| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Energy and Solar |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Solar Projects |
| Direct reports | Solar Project Engineer, Commissioning Engineer, Site Supervisor |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in solar or infrastructure projects |
Solar Project Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Solar Project Manager
Department: Energy and Solar
Reports to: Head of Solar Projects
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Solar Project Manager delivers a solar project from award to commissioning, owning its cost, schedule, quality and safety. They plan the project, manage contractors and procurement, run site execution, and drive commissioning and grid connection. The role reports to the Head of Solar Projects. A good solar project manager commissions the plant on time and budget to design performance, keeps the site safe, manages contractors and materials tightly, and hands over a plant with complete records to operations.
Key responsibilities
- Plan the project schedule, budget, resources and procurement from award.
- Manage EPC contractors and vendors to deliver milestones on time and quality.
- Run site execution of civil, structure, module, cabling and electrical works.
- Control project cost and track spending against the budget.
- Ensure engineering, design and quality standards are met at every stage.
- Own site safety, permits to work and safe practice throughout construction.
- Coordinate commissioning, testing and grid connection with the utility.
- Manage changes, risks and claims with the commercial and design teams.
- Report project progress, cost and risks to the head of solar projects.
- Hand over the commissioned plant to operations with full documentation.
Requirements
- Engineering degree in electrical, civil or mechanical
- Project management training is an advantage
- Solar construction experience
- 6 to 10 years in solar or infrastructure projects
KRAs and KPIs for a Solar Project Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| On-time commissioning | Project commissioned by the committed date |
| Budget | Project delivered within the approved budget |
| Quality | Plant meeting design performance ratio on commissioning tests |
| Safety | Zero lost time incidents on the site within the safety target |
| Contractor delivery | Contractor milestones met with rework and delay below target |
| Handover | Complete handover documentation delivered to operations at closeout |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Project scheduling software, AutoCAD and PVsyst, Cost and procurement trackers, Quality checklists, Commissioning test kit.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Project Manager, Head of Solar Projects, Projects Director
Interview questions for a Solar Project Manager
- How do you plan a solar project schedule from award to commissioning?
- How do you keep a project on budget when material prices move?
- How do you manage a contractor who is missing milestones?
- How do you plan and run commissioning and grid connection?
- How do you keep a construction site safe?
- Tell me about a project you delivered and its biggest hurdle.
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What does a solar project manager do?
A solar project manager delivers a solar project from award to commissioning, owning its cost, schedule, quality and safety. They plan the project, manage contractors and procurement, run site execution, and drive commissioning and grid connection. They hand over a plant that meets design performance, on time and budget, with complete records for operations.
What is the difference between a solar project manager and a plant manager?
A solar project manager builds the plant, delivering construction and commissioning. A solar plant manager runs the plant after it is commissioned, focusing on operations, maintenance and generation. The project manager hands over to the plant manager at completion. One is about delivery, the other about long term operation.
What qualifications do you need to be a solar project manager?
Most solar project managers hold an engineering degree in electrical, civil or mechanical, and project management training helps. Employers look for solar or infrastructure construction experience, skill in schedule, cost and contractor management, knowledge of solar engineering and commissioning, and strong site safety leadership through the build.