ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline represents one of the nation's largest portfolios of solar with integrated storage, capable of providing dispatchable power to 17 million Americans, day and night. With over a decade of industry leadership and strategic investment from KKR and EIG, Avantus delivers affordable, reliable clean energy solutions that meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for the Sr. Project Manager, Construction position. The Sr. Project Manager will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to Director, Construction. The successful candidate is responsible for supporting day to day Construction team functions from early-stage development through construction and commercial operation for a portfolio of projects. Along with development support, the Sr. Project Manager supports procurement, construction, management of the engineering and permitting milestones required for project financing and successful construction of the project. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

EPC Contracting:

• Responsible to ensure safety priorities are reflected in the contracting.
• Support EPC procurement from initial bid through EPC Agreement execution.
• Coordinate across functional teams and consultants for the development and negotiation of key project documents for EPC contracting.
• Support overall EPC proposal process, including ownership of overall RFP schedule and accuracy and completeness of EPC responses.
• Work closely with procurement team to ensure equipment packages are coordinated with EPC partners.

Pre-Construction Project Management:

• Coordinate with engineering team on project diligence required by financing processes and independent engineers.
• Manage distribution and review of design and technical submittals from EPC partners to ensure cross functional sign off.

Construction Management:

• Ensure that the site is being constructed with safety as number one priority, being inquisitive about safety issues and safety wins for the site being managed.
• Work independently to identify and avoid/mitigate potential cost impacts and schedule delays are either avoided or mitigated. Lead and provide recommendations for path forward with internal team and executives.
• Act as the day to day project lead representing Avantus
• Maintain project internal accounting database (Cashflow and project details) for accuracy.
• Support Project Director in responding to Project Buyer/equity partner concerns are addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
• Work with Onsite construction managers to understand project status, forecast risk, and identify potential obstacles to projection budget and schedule
• Communicate openly and effectively with all project stakeholders
• Ensure contract compliance with all relevant project agreements.
• Produce and manage project reporting to lenders and sponsors.

Development support for project pipeline:

• Manage coordination between engineering and cost estimating teams, ensuring project constructability and cost-effective solutions are pursued.
• Review project development schedules and ensure that EPC timelines are appropriate.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, cashflows and milestone dates.

Travel

• Travel to the job sites and offices as necessary to complete job duties.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, business, or construction management.
• 5+ years of EPC management and contracting experience, preferably in solar development or utility infrastructure projects.
• Experience working for a utility-scale solar developer or an IPP.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to evaluate priorities and multi-task accordingly while keeping others apprised of status with respect to deadlines
• Ability to identify problems and discrepancies, independently perform research and analysis of causes, and recommend corrective actions
• Ability to work on multiple projects across various design and construction phases.
• Must be detail and results-oriented with an ability to work in a cross-functional, fast paced, and constantly evolving environment as well as extended hours, as required
• Team player to work in concert with the development team, finance team and engineering and procurement teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• The ability to realize/focus toward the big picture under pressure.
• Self-starter. Quick learner. Ability to take on tasks with general directions/guidance.
• Positive and growth-oriented mindset.

NICE TO HAVES

• Scheduling software (Primavera and/or MS Project) experience a plus.

#LI-Hybrid

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline represents one of the nation's largest portfolios of solar with integrated storage, capable of providing dispatchable power to 17 million Americans, day and night. With over a decade of industry leadership and strategic investment from KKR and EIG, Avantus delivers affordable, reliable clean energy solutions that meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for the Director, Construction position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to VP, Construction.

The Director, Construction role is responsible for leading the day-to-day EPC team functions from design through commercial operation for a portfolio of projects.  The Project Director is responsible for the overall successful construction of the projects.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Construction Management:

• Overall commercial lead during the construction of a portfolio of projects.
• Provide strategic analysis and direction to internal team to support company goals on portfolio. 
• Prepare and present polished presentations to executives for major stage gates and risk review
• Manage the internal support team for each project: direct-report Project Managers, external consultants, and cross-functional team members. 
• Proactively control cost, cash flow, and schedule through risk mitigation and change order negotiation.  
• Manage relationships with EPCs, equity partners, and other key counterparties.
• Manage Owner Furnished Equipment deliveries and connections to other project-level contracts.
• Manage commissioning of PV + solar projects to ensure the project is successfully meeting milestones in LGIA, PPA, and financing agreements.  
• Lead negotiation and execution of all change orders, amendments, and consultant contracts during construction. 
• Ensure team compliance with internal processes and develop new processes to help standardize internal approach. 
• Develop and maintain project budgets, cashflows, and milestone dates in internal reporting tools. 

Pre-construction Support: 

• Provide feedback and lessons learned on contract terms and exhibits.
• Support Pre-construction team through RFP review, constructibility review, and budget/schedule input.  
• Work closely with procurement team to ensure equipment packages are coordinated with EPC partners. 
• Ensure contractors and consultants provide key technical deliverables for permitting efforts and financing processes. 
• Manage EPC scope execution before full start of construction (design, early site work, long-lead procurement). 
• Coordinate with internal team on diligence during financing.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, engineering, environmental science, law or construction management.
• 10+ years of experience in construction project management in solar development or utility infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage and mentor a lean team. 
• Experience with a solar developer or IPP preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to evaluate priorities and multi-task accordingly while keeping others apprised of status with respect to deadlines.
• Ability to identify problems and discrepancies, independently perform research and analysis of causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Ability to work on multiple projects across various design and construction phases.
• Must be detail and results-oriented with an ability to work in a cross-functional, fast paced, and constantly evolving environment as well as extended hours, as required.
• Strong team player skills to work in concert with the development team, finance team and engineering and procurement teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Schedule software such as MS Project or Sitetracker experience a plus.

#LI-Remote

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline represents one of the nation's largest portfolios of solar with integrated storage, capable of providing dispatchable power to 17 million Americans, day and night. With over a decade of industry leadership and strategic investment from KKR and EIG, Avantus delivers affordable, reliable clean energy solutions that meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The VP of Design and Cost Engineering is responsible for leading the HV Engineering, Development Engineering and Estimating teams, focused on derisking development pipeline and maximizing project value through technical and costing expertise. This role reports to our EVP, Engineering and Construction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

This role manages and is responsible for team associated with all technical design and costing needs prior to equipment selection and EPC contracting.  Expertise is required across HV gen-tie and substation, PV and BESS design and costing. This role is highly cross-functional, and requires management of direct internal team, external engineering consultants and project team activities and peers. It combines depth of technical and commercial knowledge with the ability to drive design and estimating strategy in line with project and business needs.

• Oversees design and cost engineering work across entire pipeline, spanning full development lifecycle.
• Support project and site diligence, managing internal resourcing and external consultant strategy for engineering studies and drawing packages pre-EPC contracting in support of internal assessments, or LGIA or permitting processes.
• Ability to manage and assess projects with different layers of uncertainty, with ability to drive process and tools to accurately assess land, layout and costing considerations with limited information.
• Create engineering related project budgets and 3^rd party scopes for Engineering studies (hydro, Geotech, etc), and for design work to support LGIA and permitting processes.
• Identify issues and gaps in processes and analysis, work with key stakeholders to algin towards next steps and solutions
• Effectively communicate deeply technical subject matter considerations, opportunities and risks to project teams, functional leads, and executives in a manner appropriate for audiences.
• Develop and maintain in-house estimating tools across all technologies that are dynamic for automation and design and pricing iteration and automation
• Understand cash flow considerations related to equipment and EPC contracting.
• Ability to work and coordinate in highly cross-functional manner across key stakeholders (Development, Optimization Engineering, Storage Engineering, Procurement, EPC, and CM)
• Ability to identify Value Engineering and project design derisking strategies across full development lifecycle.
• Manage and maintain relationships and strategy for use of 3^rd party consultants and EPC negotiations and contracting.
• Ability to understand and maintain historical data to inform future pricing work
• Understanding of key design codes and requirements
• Delegate and oversee large team of diverse expertise, training and coaching them to drive value into portfolio of projects.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or direct experience at an engineering consultant or solar or BESS contractor
• Knowledge of engineering studies, codes and requirements, and best practices for solar design and EPC construction
• Highly cross-functional individual, with ability to manage project level details and align team to project and company goals.
• Ability to assess and giving pricing and design guidance at varying levels of site diligence, with understanding of uncertainty.
• Have working knowledge of commodity pricing, labor rates, and union rates
• Ability to interact and communicate well with individuals in all areas of the company and outside stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently take the initiative to lead discussions around unresolved issues, ensuring clear direction and correct resolution.
• Competency with process improvement, relationship building, written and verbal communication, and critical thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and perform job tasks independently in an unstructured remote environment with limited direction.
• Maintain the highest standards of conduct and integrity in all dealings inside and outside the organization.
• Ability to professionally manage highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Ability to work well under pressure with multiple competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, Power Point, and various other business applications.

#LI-Remote