Strategic Fiber Planner

Job Title: Strategic Fiber Planner

Location: Markham, ON (Remote)
    
Estimated Duration: 12 Months

Our client is. is Canada’s leading rural Internet provider, focused on delivering reliable, high-speed broadband—via fibre, 5G, satellite, and fixed wireless—to underserved communities. The company is seeing a major evolution through ambitious infrastructure investment and government partnerships aimed at bridging the digital divide in rural Canada.  We are looking to hire a
Sr. Strategic Fibre Planner to work on an initial 12-month contract assignment with an excellent chance to extend for more term.  This decision will mostly be based on the performance in the role.  We are looking to hire this person for our client immediately.  This is a fully remote role with the team spread across various markets in Canada. 

The role:  Strategic Fiber Planner
Location: Remote with preference for Eastern or Atlantic time zones for alignment with leadership.
Position Overview
Our client is seeking a Strategic Fiber Planner to join their Network Strategy team. This role is responsible for evaluating, defining, and maintaining high-level Fiber network designs that enable detailed engineering and construction planning. The successful candidate will also play a key role in network acquisition assessments, cost modeling, and supporting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.
Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-level reference designs for fiber access and distribution networks.
• Serve as the primary owner of reference designs, business case assumptions, and costing models.
• Update and optimize GIS-based network plans and maintain version control throughout business case iterations.
• Conduct acquisition network evaluations, including synergies, incremental costs, and integration requirements.
• Support RFP responses by assessing design requirements and alignment with existing network strategies.
• Prepare and deliver clean handover packages for design engineering teams.
• Perform onsite inspections to validate acquisition due diligence and CAPEX/OPEX assumptions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Fiber OSP planning with project-level accountability.
• Strong leadership, presentation, and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of:
• Fiber OSP construction techniques and materials.
• GIS software (e.g., QGIS, 3GIS); Comsof tool experience is an asset.
• Fiber OSP design and planning.
• L1/L2/L3 networking fundamentals.

• Basic knowledge of wireless access and backhaul technologies.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and effective in both independent and team environments. Additional Details: 
  • Fiber Network Planning & Analysis:
  • Develop and maintain high-level reference designs for fiber access/distribution   networks.
  • Use GIS tools and integrate data to create accurate budgets, network models, and cost projections.
  • Perform ongoing business case analysis to determine financial viability of builds (cost per household passed, ROI, CAPEX/OPEX).
  • Validate mid-level designs from the fiber engineering team and reconcile deviations against reference designs.
  • Business Case Support:
  • Provide financial input (distances, households, costs) to Finance for ROI modeling.
  • Support acquisition assessments and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.
  • Work with Business Development to evaluate and optimize new and existing projects.
  • Collaboration:
  • Work closely with the Fiber Engineering, Network Strategy, and Data Science teams.
  • Feed analysis into larger business/financial models.
  • Provide guidance to ensure field design changes are captured in updated cases.