Program Director – IKE Smart City Deployment

Location: Columbus, OH or New York, NY 

Company Overview

Orange Barrel Media creates and operates iconic urban media displays and digital infrastructure that advertisers ask for by name in 27 of the top markets in the U.S. Our commitment to innovation differentiates us as a leader in the Out-of-Home industry and drove the development of our sister company, IKE Smart City, which is blazing the way in smart city technology with interactive digital kiosks called IKE. Together, our mission is to improve lives in cities through our media platforms. Our work supporting public art, mobility, equity, and community initiatives can be seen in cities nationwide. We are a place where people are inspired to achieve success, genuinely like each other, and have endless opportunities to grow. We value our associates and have created an environment of inclusion, respect, and fun. We hire and reward top-notch talent who contribute to our unique culture and shared vision. We start and end each day excited about the work we do together and the new challenges ahead. Learn more at www.ikesmartcity.com and www.obm.com

Role Overview

Orange Barrel Media created and is now the overwhelming leader in the smart city media infrastructure industry through its platform, IKE Smart City, now deployed in the 27 largest US media markets and with more on the way.  We are seeking a highly skilled Program Director to lead the design and execution of deployment strategies for digital interactive street furniture kiosks within the public Right-of-Way (ROW) across multiple U.S. markets. This role requires a forward-thinking professional with deep expertise in permitting, utility coordination, and program structuring who can scale operations from site plan development through energization. The Program Director will establish repeatable, actionable processes to accelerate multi-site rollouts and ensure seamless integration into complex municipal and utility environments.

The Program Director will partner closely with Development, Deployment, and Construction teams to meet and exceed IKE’s ambitious deployment goals by streamlining timelines, anticipating and resolving obstacles, and strengthening OBM’s reputation with local jurisdictions and energy utilities. This position has oversight over IKE’s entire construction program, which is active in multiple markets nationwide.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and implement standardized, scalable processes for deploying kiosks in the ROW across diverse regulatory environments and markets.
• Create permitting strategies that allow simultaneous submittals and approvals for multiple sites within and across jurisdictions.
• Provide expert guidance on utility coordination, including commercial power design, meter installations, and optimized paths to energization.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (engineering, legal, construction, operations, and external vendors) to align deployment strategies with organizational goals.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks associated with permitting delays, ROW constraints, or utility interconnection challenges.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for permitting pathways, ROW compliance, and utility engagement to guide market expansion planning.
• Establish performance metrics to evaluate deployment efficiency, permitting cycle times, and energization success rates.
• Build and maintain relationships with permitting authorities, utility providers, and municipal stakeholders to streamline approvals.
• Provide market intelligence on regulatory trends, best practices, and lessons learned to continuously refine processes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in program strategy, permitting, or utility coordination, preferably in ROW or infrastructure deployment (telecom, EV charging, OOH, or similar industries).
• Proven success designing and scaling permitting strategies across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated expertise in utility coordination, energization planning, and power delivery for distributed assets.
• Strong track record of managing complex, multi-market deployment programs with aggressive timelines.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks with creativity and precision.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Engineering, Public Policy, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

Orange Barrel Media creates and operates iconic urban media displays and digital infrastructure that advertisers ask for by name in 27 of the top markets in the U.S. Our commitment to innovation differentiates us as a leader in the Out-of-Home industry and drove development of our sister company, IKE Smart City, which is blazing the way in smart city technology with interactive digital kiosks called IKE. Together, our mission is to improve lives in cities through our media platforms. Our work supporting public art, mobility, equity, and community initiatives can be seen in cities nationwide. We are a place where people are inspired to achieve success, genuinely like each other, and have endless opportunities to grow. We value our associates and have created an environment of inclusion, respect, and fun. We hire and reward top-notch talent who contribute to our unique culture and shared vision. We start and end each day excited about the work we do together and the new challenges ahead. Learn more at www.ikesmartcity.com and www.obm.com