Solar Operations & Maintenance Manager at Onward Energy in Bakersfield, CA

Job description

• This position reports to the Solar Regional Manager. The Solar O&M Manager provides leadership and oversight for assigned PV plant sites, with responsibility for safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operations. This role owns overall site performance, budget execution, workforce development, contractor strategy, reliability improvement, compliance execution, process development, and coordination with cross-functional support teams. The Solar O&M Manager ensures that plant objectives are achieved through effective leadership of supervisors and site personnel, strong operational discipline, and continuous improvement of safety, reliability, availability, and cost performance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the highest level of health, safety, and environmental performance through strict adherence to company policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for assigned solar facilities to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.
• Lead and develop Solar O&M Supervisors and site personnel through coaching, mentoring, training, and performance management.
• Establish performance expectations and drive accountability for safety, plant performance, compliance, employee development, and operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of safety, ownership, teamwork, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, environmental requirements, NERC requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.
• Own overall operational performance for assigned facilities, including availability, reliability, generation performance, safety metrics, maintenance execution, and budget performance.
• Develop annual operating budgets and manage site expenditures within approved financial plans.
• Monitor spending trends, forecast operating expenses, and identify opportunities for cost optimization while maintaining reliability and safety expectations.
• Establish facility goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and operational objectives aligned with company targets.
• Lead reliability improvement initiatives through equipment performance monitoring, root cause analysis, corrective action programs, and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Partner with Asset Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Compliance, and the Remote Operations Center (ROC) to improve plant performance and operational efficiency.
• Ensure maintenance programs are implemented in accordance with PV industry best practices, manufacturer recommendations, and company standards.
• Provide oversight of CMMS processes to ensure work order quality, data accuracy, maintenance compliance, and asset history integrity.
• Lead annual maintenance planning, outage planning, major maintenance campaigns, and long-term asset preservation strategies.
• Develop contractor performance expectations and oversee strategic vendor relationships to ensure safe, cost-effective, and high-quality service delivery.
• Review and approve scopes of work, contractor performance metrics, and major maintenance activities.
• Ensure contractor and third-party services are properly managed in accordance with company procurement, safety, and operational requirements.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations including PPAs, LGIAs, service agreements, warranties, landowner agreements, and other operational commitments.
• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve safety, reliability, and long-term asset performance.
• Support fleet-wide standardization initiatives and implementation of operational best practices across assigned facilities.
• Lead staffing, workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational development efforts for assigned regions.
• Provide operational updates, performance reporting, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support audits, compliance reviews, due diligence activities, and regulatory inspections.
• Represent Operations in cross-functional initiatives, capital projects, and strategic business discussions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Power Generation, or related field preferred. Applicable years of experience may substitute for degree.
• Seven (7) years of work experience in operations and/or maintenance in power generation, transmission, and/or distribution, including at least two (2) years in the solar industry and at least two (2) years in a lead or supervisory position.
• Ability to plan, organize, schedule, and direct safe operation and maintenance activities across multiple complex projects or sites.
• Demonstrated understanding of power plant operations, EH&S compliance, budgeting, personnel management, maintenance execution, and performance management.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to promote business initiatives and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite programs and enterprise work management systems.
• Advanced technical knowledge of PV inverters, tracking systems, DC systems, medium voltage equipment, communication systems, and plant controls preferred.
• Ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in the organization and operating environment.
• Self-starter with ability to make decisions and take necessary actions without specific direction.
• Effective time management, organizational skills, multi-tasking capability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Valid U.S. driver license with acceptable MVR history.

Skills

Required

• Self-starter
• Microsoft Office Suite programs
• Enterprise work management systems
• PV inverters
• Tracking systems
• DC systems
• Medium voltage equipment
• Communication systems
• Plant controls
• CMMS processes

Benefits

• Onward Energy’s total rewards philosophy is motivated by a key tenet of People First and offers associates a comprehensive total rewards package, including market competitive compensation, health, life insurance, and retirement savings benefits.
• If you require an accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact recruiting@onwardenergy.com.