Manager, Interconnections

About the role

Qcells is seeking a Manager, Interconnections to lead and manage the interconnection activities for its portfolio of solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), PV + BESS hybrid, community solar, brownfield and greenfield projects across North America. The Manager, Interconnections is responsible for the successful execution of the complete interconnection lifecycle, from early-stage site screening and feasibility assessments through utility studies, agreement execution, construction support, commissioning, and commercial operation. This role serves as the primary interface between Qcells and utilities, ISOs, RTOs, transmission providers, engineering consultants, and regulatory bodies. The Manager, Interconnections will develop interconnection strategies, manage portfolio risks, drive schedule certainty, and support the successful development and delivery of renewable energy and energy storage projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead interconnection strategy and execution for utility-scale solar, standalone BESS, and hybrid PV+BESS projects.
• Act as the primary point of contact for interconnection applications, coordinating efforts between internal teams and external partners.
• Ensure that Qcells follows program rules and design requirements.
• Assist project delivery by managing utility schedules, resources, and communication channels effectively.
• Support projects within PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, MISO, ERCOT, CAISO, SPP, and utility-specific territories.
• Review and negotiate interconnection agreements, facility studies, construction agreements, operating agreements, and related utility contracts.
• Manage utility upgrade cost exposure and project interconnection budgets with the project management team.
• Provide interconnection risk assessments for development, acquisition, and financing activities.
• Develop and maintain portfolio-wide interconnection schedules, forecasts, and reporting for executive leadership.
• Coordinate with Development, Project Management, Land, Title, and Legal teams, as well as utilities and third-party stakeholders, to secure and manage on-site and off-site easements, rights-of-way, access agreements, crossing agreements, and other real estate documents required to support interconnection facilities and utility upgrades.
• Coordinate utility site visits, field reviews, constructability assessments, joint trench and route evaluations, interconnection facility inspections, and pre-construction activities to support timely execution of utility and interconnection scope.
• Identify and escalate risks associated with easement acquisition, land rights, title exceptions, utility access constraints, and third-party property requirements.
• Monitor utility, ISO, regulatory, and program changes across target markets and proactively assess impacts to project schedules, costs, and interconnection strategies.
• Review and interpret interconnection, distribution, and transmission studies to assess system capacity, deliverability, upgrade requirements, and project risks.
• Collaborate with Development, Engineering, and Project Management teams to incorporate utility and interconnection requirements into project design, scheduling, and execution planning.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years of professional experience managing utility-scale renewable energy interconnections, including solar PV, BESS, and PV+BESS projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing interconnection activities from project origination through commercial operation.
• Strong understanding of utility, ISO, RTO, transmission, and distribution interconnection processes.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting interconnection studies, utility requirements, and technical agreements.
• Experience coordinating with utilities, project developers, engineering consultants, EPCs, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and drive issue resolution.
• Proficiency with Smartsheet, MS Project, and other project management software.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineering degree is a plus.
• Experience with PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, MISO, ERCOT, CAISO, and/or SPP interconnection processes.
• Experience with both distribution-level and transmission-level interconnections.
• Experience with generation interconnection studies, transmission planning, or utility engineering.
• Working knowledge of Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) requirements and RTO/ISO procedures.
• Experience negotiating interconnection agreements, construction service agreements, facilities agreements, and operating agreements.
• Experience supporting utility-scale solar, standalone BESS, and hybrid PV+BESS projects.
• Experience coordinating easements, rights-of-way, and utility real estate requirements associated with interconnection facilities.
• Prior leadership, mentoring, or people management experience.
• Experience supporting project acquisitions, due diligence reviews, and development-stage site evaluations.

Compensation

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the anticipated annual base salary for this position is:

• Zone 1 (Bay Area, NYC): $164,400 – $184,900
• Zone 2 (CA, NJ, NY): $150,700 – $169,500
• Zone 3 (All others): $137,000 – $154,100

The applicable salary range is based on the employee’s primary work location. Individual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and other business-related factors.