Prevailing Wage Manager
About The Position
QE Solar is seeking a Prevailing Wage Manager to own and lead the company’s prevailing wage and pay compliance program across all operations. This role functions as the enterprise program owner for prevailing wage compliance, including strategy, execution, audit readiness, and cross-functional alignment. This individual will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with Davis-Bacon and IRA prevailing wage requirements across Direct Generation (construction, repowering, EPC-adjacent work), Utility Operations (repair vs. maintenance classification), Medium Voltage Services (skilled electrical work), and Sub-Contractors. This role is critical to protecting tax credit eligibility, minimizing financial risk, and enabling scalable multi-state operations.
Requirements
- 5–8+ years of direct Davis-Bacon / IRA prevailing wage experience
- Proven experience owning prevailing wage compliance programs, not just supporting them
- Deep knowledge of certified payroll requirements, multi-state wage determinations, and subcontractor compliance enforcement
- Experience leading audits and compliance reporting
- Solar, renewable energy, or infrastructure experience
- Experience supporting IRA-related and Davis-Bacon projects
- Regulatory expertise (Davis-Bacon and IRA authority level)
- Program ownership mindset (builder and operator)
- Strong judgment in ambiguous compliance scenarios
- Cross-functional leadership without direct authority
- Audit rigor and documentation discipline
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Tradeseal and/or Rippling
- Familiarity with tools such as LCPtracker, eMars, or similar ERP/payroll systems
Responsibilities
- Own and lead QE Solar’s prevailing wage compliance program end-to-end
- Interpret and apply Davis-Bacon Act and IRA labor requirements
- Establish company-wide standards for wage determinations, labor classifications, and covered vs. non-covered work
- Build scalable frameworks for multi-state operations
- Build and implement SOPs for wage determination selection, payroll validation workflows, and documentation standards
- Recommend and collaborate with stakeholders on system design and improvements (QEST, Rippling, Tradeseal, or other PW vendors)
- Working with the Payroll and Benefits Manager, own the review of certified payroll for internal employees and subcontractors
- Validate wage rates and fringe benefits, worker classifications, and hours vs. scope alignment
- Resolve discrepancies and enforce corrective actions
- Design and enforce subcontractor compliance requirements including contract language, payroll submission standards, and documentation expectations
- Partner with Procurement and Operations to ensure full alignment and enforcement
- Monitor subcontractor compliance performance across projects
- Lead internal and external prevailing wage audits
- Maintain audit-ready documentation aligned with IRS and DOL requirements
- Develop and deliver compliance dashboards and risk reporting to leadership
- Act as primary point of contact for IRS inquiries and Department of Labor audits
- Lead cross-functional initiatives across Business Development, Operations, HR, Finance, Legal/Compliance, and Procurement
- Support externally-facing client relationships as needed
- Serve as the subject matter expert for all prevailing wage matters
- Drive alignment between field execution and regulatory requirements
- Develop and deliver training for Project Managers, field leadership, and HR and payroll teams
- Provide ongoing guidance on worker classification decisions and scope interpretation (repair vs. maintenance)
Benefits
- 100% paid employee premium on health benefits
- additional dependents at low costs and great plans for Health, Dental, Vision, FSA or HSA
- Wellbeing and Employee Assistance
- Perks at Work Marketplace for discounts on gym memberships, classes, tech, vacations, tickets, and more
- Family Building and Adoption Assistance Programs
- Learning & Development Opportunities
- Discounted Life & Disability Insurance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
