The Contract Specialist acts as the central point of contact on assigned proposals to lead and guide the work of the Bids with the Business team. Job Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Reviewing RFQs, RFP’s and RFI’s to ensure compliance with company protocol and standards while creating proposal outlines.
• Preparing Templates and other documents used for collaboration and final response.
• Coordinating kickoff call with members of the Sales, Engineering, and Business Team  to ensure that proposals are presented successfully
• Research and gather information to include corporate information, product information, and other standard materials.
• Maintain, augment, and improve library of reusable components, templates, and processes to reduce response time and improve quality on future bids.
• Print, prepare, and ship final RFP’s. Some occasional travel may be required to get a bid in on time.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Knowledge, and Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the qualifications, knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must possess strong computer skills with proficiency in Word, Adobe, Excel, and Outlook, as well as an aptitude to learn and navigate multiple operating systems. Ability to communicate professionally through all types of media with associates, management, and customers exhibiting poise, composure, and confidence when confronting high-pressure situations. Must have strong attention to detail, be well organized, and reliable. Ability to manage many proposals at once, prioritizing work projects to meet or exceed deadlines while keeping involved parties up to date on the status of the project. Ability to work independently and with a team in a fast-paced and high-volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness. Knowledge and/or experience with RFPIO (or equivalent software programs) beneficial. Education and/or Experience: High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate) with a minimum of two (2) years relevant telecom, sales, or contract experience. Three - five (3-5) years relevant experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

The OSP Make Ready Specialist is responsible for processing all required utility make ready needed to obtain a license in a timely and compliant manner to allow the OSP construction team to safely attach to utility poles. Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Issue utility make ready packages to approved contractors for review and cost estimate.
• Tracks and follows up on pending estimates to ensure they are obtained within strict time frames.
• Communicate with other third party attachers to coordinate additional make ready that may be required.
• Troubleshooting resolutions to decrease delays and/or expenses.
• Actively seeks to develop business rapport with licensing stakeholders, utility representatives, contractors, and vendors, exhibiting professionalism while representing the company.
• Completes purchase requisitions for licensing and make-ready work. Reviews final invoices for accuracy, addressing discrepancies with the vendor.
• Updates both internal and external electronic databases. Maintains files and documentation thoroughly and accurately in accordance with company policy and accepted industry standards.
• Communicates make ready and licensing developments with internal departments to keep projects moving.
• Complete special projects and other duties as assigned.

  QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, and SKILLS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the qualifications, knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must have thorough knowledge of applicable outside plant make ready regulations as well as industry standards and procedures. Should possess strong computer skills with an ability to type 60-65 words per minute and be proficient in Excel, Outlook, and Word, as well as have an aptitude to learn and navigate multiple operating systems. Ability to communicate professionally through all types of media with utilities, contractors, municipalities, and associates, exhibiting poise, composure, and confidence when confronting high-pressure situations. Must have strong work ethic, be well organized, and reliable. Ability to work independently and with a team in a fast-paced and high volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:  High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate) with a minimum of two (2) years relevant experience. Associates Degree in business administration, engineering, or related field with three (3) years relevant experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

First Light Fiber is looking for a highly skilled technical sales professional, with deep specialty in Cisco Collaboration Solutions, but strong proficiency in horizontal Cisco technology domains (Routing/Switching, Security, Data Center, Wireless).  Responsible for providing architectural design expertise on high value opportunities.   Collaborate with the sales, leadership, engineering peers, partners, and customers to develop winning and innovative business solutions and proposals by leveraging expertise, technical depth in architectural models and complimentary technologies, services and solutions.  Provides leadership in driving an architectural approach to understanding customer technical and service requirements within area of architectural specialization, including an in-depth knowledge of the competitive landscape.  Business/Market awareness allowing expertise an in-depth understanding to perform a business to technology translation integrating into the overall solution.  Technical advisor for their area to customer/field/partner architecting a long term (multi-year) business built solution. Responsibilities

• Identify Opportunities
  • Support territory surrounding identification of specialized opportunities
  • Support account planning when specialized opportunities are identified, especially on dedicated accounts
  • Impact market awareness by participating in seminars, showcases, public events, etc.
• Develop & Present Solutions
  • Provide technical qualification for opportunity and can expertly recommend a Cisco Validated Design or an alternative solution
  • Actively recommend solutions options for customer and serve as liaison for driving product and solution innovations.
  • Design customized solutions for specific customers and industries within specialty
  • Produce Bill of Materials including all equipment and professional services required for project completion
  • Identify and engage appropriate post-sales support resources to position a service sell
  • Leverage existing business relationships with the Account Team internally, and various technology and business groups within customers' organizations to recommend innovative customer solutions.
  • Provide leadership and guidance in technical responses to customer RFP's. Trial and demonstration support.
  • Perform executive-level presentations for customers, partners, and prospects.
• Close
  • Adjust design based on customer negotiation process
  • Synch with post-sales engineer and provide adequate documentation for clear handoff to post-sales organization
  • Document technology-focused PoC/PoV if applicable to multiple customers and share findings with Solution Architect community.
• Personal & Organizational Development
  • Research and report on Cisco’s competition to develop "best of breed" white papers in area of technology specialization.
  • Publish white papers in specialty area.
  • Seek out opportunities to partner with and mentor less-experienced teammates within specialty, to share leading practices and help strengthen capabilities.
  • Leverage specialty expertise to help address customer concerns/issues and expedite a deal through the sales process.
  • Educate customer-focused resources on revenue opportunities within specialty
  • Promote new and innovative approaches to addressing business challenges and problems.

Skills & Behaviors

• Business Acumen
  • Maintain a detailed-level of expertise of the business economics and trends within specialty, and how Cisco solutions add financial and strategic value.
  • Expert at understanding Cisco vision and technology; articulate the vision from the customer perspective and create unique, novel value propositions around Cisco solutions
  • Expert understanding of customer business drivers and how to map these to a customer network platform, including identification of improvement areas in network design
  • Interact at a senior technical level within an account. Be a trusted technical advisor to the account team and customer
• Technical Acumen
  • Advanced knowledge of Cisco Collaboration Technologies.
  • Strong understanding of internetworking industry trends, including new products and solutions
  • Strong understanding of competitive product and solution landscape and can articulate trade-offs between Cisco and competitor products
  • Advanced knowledge in Routing & Switching
  • Advanced knowledge in Networking Platform Design
  • Expert technical consulting skills, including ability to define trade-offs, ask probing questions, and incorporate customer solutions into a broader technology environment
  • Expert knowledge in solution design
  • CCNP Collaboration preferred. Cisco CCIE Collaboration highly desired.
• Leadership Ability
  • Viewed internally as the lead mentor in providing technical and career guidance for peers
  • Leads internal virtual teams in domain area and actively collaborates to share best practices and areas of technical innovation
  • Able to drive solution delivery for specific opportunity
  • Has responsibility and demonstrates leadership in organizing special interest teams, industry events, and competitive teams.
  • Clearly and succinctly convey information and ideas, including expert executive communication and presentation skills
  • Probe customer business needs with insightful questions and demonstrate ability to recommend appropriate solutions and defend recommendations in a competitive environment
  • Expert at identifying and leading the appropriate resources (internal and external) required to develop and execute major customer strategic initiatives
  • Expertly recognize contentious situations and build consensus both within Cisco and with customer organizations
  • Promote new and innovative approaches to addressing business challenges and problems.

The Senior Network Engineer will provide Layer 2 and 3 expertise, designing the framework to strategically expand our network, while delivering packetized services to carrier and enterprise customers.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze and assess structure and behavior of expanding network systems including interior and exterior routing protocols.
• Author written network Engineering Design Packages including detailed implementation project plans and procedures.
• Collaborate with other operations departments to design approved infrastructure.
• Manage contractors and vendors during implementation phase.
• Provide technical and costing expertise to sales engineering teams during complex network developments.
• Continuously identify, review, and recommend potential opportunities for cost-savings, service quality improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Develop operational strategies such as Service Migration (grooms). End of Life (EOL) management, expansion, and vulnerability mitigation processes.
• Develop Technology roadmaps.
• Serve as the escalation contact during complex outages requiring Layer 3 analysis. 
• Develop and assist in developing Reasons for Outages (RFO) and corrective action plans.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, and SKILLS:  

• Minimum of five (5) years relevant experience in a Service Provider environment utilizing ISIS, OSPF, BGP, and MPLS.
• Experience architecting large scale IP networks and supporting system design as either the lead engineer or as part of a team. 
• Experience with design and implementation of large scale/regionalized Route Reflectors.
• Experience with Carrier Ethernet design/deployment, focused on MEF compliant architectures.
• Experience with equipment and vendors such as Adtran NetVanta, Ciena CES, Cyan Z-Series, Telco Systems, Accedian, and Juniper MX Series.
• Thorough knowledge of Engineering Design Package (EDP) creation and execution.
• Proven ability to manage contractors and vendors.
• Functional working knowledge of Linux/Unix OS variants.

EDUCATION:  

• Bachelor’s degree preferred 
• CCNP Service Provider required

 

The Hosted Phone Implementation Specialist will be primarily responsible for detailing and mapping out the voice service features and call flows for new customers. The The Hosted Phone Implementation Specialist may be called upon at times to assist Account Managers in pre-sales demos and customer retention as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•    Works with customers to evaluate existing telecommunications functionality and translates that into the appropriate hosted voice configuration.

•    Works with other departments as necessary in the process of designing solutions including Operations, Engineering, VoIP, Customer Service and NOC.

•    Provides end user training on all aspects of the system such as handsets, portal, reporting and additional features as needed.

•    Acts as support resource to customer during burn in period before the customer goes live.

•    Provides outstanding customer service throughout the implementation process and ensures a smooth transition to the post install support structure.

•    Must be able to effectively coordinate work / projects and have the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks concurrently.

•    Strong analytical abilities and professional office experience needed.

•    Ability to work well with business partners, customers and vendors.

•    Demonstrate high degree of initiative and self-guided work management.

•    Demonstrate strong desire to develop new technical knowledge and professional skills on a continual basis, expected to be a good team player and responsibly deliver results that benefit clients and the team.

•    This position often requires the employee to think outside of the box to provide the best possible outcome for the customers and coworkers involved in the projects.  Critical thinking skills are a must.

•    All other duties as assigned by Supervisor/ Manager

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

High School Diploma and a minimum of two (2) years relevant telecommunications experience. Four (4) years or more relevant telecommunications experience preferred.