Director, Operations

Job Summary

The Director, Operations is a highly visible leadership role responsible for driving operational performance, safety, and value optimization across a portfolio of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) assets. This role serves as the primary operational leader internally and externally, interfacing with executive leadership, investors, partners, and third-party service providers. The Director, Operations is critical to delivering Sustainable Operational Excellence through safe, compliant, and performance-driven operations, reinforced by a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Visibility
  Serve as the operational face of the portfolio to senior leadership, investors, and external partners
  Provide clear, data-driven insights on performance, risks, and optimization opportunities
  Build credibility through consistent delivery, transparency, and disciplined execution
  Accountable for communicating operational performance, risks, and mitigation strategies to internal and external stakeholders

• Safety Leadership & Culture
  Champion and embed a proactive, zero-compromise safety culture across all operations
  Ensure safety is integrated into all operational decision-making and vendor expectations
  Partner with HSE to continuously improve safety performance and compliance
  Accountable for enforcing safety standards across all teams and providers, with authority to halt operations where unsafe conditions exist

• Portfolio Performance & Accountability
  Accountable for delivering portfolio performance against budget, contractual obligations, and operational targets, including:
  Availability and reliability
  Production / generation performance
  Forced outage reduction
  Drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize uptime and asset value

• Root Cause Resolution & Performance Improvement
  Ensure all underperformance is investigated and resolved in a timely and structured manner
  Accountable for translating root cause findings into executable actions and ensuring full resolution across the portfolio
  Partner with Reliability Engineering to implement technical recommendations and performance improvements

• O&M Oversight & Vendor Accountability
  Provide full oversight of third-party O&M providers with clear KPIs, SLAs, and performance expectations
  Accountable for identification, prioritization, and execution of all site repairs and corrective work that fall outside the scope of O&M contracts and OEM warranties
  Conduct structured performance reviews and enforce corrective actions
  Accountable for ensuring O&M providers execute in accordance with defined standards, maintenance programs, and reliability strategies
  Drive standardization and disciplined execution across all operating assets

• Asset Lifecycle & Project Onboarding
  Lead onboarding of all new assets into the operating portfolio
  Partner with Construction and EPC teams to support:
  Commissioning and punch list closure
  Documentation readiness
  Warranty tracking and enforcement
  Lead transition through care, custody, and control (CCC)
  Own operational readiness decisions and provide final approval for transition from construction to operations, including acceptance of operational risk

• Cross-Functional Execution
  Partner with Asset Management to align operational execution with commercial and financial objectives
  Collaborate with Reliability Engineering, SCADA/OT, and HSE teams to deliver integrated solutions
  Serve as the primary execution bridge across construction, engineering, and operations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience in renewable energy, power generation, or infrastructure operations
• Direct experience managing utility-scale solar and/or battery storage assets
• Strong experience in O&M oversight and vendor performance management
• Proven track record of delivering operational performance across multi-site portfolios
• Experience engaging with senior leadership, investors, and external stakeholders
• Experience managing large-scale solar and BESS portfolios preferred
• Knowledge of ISO/RTO markets (e.g., ERCOT, PJM, MISO)
• Familiarity with SCADA systems, performance analytics, and reliability engineering practices
• Experience supporting construction-to-operations transitions and portfolio onboarding

Location

Hybrid in Houston, Texas (4 days in office, Fridays remote).

Key Competencies

• Visible, accountable operational leadership
• Strong safety leadership and cultural influence
• Strategic and data-driven decision-making
• Executive communication and stakeholder management
• Ability to drive disciplined execution across complex portfolios

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account, company-paid life insurance and short-term disability, voluntary life, and long-term disability
• Paid paternal leave
• A retirement plan with matching contributions