EPC Preconstruction Manager

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS INC•Rochester, NY

8h•$120,000 - $147,841•Hybrid

About The Position

The EPC Preconstruction Manager leads the preconstruction team and is accountable for each project from sales handoff through Notice to Proceed (NTP) and construction readiness. The role balances preconstruction decisions against total installed cost, constructability, safety, quality, schedule, and project margin. The manager sets priorities and standards, assigns owners, reviews and approves deliverables, removes roadblocks, and drives decisions across Design, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, and Legal for solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. The position partners with Construction from sales handoff through execution, ensuring Construction staff participate in decisions about installation methods, equipment suitability, delivery sequencing, and field execution while maintaining technical compliance and engineering/design standards. The manager operates within written delegated authority for spending commitments, awards, change orders, and contingency use, records approvals, and escalates unresolved conflicts or decisions outside that authority to the Executive Director of EPC. The manager leads, hires, and develops a preconstruction team that includes Designers, Project Engineers, Professional Engineers, a Procurement Specialist, and a Preconstruction Sourcing Lead. The position oversees project handoffs, design and engineering packages, equipment procurement, subcontracting, budgets, schedules, commercial requirements, NTP closeout, construction readiness, and turnover to Operations. The manager is accountable for ensuring projects are turned over on schedule, within budget, and with all NTP conditions closed. The role is primarily desk-based in an office or remote setting, with occasional visits to project sites, including active solar construction sites. Site visits may involve uneven terrain, varying weather, construction noise, and proximity to operating equipment; compliance with site safety procedures and use of required PPE are expected. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, with additional hours as needed. Occasional travel to project sites, up to 5% of the time, is required, along with a valid driver's license and ability to travel.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in solar, renewable energy, or electrical construction.
At least 3 years of people-management experience, ideally managing designers, engineers, or procurement staff.
Track record of accountability for commercial solar and BESS projects of 1–20 MW from contract execution through NTP.
Proficiency in budgeting, cost forecasting, and critical path method (CPM) scheduling using MS Project or Primavera P6.
Working knowledge of design, engineering, equipment procurement, and subcontracting sufficient to review, challenge, and approve team work.
Working knowledge of EPC contracts, utility interconnection, authority-having-jurisdiction permitting, and the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Demonstrated people leadership, including hiring, team building, delegation, coaching, and accountability for quality and deadlines.
Demonstrated ownership of NTP dates and budgets, including when others perform the work.
Ability to align Sales, Development, Construction, Finance, and Legal around a unified plan.
Commercial judgment, including careful contract review, early risk identification, and support for vendor and subcontractor negotiations.
Technical fluency in photovoltaic system design, electrical balance of system, civil and structural scope, and interconnection sufficient to review team work.
Cost and schedule discipline, including maintaining current baselines and acting on variances early.
Ability to escalate issues promptly with options and a recommendation.
Clear communication with executives, customers, financiers, and field teams.
Ability to oversee projects at different stages simultaneously and direct team priorities.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering, construction management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 5 years of experience in preconstruction, project development, or project management.
PMP, NABCEP PV Installation Professional or PV Design Specialist, PE or EIT, or DBIA certification.
Experience with battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
Familiarity with project finance and tax-equity closing requirements, including federal tax-credit compliance related to prevailing wage and apprenticeship, domestic content, and begin-construction rules.
Experience with state incentive and solar programs in New York, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Experience with Acumatica or a similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for project budgets and cost tracking.

Responsibilities

Lead, hire, and develop the preconstruction team, including Designers, Project Engineers, Professional Engineers, the Procurement Specialist, and the Preconstruction Sourcing Lead.
Assign team members to projects, balance portfolio workload, and establish clear deliverables and due dates.
Set team standards, templates, and quality assurance/quality control reviews; set performance goals, coach direct reports, and conduct performance reviews.
Ensure each sold project undergoes a formal sales-to-preconstruction handoff validating scope, budget, schedule, site data, and customer commitments.
Accept complete handoffs and approve the preconstruction baseline, including budget, schedule, NTP conditions, and an owner for each deliverable.
Be accountable for design packages from preliminary design through issued-for-construction (IFC), ensuring they meet applicable codes and requirements of authorities having jurisdiction, utilities, customers, and financiers.
Ensure design supports permitting, interconnection, and procurement schedules; require constructability and value-engineering reviews with Construction and approve design changes against budget.
Establish procurement strategies and need-by dates for major and long-lead equipment, including modules, inverters, racking or trackers, transformers, and switchgear.
Ensure the Preconstruction Sourcing Lead maintains a qualified, competitive bench of vendors and subcontractors; review bid leveling and approve or recommend awards.
Identify and mitigate supply risks, including tariff, trade-compliance, and domestic-content requirements.
Ensure scopes of work, bid packages, and subcontractor prequalification—including safety, licensing, insurance, and bonding—meet company standards.
Approve or recommend subcontract awards and confirm appropriate prime-contract flow-downs before execution.
Own project budgets from sold estimate through approved construction baseline, protect sold margin, review commitments, forecasts, and contingency, and report variances with recovery plans.
Approve preconstruction change orders within delegated authority limits.
Ensure Project Engineers maintain integrated preconstruction schedules through NTP and mobilization, covering design, permitting, interconnection, procurement, financing, and contract milestones.
Manage the critical schedule path, drive recovery actions, and escalate schedule slippage.
Ensure compliance with prime contracts and related agreements, including EPC contracts, PPAs or leases, interconnection agreements, and financier and incentive-program requirements.
Track and meet contractual milestones, notice deadlines, liquidated damages, insurance, bonds, and security requirements; partner with Legal on contract review.
Close all NTP conditions, including permits, interconnection approvals, site control, IFC design, executed subcontracts, equipment orders, and financing conditions; certify and present the NTP package for approval.
Sign off that projects are ready to build, with IFC drawings, permits, executed subcontracts, confirmed equipment delivery dates, secured site access, and baselined budgets and schedules.
Ensure complete turnover of projects to Operations and relevant internal and external stakeholders once NTP conditions are met.
Facilitate weekly preconstruction meetings and drive decisions to closure across Sales, Development, Construction, Finance, and Legal.
Report status, risks, and decisions needed to leadership, customers, and financiers; continuously improve the preconstruction process across the portfolio.
Operate within written delegated authority for spending commitments, awards, change orders, and contingency; record approvals and escalate unresolved cross-functional conflicts or decisions outside authority to the Executive Director of EPC.
Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the position's scope and applicable requirements.

Benefits

Weekly pay
Quarterly bonus potential based on company performance
401(k) profit sharing plan
Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
Contributions toward medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and health deductible expenses for employees and covered dependents
Flexible work schedule and hybrid work arrangements
Three weeks (120 hours) of vacation time, plus flexible paid time off after the first year
12 days (96 hours) of paid sick leave
Eight paid company-wide closure days
Company-issued cell phone or reimbursement
Professional growth opportunities through training and development programs
Annual company retreat
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support and counseling services
Pet-friendly work environment