Network Maintenance & Construction Technician Trainee

This is a trainee-level position within the telecommunications field, specifically focused on outside network maintenance. The role is designed for individuals to gain job knowledge and competency through the company’s certification programs, education, and hands-on training alongside experienced technicians.

The trainee will support senior technicians by developing a foundational understanding of routine preventative and corrective network maintenance, as well as repairs to field and network facilities that deliver video, voice, data, and wireless services. Detailed instructions and guidance will be provided for both routine tasks and new assignments. Work will be closely supervised, with regular reviews by senior staff to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and adherence to established procedures.

This position may be assigned to any of the following areas as needed to support network repairs:

• →Outside Plant Network Maintenance and Repair. 
• →Inside Plant Network Maintenance and Repair.
• →Outside Plant Construction.
• →Facilities Maintenance and Repair.
• →Core Network Maintenance and Repair.

Develop Basic Knowledge & Skills to: Perform basic construction, installation, routine preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, testing, and repairs of facilities providing video, voice, and data services. Assess field conditions conduct tests and measurements to evaluate signal quality. Manage semi-routine maintenance tasks, identifying deviations from accepted practices and confirming appropriate next steps with senior staff. Collaborate closely with technicians on routine tasks and follow detailed instructions for new assignments, with work closely supervised to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and adherence to procedures. Organize daily workloads effectively, utilizing industry standard test equipment, hand tools, and heavy machinery for the installation, maintenance, and repair of services and facilities. Execute basic preventative and corrective maintenance tasks, including underground cable locating, outage response, rewiring or upgrading facilities, cabling, impairment mitigation, system drive off, and repairs.

Communicate with SMC or Dispatch to update and complete repair or trouble tickets efficiently. Assist with new installations and address trouble tickets promptly to ensure timely service delivery.  Verify accuracy of written work orders, discrepancies, collect payments and customer signatures, and ensure all documentation is updated in a timely manner. Escalate complex issues to the appropriate department, or management team as necessary.

Collaborate with senior technicians to address outages and perform other necessary duties as required.

• Telecommunications experience. 
• Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications. 

This position requires travel and/or access to regulated facilities that require compliant identification. Employees must obtain and maintain the appropriate identification and, when required, successfully participate in and maintain eligibility through applicable background checks in accordance with contractual and federal requirements within ninety (90) days of hire, or within ninety (90) days of any applicable regulatory changes.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and WORKING CONDITIONS:  

• Work includes working inside/outside in typical cold weather conditions.
• Subject to adverse weather and driving conditions; must be able to cope with a remote arctic environment.
• High degree of balance, coordination, and strength needed to ascend, descend, and work atop poles, towers, and ladders with tools and equipment safely and routinely. 
• Work involves heights up to 40 feet on poles, ladders, buckets, or towers up to 250’.
• Work performed below overhead construction and in trenches to 10 feet in depth.
• Tasks performed around high-power electrical conductors and gas lines.
• Work areas can be cramped, dark, dusty, damp, wet, stuffy, sticky, smelly, hot and/or cold. 
• May encounter unrestrained animals/pets.
• Daily moving, traversing, and positioning self on varied uneven or unstable surfaces such as roofs and in trenches, often hampered by weather elements.
• Safely move, transport, position, install, remove, and maneuver equipment, extension ladders, and supplies of up to 70-pound loads occasionally, up to 50-pounds more regularly, up to 20 pounds frequently.
• High degree of dexterity and coordination to operate hand tools and to connect, separate, and twist multiple smaller items daily.
• Visual acuity is necessary to identify, inspect, observe, and assess details at near, mid, and far ranges.
• Ability to clearly distinguish colors for driving, identifying cables or other electrical components, and safety signage.
• Auditory acuity necessary to operate equipment; capable of distinguishing between equipment signals and the human voice often amidst background noises, such as wind, rain, and traffic.
• Ability to tolerate temperature and weather extremes found in the Alaskan environment (fumes and odors, dust, low light conditions, rain, sleet, snow, hail, wind, temperature extremes.)
• Ability to work shifts as assigned, work in standard office/home office setting, and operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas to others effectively.
• Physical agility and effort sufficient to perform job duties safely and effectively.
• Ability to make valid judgments and decisions. 
• Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary. 
• Must work well in a team environment and be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.
• Must be able and willing to work flexible hours including, but not limited to, overtime, on-call, and/or additional time on weekends, holidays, evenings, before or after normal shift hours.
• Travel may be required to perform work in other systems throughout the state.
• Drug Testing: Participation in a DOT or non-DOT drug and alcohol testing program may be required to satisfy conditions of a contract or proposed contract with a business partner or client. This includes pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return to duty, and follow-up testing.
• Fitness For: Duty: Ability to pass a pre-employment or return to work physical and fitness for duty examination may be required to satisfy conditions of a contract or proposed contract with a business partner or client.
• CDL: Commercial Driver License may be required to satisfy conditions of a contract or proposed contract with a business partner, client, or to transport heavy equipment.

The company and its subsidiaries operate in a 24/7 environment providing critical services to Alaskans and may need to respond to public health and safety matters or other business emergencies. Due to business needs employees may be contacted outside of the core business hours to respond to the immediate emergency. As such, you will be requested to provide emergency after hours contact numbers, to include your home and cell phone numbers if you have those services. Culture, Engagement, and Connection: At GCI, we foster an environment where the unique perspectives of our employees, customers, and fellow Alaskans are celebrated. We add value to our community by nurturing and empowering each member of our workforce, ensuring equal opportunities for every Trailblazer. EEO: GCI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other status or classification protected under applicable state or federal law.  DISCLAIMER:  The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. All employees of GCI work in support of the GCI Mission Statement and Declaration of Principles which are located on the GCI Career page and Employee portal.