategy and approvals schedule, setting submission priorities so permits are secured ahead of construction

Stage design phases to match approval timelines and environmental constraints

Secure Municipal Access Agreements (MAAs) with municipalities and prepare them for executive review and signature by BAAC leadership

Ensure designs comply with all applicable environmental, archaeological, regulatory, and permitting requirements

Supervise and support the Permitting/Design Coordinator in preparing, submitting, and tracking permit applications and crossing agreements

Subcontractor Management & Tendering

Run competitive tenders for subcontracted design, survey, and environmental services, including scope development, bid solicitation, bid evaluation, and award recommendations

Direct and coordinate subcontracted design firms, surveyors, and environmental consultants, managing scope, deliverables, and performance

Project Controls & Risk Management

Manage design schedules and resource tracking, integrating inputs from design, survey, environmental, and permitting

Align design deliverables with permitting, procurement, and construction dependencies

Proactively identify risks and develop early mitigation to protect schedule and cost, including:





Utility conflicts

Environmental triggers

Routing feasibility risks

Permits at risk

Provide transparent, concise status updates to leadership

Quality & Construction Support

Lead QA/QC processes across fibre, civil, and environmental design packages to ensure accuracy, constructability, and adherence to standards

Support construction by issuing design clarifications and responding to RFIs and field changes

What You Bring Required Experience

Experience in telecommunications design, with significant long-haul or backbone fibre experience

Demonstrated design and permitting experience in Alberta in both urban and rural settings

Proven leadership experience managing internal and external design resources, including running competitive tenders for subcontracted services

Experience securing Municipal Access Agreements (MAAs) with Alberta municipalities

Long-Haul Fibre Design Expertise

Strong working knowledge of:

Backbone fibre routing and OSP design

Strand assignment and fibre management

Splice planning

Aerial and underground construction methods

Constructability reviews and as-built standards

Strong knowledge of industry best practices and standard specifications for fibre design and construction

Experience in ISP design is considered an asset

Alberta Urban & Rural Design

Urban: congested utility corridors, municipal right-of-way requirements, crossings of major infrastructure, and design for traffic and public impact

Rural: road allowance and highway right-of-way routing, private land easements, Crown land, lease roads, bridge, pipe

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