Risk Lead

Description Title: Risk Lead Department: Risk Management Location: Houston, Texas Supervisor: Director of Project Risk Management FLSA Status: Exempt Position Status: Permanent; Full-time Work Status: Remote RISK LEAD Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Irvine, CA, specializes in providing utility-scale modules, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery energy storage systems (BESS) project development, along with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for solar and BESS projects nationwide. Qcells USA delivers comprehensive turnkey solutions encompassing the entire utility-scale project lifecycle. By choosing Qcells USA for turnkey solutions, customers can reduce uncertainty and risk, leading to enhanced investment returns and contributing to a more sustainable future. Qcells USA’s complete turnkey solutions seamlessly integrate the expertise of our Module, Development, and EPC teams, while ensuring close coordination with other vital internal groups such as Project Finance, Systems Integration, and Legal. This collaborative approach ensures that Qcells USA projects deliver exceptional value and performance. With several multi-billion-dollar investments, Qcells is pioneering the establishment of the only complete module supply chain in the U.S., including the expansion of our Georgia module manufacturing facility, which stands as the largest in the Western Hemisphere. As an integral part of the global Qcells brand, Qcells USA benefits from a legacy of excellence in photovoltaic manufacturing. Qcells is renowned worldwide for its high-performance, superior-quality solar cells and modules. With dual headquarters in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ), Qcells operates under the umbrella of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 company and one of the top 8 business conglomerates in South Korea. Summary The Risk Lead provides independent project-risk oversight across assigned EPC pursuits and projects. Based on business need and individual expertise, the role is assigned a primary focus in Execution, Cost, or Technical risk while supporting the broader Risk Management operating model. Across all focus areas, the Risk Lead identifies material exposure, challenges assumptions and readiness, verifies mitigation progress, and escalates unresolved risk using objective evidence and professional judgment. Project and functional teams retain ownership of their plans, forecasts, technical deliverables, controls, mitigation actions, and business decisions; the Risk Lead provides independent challenge without assuming another function’s delivery accountability. The Risk Lead will report to the Director of Project Risk Management of Hanwha Qcells USA Corp., or another senior management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position is remote, reporting to the Houston office, and working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. Overtime and weekend working hours may be required as needed. This position is expected to travel up to 30%, depending on assigned focus and project needs. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Essential Job Function & Responsibilities Project Risk Identification and AssessmentIdentify and assess material project risks, assumptions, interfaces, triggers, impacts, accountable owners, and response plans across assigned EPC pursuits and projects.Independently challenge whether material risks are sufficiently understood, supported by evidence, and reflected in plans, forecasts, technical decisions, controls, and leadership materials.Evaluate cross-functional dependencies among execution, cost, schedule, commercial, technical, quality, safety, procurement, commissioning, and owner requirements.Verify mitigation progress and residual risk, and escalate exposure that is worsening, unowned, unsupported, or not appropriately reflected in accountable team records and decisions.Assigned Focus — ExecutionAssess site readiness, constructability, access, logistics, labor, supervision, subcontractor capability, equipment, sequencing, productivity assumptions, work packaging, and field constraints.Perform independent reviews of execution plans, mobilization readiness, major work-package readiness, field controls, and recovery strategies.Monitor leading indicators including readiness gaps, productivity variance, rework, material shortages, subcontractor performance, delayed decisions, and interface breakdowns.Challenge execution mitigation and recovery actions for feasibility, ownership, timing, evidence, and measurable effect on project exposure.Assigned Focus — CostReview estimates, budgets, commitments, forecasts, contingency, cash flow, margin, trends, and assumptions to identify and quantify material cost exposure.Challenge estimate basis, quantities, productivity, escalation, allowances, exclusions, contingency, forecast movement, and recovery assumptions using quantitative analysis where appropriate.Assess whether identified exposure is appropriately reflected in pricing, budget, EAC, contingency, forecasts, and leadership decision materials.Challenge cost mitigation and commercial recovery actions for feasibility, evidence, timing, entitlement dependencies, and measurable financial effect.Assigned Focus — TechnicalIdentify risks related to design basis, codes and standards, owner requirements, interconnection, permitting, site conditions, technology selection, equipment compatibility, quality, and performance guarantees.Perform independent risk-based reviews of design maturity, technical assumptions, interdisciplinary interfaces, constructability, equipment selections, studies, testing, and verification plans.Challenge performance, availability, reliability, warranty, deviations, unresolved RFIs, late changes, and other material technical assumptions or uncertainty.Evaluate downstream cost, schedule, commercial, quality, safety, commissioning, and execution consequences of technical decisions and recommend additional review or escalation when warranted.Mitigation, Decision Support, and CollaborationChallenge mitigation actions for completeness, feasibility, accountable ownership, timing, and objective evidence of risk reduction, transfer, recovery, or acceptance.Provide independent risk input to proposals, DRC reviews, contract negotiations, baseline and readiness reviews, project deep dives, recovery planning, and leadership decisions as applicable.Prepare concise risk assessments, trend views, decision briefs, and executive summaries and maintain accurate records of supported risks, actions, escalations, decisions, and evidence.Coordinate with project and functional teams and other Risk Management team members, capture recurring lessons learned, and recommend practical process, control, standard, planning, or governance improvements. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, finance, accounting, quantity surveying, or a related field; equivalent significant field experience may be considered for execution-focused assignments.Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in EPC risk, construction, project management, engineering, estimating, project controls, commercial management, finance, quality, commissioning, or a related discipline, with demonstrated depth aligned to the assigned focus.Strong understanding of the utility-scale EPC project lifecycle and the interfaces among engineering, procurement, construction, project controls, commercial management, quality, safety, commissioning, and project delivery.Demonstrated ability to identify material failure modes or uncertainty and translate them into cost, schedule, commercial, quality, safety, execution, or performance consequences.Experience independently reviewing plans, estimates, forecasts, technical deliverables, readiness conditions, controls, or other complex project information relevant to the assigned focus.Strong analytical, documentation, facilitation, and communication skills with the ability to present concise findings to field, technical, project, and executive audiences.Ability to challenge teams independently and use professional judgment while maintaining effective cross-functional working relationships.Ability to travel to offices, factories, and active project sites and work in construction environments as needed. Preferred Qualifications PMP, PMI-RMP, CCM, AACE CCP/CEP, Professional Engineer license, OSHA 30, quality certification, or another credential relevant to the assigned focus.Experience with utility-scale solar PV, BESS, transmission, substations, SCADA, grid interconnection, or comparable complex EPC infrastructure.Experience supporting independent project reviews, quantitative risk analysis, design assurance, troubled-project recovery, claims/recovery analysis, or other risk-focused work relevant to the assigned focus. Core Competencies Independent judgment and professional skepticismClear executive communication and concise risk escalationCross-functional influence without relying on direct authorityStructured problem solving and disciplined follow-throughHigh attention to detail with a practical, action-oriented mindsetIntegrity, confidentiality, and accountabilityFunctional depth and credibility within the assigned Execution, Cost, or Technical focusEvidence-based risk judgment, lifecycle thinking, and practical mitigation orientation EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a dayMove/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walkCarry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 poundsHearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situationsSight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and farClimb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floorsTravel: up to 30% as needed EXAMPLE OF WORK ENVIRONMENT Regular professional, office business settingNoise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting)Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)Under the Office Mobilization Plan (OMP) policy, the role may transition to an onsite or hybrid arrangement, as determined by business needs and the Head of Department Hanwha Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. It is important to note that the job descriptions provided by Qcells USA Corp are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the positions. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting our dynamic and evolving work environment. We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Hanwha Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations at hr-usa@qcells.com.