Director of Operations - Utility Scale Solar

Hays Electrical Services • Full-time • 1w ago

Position Summary
The Senior Project Manager — Utility Solar is responsible for the overall commercial, contractual, and administrative management of one or more utility-scale solar (and where applicable, BESS) construction projects. This role reports to the Director of Project Management and works in close, ongoing coordination with the Project Executive on strategic/client matters and the Electrical Manager on electrical scope, procurement, and technical risk. The Senior Project Manager owns risk management, change management, contract compliance, and deliverable/reporting cadence across the project(s), acting as the primary point of accountability for keeping projects contractually sound, financially healthy, and transparently reported to leadership and ownership.
This is a senior individual-contributor/management role with a strong emphasis on risk management, change management, contract and deliverable management, and reporting — distinct from, and complementary to, the field leadership chain (Area Superintendent/Senior Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/Foreman).Key Responsibilities
Risk Management

Own the project risk register: identify, assess, quantify, and track risks (schedule, cost, contractual, interconnection, supply chain, labor/union, weather, permitting) throughout the project lifecycle.
Lead regular risk review sessions with the project team, Electrical Manager, and Project Executive; escalate high-severity risks to the Director of Project Management promptly.
Develop and maintain risk mitigation and contingency plans; track effectiveness and adjust as conditions change.
Proactively identify emerging risks from field operations, procurement, subcontractor performance, and client/owner communications.
Maintain risk-adjusted forecasts for schedule and cost, and clearly communicate risk exposure in leadership reporting.

Change Management

Manage the full change order lifecycle: identification, documentation, pricing, negotiation, and closeout, in accordance with contract terms.
Maintain a change log/tracker reflecting status, value, schedule impact, and approval stage of all changes.
Partner with the Electrical Manager and field leadership to substantiate scope changes, delays, and impacts with accurate backup documentation.
Negotiate change orders and time extensions with owners/clients and, where applicable, subcontractors.
Ensure timely submission of notices, claims, and change requests per contractual notice provisions to protect the company's contractual position.

Contract & Deliverable Management

Serve as the primary owner of contract compliance for assigned project(s), including prime contracts, subcontracts, and purchase agreements.
Track and manage all contractual deliverables (submittals, schedules, insurance/bonding, permits, interconnection milestones, as-builts, closeout documents) to ensure on-time delivery.
Monitor contract terms related to payment, retainage, liquidated damages, warranty, and indemnification; flag exposure areas to leadership.
Coordinate with legal/contracts staff on contract interpretation, disputes, and claims as needed.
Manage subcontractor contracts and compliance, including scope, insurance, and payment/billing requirements.

Reporting

Own the project reporting cadence: prepare and deliver regular (weekly/monthly) project status reports to the Director of Project Management, Project Executive, and Electrical Manager.
Report on schedule status, cost/budget performance, risk exposure, change order status, and key deliverable/milestone tracking.
Prepare executive-level summaries and dashboards for leadership and, where applicable, client/owner reporting.
Maintain accurate project financial forecasts (cost-to-complete, earned value, margin) in coordination with project controls/accounting.
Ensure consistent, accurate documentation practices across the project team to support audits, claims, and closeout.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Coordinate closely with the Electrical Manager on electrical scope risk, procurement timelines, and technical change impacts.
Support the Project Executive on client/owner relationship management, particularly around commercial and contractual matters.
Partner with the Area Superintendent/Senior Superintendent field leadership team to align field execution with contractual and commercial requirements.
Interface with procurement, engineering, and commissioning teams to ensure deliverables and milestones are tracked and met.

Team Leadership

Manage and mentor Project Managers, Project Engineers, and Project Coordinators assigned to the project(s).
Review and approve subordinate PM work products (change orders, reports, contract correspondence) for accuracy and completeness.
Support staffing and resource planning for the project management team across assigned project(s).

Required Qualifications

Minimum 8–10+ years of project management experience in construction, with at least 3–5 years specifically in utility-scale solar (or comparable large-scale EPC/energy infrastructure) projects.
Demonstrated, hands-on experience managing project risk registers and mitigation planning on large capital projects.
Strong track record managing change order processes, including negotiation and contractual notice compliance.
Deep understanding of construction contract structures (EPC, fixed-price, cost-plus, etc.), including payment, claims, and closeout provisions.
Proven experience building and delivering executive-level project reporting (status reports, dashboards, forecasts).
Experience managing project financials (budget, forecast, earned value, margin).
Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and clients/owners.
Proficiency with project management and reporting tools (Procore, MS Project, Primavera, Power BI, or similar).
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

PMP certification or equivalent.
Experience with utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project delivery.
Prior experience working directly with Electrical Managers/Engineering on interconnection and technical scope risk.
Experience in a company using both union and non-union labor, with familiarity with related contractual/labor risk considerations.