Director, Operations

Urban Grid Solar Projects, LLC•Houston, TX

16d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 will build trust through disciplined execution, transparent reporting, and consistent delivery of results aligned with the company’s mission. 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. This position owns end-to-end operational execution across the asset lifecycle, including onboarding new projects and leading transition from construction through care, custody, and control to long-term 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
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
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Visa sponsorship or transfer visas, including H-1B or L-2, are not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing large-scale solar and BESS portfolios preferred

Responsibilities

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
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
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
Accountable for execution and closure of all corrective actions required to address performance gaps
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
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
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
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