Project Manager Commercial

Job Summary

The Project Manager has the overall responsibility to ensure that our most technically complex and challenging Commercial Solar & Battery Storage Projects are completed successfully; including high client satisfaction, exemplary safety and quality, projects costs managed to budget, on-time completion, and in accordance with the contract milestones. The PM will provide oversight to multiple projects and their associated project teams. The PM position is responsible for the management, or the assistance of managing, all phases of project planning and execution to ensure all project success factors are met, including but not limited to scope, schedule, cost, quality, environmental, safety, communications, security, and integration.

This position typically is assigned to multiple solar projects of varying type and size. These projects are typically between $500K and $10M with a moderate to high level of complexity. The PM serves as the unifying agent providing leadership, management, direction, coordination, and control of the overall project in accordance with the established policies, procedures, systems, and requirements of Sunspear. This position is considered a leadership position; minimum qualifications must be met to be placed within this position.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead and manage a team of project planning professionals, including EPC Contracts, Project Engineering, Permitting, and Construction fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.

• Hold team members accountable for providing deliverables on time and maintaining quality of work standards.
• Serve as a mediator and support system in resolving conflicts or disputes within the project planning team or with external stakeholders, fostering positive working relationships and maintaining project momentum.
• Champion a culture of safety within the project planning team and across project sites, emphasizing the importance of safety protocols, training, and adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Lead with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to ethical business practices, serving as a role model for the team and upholding the company’s values and culture.

Process Implementation & Improvement

• Oversee project planning activities from project inception to award, ensuring alignment with project goals, timelines, and budgetary constraints. o Evaluate and continually improve systems and processes to effectively meet customer requirements and profitability goals.

• Drive process improvements and implement best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of project planning operations.
• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in project planning and project management, sharing knowledge and insights with the team to drive innovation and improvement.

Development Support, Estimation and Cost Management

• Ensure the Project Planning team is communicating and collaborating with the Development team to ensure all activities and deliverables are being completed within the parameters of the project schedule and requirements.
• Review initial project cost estimates from the Development team to identify the costs provided fully represent the project scope of work.
• Help to coordinate a smooth handoff process from the development team to the planning & operations team.
• Track project costs vs. budgets, work with accounting team to create job costing metrics and implement cost control measures to drive profitability.

Pre-Construction 

• Oversee engineers and/or EOR on design build projects to an efficient design that meets the project requirements.
• Review, interpret and evaluate drawings pre and post installation.
• Utilize AutoCAD as necessary to assist with design mark-ups during the revision stages and alleviate bottlenecks during the project engineering phase.
• Develop, & implement processes and procedures to ensure expedient project engineering phase timelines to accelerate the timing of submission to AHJ’s for approval. 
• Hold engineering firm and EOR accountable to meet deadlines for AHJ submissions.

Construction Planning and Risk Evaluation

• Aid in the development of comprehensive project execution plans, identifying potential risks and mitigation strategies to ensure successful project execution.

• Provide input on project schedules and provide insight on durations and relationships of activities.
• Work with internal team members to perform functions such as Procurement, Engineering, Legal, Health & Safety, Project Finance, Development, Sales, among others to ensure alignment on project needs, expectations, and constraints.
• Understanding self-perform construction means and methods to adequately plan projects and provide technical teams with optimization and value engineering efforts.

EPC Contract Management

• Review and intimately understand EPC contracts to ensure Sunspear is meeting all requirements and ensuring that the team executing on the EPC contract is accountable per the contract’s guidelines.
• Collaborate with legal and procurement teams to negotiate and execute EPC contracts, ensuring compliance with company standards and legal requirements.
• Lead commercial negotiations with clients, vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers to secure favorable terms and pricing for project materials and services. 
• Initiate customer billings and negotiate appropriate change orders.

Client & Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Communicate with clients proactively and professionally often to identify and define project description, timeline, and scheduling other project related activities.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, engineers, and regulatory agencies, to facilitate communication and ensure project alignment.
• Manage expectations with clients to ensure project success while forging lasting relationships with the client to promote repeat business.
• Engage with local AHJs to understand requirements and present Sunspear as a partner of the community.
• Support Subcontractor relations including: scheduling, subcontract management, communications, job reporting and compliance.

Departmental Management

• Structure, lead, and/or assist in leading all project related meetings and reports required to ensure open communication between all team members, key stakeholders, and management (weekly project reviews, kickoff meetings, weekly reports, monthly reports, etc.) and to properly report project status. Assure that Project Plan, all appropriate reports and reporting means are developed and managed according to Sunspear Standards. Present reports to appropriate management / governance team skillfully.
• Support the team through organizational changes, ensuring smooth transitions and effective adaptation to new processes, technologies, and project requirements.
• Make strategic decisions regarding resource allocation, project prioritization, and risk management, leveraging expertise and input from the project planning team and other key stakeholders. 
• Take ownership – Develop and build strong teams for each project while delivering quality output, meeting customer expectations, managing to scope, delivering on time, and delivering within budget.

Qualifications and Skills

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management, – or
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering or
• Bachelor’s degree in Architectural and Building Technologies or
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Strong customer service and communication skills and ability to provide exceptional customer experience at all times
• At least five (5) years of construction project management experience, preferably in renewable energy projects, preferred
• Proficient with MS Office Suite: Teams, Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Strong math and analytical skills with sharp attention to detail
• Ability to operate proficiently within the in-house computer software programs
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, editing, and proofreading skills required
• Be highly organized and able to work with deadlines
• Participate in training modules to ensure constant learning goals to increase renewable energy and construction management knowledge base
• Proficiency to Expertise in Project Management, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving
• Project related work experience
• Risk Management
• Project Leadership
• Strong Collaboration
• Utility Experience
• Construction Management knowledge
• Electrical Design Knowledge
• Proficiency to expertise in project related Scheduling (such as MS Project)
• Cost Controls (such as Procore)
• Utility Technical Certifications/Training
• PMP or CAPM Certification preferred
• CMII/Construction Certifications preferred

Working Conditions

• Hybrid – Work will be performed from company office, remote as needed, and on jobsite locations after the onboarding period.
• Inter-island travel may be required (mostly day trips)

Why start an exciting career with Sunspear?

• Be part of a fast-growing company (Top 3 in Hawaii for 3 consecutive years), within a fast-growing industry that provides a valuable service of helping clients save money while simultaneously promoting sustainability.
• Company growth opens doors for career advancement, and we love to promote from within.
• A mentorship environment with a strong team of industry veterans to learn from and who will encourage you to be successful!
• Bonuses for sending us referrals!
• We’re a dog friendly company (dogs allowed at the office)
• As a company, we have built a positive and family-style culture within the organization; we pride ourselves on a fun team atmosphere with result-based incentives.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, we comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.