Bob Snowden
Knaresborough,North Yorkshire
Summary
Bob is a well-seasoned Delivery/Project professional within the digital infrastructure industry with over forty years of hands on engineering and management experience in the deployment of telecommunications construction, data centre, power and fibre optic network builds.
Bob has a good business development acumen with an excellent attention to detail as well as good planning and programming skills and has won over £280 million of project bid work in the digital infrastructure construction industry.
A leader in significantly reducing costs from both construction and network fibre installation builds as well as reducing materials costs from cable suppliers.
Bob is experienced and successful in developing and rolling out project strategies for network infrastructures on outside plant and long haul fibre optic and the construction of networks and tower builds and electrical projects including identifying and sourcing available high voltage power sources.
Bob has managed projects in excess of £100 million GBP and also managed large teams of planning, surveying, construction, installation and commissioning engineers of up to 470 team members. Extensive knowledge of planning and integrated design experience of building outside plant optical fibre networks for Metro, FTTP, data centre, long haul and business critical networks for highways and railway telecoms infrastructure.
OSP Project Professional who is an experienced leader with a broad range of knowledge in installing telecommunications systems and supporting network OSP infrastructure. Full turnkey design, planning and build out of ducted fibre optic networks, construction of cable chambers street side cabinets, data centres and mobile tower base stations for 3G/4G/LTE/transmission. Seasoned professional with focus on leading delivery teams and optimising project outcomes.
Achieves operational excellence through strategic planning, resource management, and fostering team collaboration. Excels in driving innovation and continuous improvement to meet client expectations and business objectives.
Results-driven Delivery Head leveraging strategic thinking and leadership to drive operational excellence. Spearheaded transformative projects, enhancing delivery timelines and client satisfaction. Known for fostering collaborative teams and improving service delivery standards.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of engineering
Metro Technologies Ltd
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
11.2024 - Current
- Maintained technical knowledge through continued professional development programme participation.
- Identified high voltage power availability for tier 3 edge data centres.
- Ran a funding round as a new data centre entrant for tier 3 edge data centres.
- Created information memorandum to assist in future funding rounds.
Head of Delivery
Spring Fibre Limited
Reading
03.2024 - 11.2024
- Kept accurate files and documentation in line with company-established standards and regulatory requirements.
- Maintained smooth-running business operations by delegating priorities to staff abilities.
- Investigated issues affecting group operations, prepared reports and helped correct problems.
- Oversaw inventory management, accurately anticipating needs for optimal production output.
- Streamlined supply chain through effective BOM management, generating cost savings and implementing a better quality
- Built relationships with stakeholders through outstanding client management skills.
- Liaised with project management team to implement objectives.
- Defined problems and scoped, analysed and prepared strategic solutions.
- Oversaw staff operations, training and performance to accomplish objectives.
- Established team and project goals, tracking performance and evaluating necessary changes.
- Created productive collaboration and communication with all levels of senior leadership.
- Identified initiatives not meeting targets and worked with executing teams to find solutions.
- Implemented strategic engineering plans to strengthen company's market position.
Procurement & Build Consultant - Fibre Builds
Freelance
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
10.2023 - 02.2024
- Contributed to development of contractual arrangements and competitive procedures through deep diving research and understanding the industry in-depth
- Helping Alternative Network Operators significantly reduce both contractor build and installation costs as well as bringing down the cost of materials from supply chain.
- Led development of innovative procurement strategies against defined target areas.
- Analysed and developed procurement plans with cost-effective solutions and increased purchase power.
- Helping analyse construction and build designs to bring down costs of materials.
- Built productive relationships with stakeholders, communicated updates and sought mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Facilitated project delivery by procuring raw materials and supplies.
- Monitored supply chain activities to validate quality of goods procured.
- Communicated with staff at all organisational levels to assess current systems.
Managing Director
Swish Fibre Yorkshire Ltd
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
01.2022 - 09.2023
- Management and ownership of a franchise deal which forms part of Fern Trading's £1 billion investment in the FTTH sector across Jurassic Fibre, Swish Fibre, Giganet and All Points Fibre brands.
- Alignment of fibre deprived area's across North Yorkshire serving the rural forgotten with high speed internet.
- Managed the entire network piece including data centre connectivity and network mapping across points of presence.
- Through hard negotiants managed to reduce our contractor and telecoms materials supply chain costs significantly compared to our parent company spend.
- Supervised budgets and timelines, ensuring progress met project scope targets.
- Generated and achieved regional revenue goals, exceeding targets within company growth strategies.
- Interpreted underlying risks, business needs, client requirements and cost structures to increase forecasting accuracy.
- Kept accurate company records, upholding compliance with regulations and company policies.
- Trained and mentored managers to cultivate cohesive leadership team.
- Updated policies and procedures to strengthen controls within different departments for improved operational standards.
- Controlled spending to achieve 40% reduction in outgoing costs when budgeting the CPPP costs.
- Managed team performance, celebrating successes and identifying areas to improve.
Head of Fibre Delivery
Comvergent Ltd/Solutions 30 UK
Chester
04.2021 - 12.2022
- Responsible for managing sub-contractor engineers as a tier one build partner to Alternative Network Operators.
- Assisted the Sales and Commercial team in building up tenders for new bids.
- Introduced a lean procurement process to reduce both contractor build and installation costs as well as going back out to market for fibre cable and associated IT infrastructure material reduction.
- Generated a new order book from previous experiences in the fibre optic build industry.
- Forecasted sales trends to plan team resourcing.
- Oversaw daily operations to achieve the productivity levels.
- Supported teams by demonstrating respect and willingness to help.
- Generated Key Performance Indicator reporting to drive better performance.
- Kept appropriate stock levels to match expected demand from the client.
- Composed and submitted status reports to management.
Managing Director
Optic Networks Ltd
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
07.2016 - 01.2021
- Championed organisational values and operational standards to inspire staff belief in long-term vision.
- Created innovation that drives greener engineering values in the telecoms infrastructure network.
- Cultivated strong work culture and high standards to drive employee retention and performance.
- Networked with vendors, suppliers and transport carriers to capture best value for money.
- Led teams to pursue Continued Professional Development, challenge existing systems and surpass established goals.
- Validated critical documentation and upheld robust reporting practices.
- Oversaw logistical planning through careful coordination with vendors, suppliers and carriers.
Managing Consultant
BS Consulting Services
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
08.2008 - 07.2016
- Generated innovative solutions to risk based on fibre optic project knowledge and understanding.
- Worked as pricing ambassador advising multiple tier one suppliers on best practice tender build ups.
- Renegotiated outsourced contracting works on fibre installation builds to reduce overall costs.
- Rolled out large large scale fibre optic build projects as lead consultant relating to materials procurement and vendor selection.
- Drafted and submitted status reports to management.
- Prepared business research and financial reports for executive meetings.
- Identified new clients and emerging business opportunities to boost revenue including power and rail telecoms.
- Broadened connections with business networks for company growth and development.
- Completed profitable projects in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
- Provided consultancy expertise to other departments to encourage successful teamwork.
- Wrote and customised proposals for new projects to deliver requests of clients.
- Troubleshot complex operational issues by diagnosing root causes and devising effective solutions.
- Managed daily operations of department to maintain timely deadlines.
- Established business opportunities with existing and new clients.
- Presented complex information to diverse audiences with clarity and confidence.
- Reduced operating costs by merging and restructuring teams.
- Encouraged development of clear objectives and action plans.
Head of Delivery & Operations
McNicholas Construction Services Ltd
Elstree, Hertfordshire
12.1995 - 08.2008
- Developed, recommended and implemented strategies to improve employee work quality and speed in an external telecommunications environment.
- As business unit leader won some £280m of project bid work with one project being a £105m win. These projects were full design and build fibre, construction, data centre and campus environments.
- Led a workforce of over 470 engineers and civils operatives on some of the largest UK's fibre optic network builds.
- Made savings of over £500k by carefully reselecting cable and sub-duct vendors for our design and build projects.
- Developed, recommended and implemented strategies to improve employee work quality and speed.
- Minimised discrepancies by effectively training employees on best practices, policies and procedures.
- Monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
- Increased department profitability by reducing operations costs.
- Managed and motivated high-performing teams for successful KPI attainment.
- Implemented corrective actions after collecting and analysing customer and employee feedback.
- Reduced expenditures by implementing inventory control measures and improving organisational operations.
- Cut company operating budgets through improved staffing, resourcing and inventory management.
- Drove performance while managing and maintaining customer expectations, quality standards and SLAs.
- Partnered with internal teams to develop new operating opportunities to enhance service delivery.
- Adhered to employee relations processes while recruiting, retaining and developing staff.
- Championed brand leadership position by working with detailed awareness of competitor activity.
- Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
Project Manager
Kvaerner (Telecoms Division)
Leeds, Yorkshire
07.1983 - 11.1995
- Started as a trainee telecoms engineer as a school leaver.
- Promoted to Regional Supervisor after qualifying my apprentice on year four.
- Made promotion to Project Manager after a further year.
- Implemented and maintained appropriate systems to enable successful planning and scheduling.
- Defined risk profiles for each project and prepared contingency plans to minimise business risk.
- Built and nurtured professional relationships with wide range of stakeholders.
- Assured project documentation followed internal quality standards.
- Documented appropriate project plans and controls in line with change lifecycle.
- Managed workforce planning, compiling information for informed decision-making.
- Identified and deployed resources with individual responsibilities for project completion.
- Took charge of new HV electrical work as part of the rail upgrades project.
- Used business intelligence reports to manage project financials, initialise project invoicing and revenue recognition.
- Adhered to project governance cadence and escalation routes.
- Streamlined multiple plans and dependencies across range of teams into single overarching perspectives and plans.
- Led technical delivery teams with in-depth understanding of processes and techniques to deliver high-quality solutions.
- Led meetings with both client and internal teams to facilitate and drive project completion and provide status updates.
Education
Foundation - Prince2 Foundation
University of Leeds
Leeds01.2010
Diploma - Diploma in Management For Utilities
Alliance Manchester Business School
Manchester02.1999
Diploma - Certificate in Management (Business Management)
University of Leeds
Leeds01.1989
Skills
- Business administration
- Operational management
- P&L management
- Project budgeting
- Strategic thinking
- Employee management
- Change management
- KPI management
- Problem solving skills
- Business development
- Business planning
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier negotiations
- Contracts development
- Persuasive procurement
Timeline
Director of engineering
Metro Technologies Ltd
11.2024 - Current
Head of Delivery
Spring Fibre Limited
03.2024 - 11.2024
Procurement & Build Consultant - Fibre Builds
Freelance
10.2023 - 02.2024
Managing Director
Swish Fibre Yorkshire Ltd
01.2022 - 09.2023
Head of Fibre Delivery
Comvergent Ltd/Solutions 30 UK
04.2021 - 12.2022
Managing Director
Optic Networks Ltd
07.2016 - 01.2021
Managing Consultant
BS Consulting Services
08.2008 - 07.2016
Head of Delivery & Operations
McNicholas Construction Services Ltd
12.1995 - 08.2008
Project Manager
Kvaerner (Telecoms Division)
07.1983 - 11.1995
Foundation - Prince2 Foundation
University of Leeds
Diploma - Diploma in Management For Utilities
Alliance Manchester Business School
Diploma - Certificate in Management (Business Management)
University of Leeds
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