Josef Knauf

About Josef Knauf

I design operational systems that reduce delivery risk, compress timelines, and preserve field intelligence, without increasing headcount.I didn’t take a traditional path into telecom or leadership. I grew up working first on job sites with my family, then in manual labor roles that taught me responsibility long before adulthood. I left school early and built my life through hard work, not credentials. When I entered telecom, I started at the bottom with no training and learned everything the hard way: climbing towers in brutal weather, troubleshooting equipment at height, and carrying responsibility when mistakes had real consequences.Those years shaped how I operate today. My leadership style was forged in the field through long days, dangerous conditions, and environments where integrity, competence, and accountability mattered more than titles or slogans. I don’t lead from theory. I lead from lived experience: protect your team, fix what’s broken, make clear decisions, and take ownership when things go wrong.As I moved into construction and project management, I learned to bridge two worlds: the realities of field work and the expectations of corporate operations. I focus on clarity, execution, and reducing waste, and I advocate for the skilled people who keep this industry running but are too often overlooked.I bring an older style of leadership to a modern industry: direct, disciplined, grounded in purpose, and committed to building systems that actually work. My goal is simple: to improve processes, support strong teams, and drive high-quality outcomes through real-world understanding, not corporate catchphrases.

Experience

1. Construction Manager - Project Management

   American Tower

   Dec 2021 — Present

   Overseeing cellular site projects for T-Mobile remotely across the Great Lakes region, including Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee. Responsible for coordinating with multiple general contractors, ensuring they have the necessary resources to successfully complete projects. Provide regular project updates to T-Mobile, ensuring alignment with established timelines and objectives-Created a virtual scoping system to eliminate truck rolls-Created a Copilot agent to streamline processes and reduce workload, practical AI use, not theory or hype.

Education

• Walkright Bible Institute

  Divinity/Ministry

  2011 — 2012

Skills

• First Aid
• Competent Climber
• Radio Frequency (Rf)
• Cpr Certified