Manager of Strategic Partnerships

Job Summary

The Manager of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for building, standardizing, and leading a scalable subcontractor management program across the organization. This role owns the full lifecycle of subcontractor engagement-from sourcing and qualification to performance management and continuous improvement-with a primary focus on ensuring subcontractor partners can safely, reliably, and efficiently support mission-critical data center and fiber construction projects.

Unlike traditional subcontractor management roles, this position is not responsible for day-to-day field oversight, but instead establishes the framework, governance, and infrastructure that enables operations teams to effectively deploy qualified subcontractor partners across all markets.

This leader will drive consistency in onboarding, contracting, compliance, and performance evaluation while ensuring subcontractors align with company standards, culture, and long-term growth objectives.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Subcontractor Program Development & Standardization

• Build and implement a company-wide subcontractor management program that standardizes:
  • Onboarding and qualification processes
  • Performance evaluation criteria
  • Compliance and audit procedures
  • Deployment and utilization across markets
• Develop a centralized subcontractor repository in partnership with PMO, including:
  • Capabilities (conveyance, structured cabling, fiber splicing/testing)
  • Geographic coverage
  • Labor capacity and scalability
  • Safety records and historical performance
• Establish tiering/classification system (preferred, approved, conditional, etc.)

Sourcing, RFI/RFP, and Market Expansion

• Lead formal RFI/RFP/RFQ processes to identify and onboard high-performing subcontractor partners
• Proactively source new subcontractors to support:
  • Expansion into new markets
  • Increased demand on existing projects
• Build relationships with union labor networks (e.g., IBEW) and regional subcontractor ecosystems
• Ensure competitive pricing while maintaining quality and safety standards

Qualification, Compliance & Risk Management

• Establish and enforce subcontractor prequalification standards, including:
  • Financial stability
  • Workforce capability and training programs
  • Relevant project experience (data center / mission-critical preferred)
  • Safety qualification, including EMR review, OSHA recordables, safety program, and demonstrated adherence to industry safety standards.
• Implement audit processes to verify:
  • Pre-employment screenings
  • Insurance compliance (GL, Workers Comp, umbrella, etc.)
  • Licensing requirements by jurisdiction
• Standardize and maintain Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and subcontract templates
• Partner with Legal and Risk to review contracts and mitigate exposure

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track subcontractor KPIs, including:
  • Safety performance
  • Quality of installation
  • Schedule adherence
  • Productivity and rework rates
• Conduct regular performance reviews and scorecards
• Implement corrective action plans or removal strategies for underperforming partners
• Drive training and development expectations for subcontractor workforce to align with company standards

Operational Alignment & Workforce Deployment

• Serve as the central point of coordination between subcontractor partners and internal operations teams
• Communicate subcontractor availability and capabilities across all markets
• Support project teams in securing supplemental labor aligned to scope requirements:
  • Ensure subcontractors deployed to projects have the appropriate skillsets, certifications, and capacity

Contract Administration & Financial Oversight

• Oversee subcontract lifecycle including:
  • Contract execution
  • Change order management
  • Invoice review coordination
• Ensure alignment with project budgets and commercial terms
• Support cost benchmarking and identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising quality

Team Building & Scalability

• Develop a scalable organizational plan for subcontractor services as the company grows
• Build and lead a small, high-impact team over time (e.g., regional coordinators, compliance specialists)
• Establish clear roles, processes, and accountability structures within the function

Education and Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or related field
• PMP or similar certification preferred

Experience

• 7-12+ years of experience in:
  • Subcontractor/vendor management
  • Construction procurement or contract management
  • Data center, telecommunications, or mission-critical environments (strongly preferred)
• Proven experience building or scaling vendor/subcontractor programs across multiple regions

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Strong understanding of:
  • Data center construction scopes (conveyance, structured cabling, fiber splicing/testing)
  • Subcontractor contracting practices and risk management
  • Union labor environments (IBEW preferred)
• Familiarity with:
  • RFI/RFP processes
  • Contract structures (MSA, SOW, GMP environments)

Job Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge

• Strategic thinker with ability to build programs from the ground up
• Strong negotiation and commercial acumen
• Exceptional stakeholder management across operations, legal, PMO, and executive leadership
• Analytical mindset with ability to develop performance metrics and reporting frameworks
• High level of organization and process discipline

NTI provides a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance and retirement savings options. For Union employees, pay rates and benefit levels are determined by union classifications which are set by the union.