Chief Operating Officer (Houston)

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) will play a vital role within the Hanwha Q CELLS USA organization to enable our vision of becoming the leading solar solution provider in the Americas. The COO of EPC will also build and mentor a diverse engineering and construction team, as well as oversee a broad network of suppliers and partners. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and may be designated to another management personnel by the CEO. The position is based in Houston, TX with a hybrid schedule (home office and Houston office) and travel up to 50% of the time. Working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am5:00pm or 9:00am6:00pm local time. 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.

Location: Houston, TX | Department: EPC | FLSA Status: Exempt | Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time | Work Status: Hybrid

Essential Job Function & Responsibilities

Direct and manage all operations for the successful execution of projects, including developing and implementing operational policies and procedures.
Develop and implement a standard operating model, processes and procedures across all operations.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality and safety standards.
Maintain strong relationships with clients and ensure their needs are met throughout the project lifecycle.
Continuously measure and improve operational excellence, adapt and replicate best industry practices across departments to create a highly competitive EPC organization.
Execute successfully on cost reduction programs through optimization of people, processes, and technologies.
Manage and oversee the Procurement, Engineering, and Construction teams and processes, collaborating with counterparts in other geographical regions to develop synergies and standardize components.
Provide engineering and construction expertise to gauge project potential and highlight key risk areas.
Manage day-to-day operations with an action-oriented approach and provide executive-level mentorship and leadership to EPC employees.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Leadership

Lead the operations of the organization (engineering, construction, quality, supply chain, and safety).
Develop and deploy strategies to train the leadership of the operations organization on best practices that improve quality, schedule, cost, and safety.
Partner with other Officers and Senior Leadership to drive long-term strategy and short-term tactical changes.

Construction/Engineering

Ensure all construction and engineering requirements, policies, and procedures are executed to the highest standards per company, industry, and contractual requirements; ensure subordinate teams understand and adhere to these standards.
Lead change management to control project schedule and cost using construction resources (manpower, materials, tools, equipment).
Analyze situations, forecast problems, evaluate options, and implement appropriate actions.
Review design scope and constructability, and submit change recommendations.
Determine manpower plans to attain schedule milestones and monitor craft mixes accordingly.
Monitor productivity and cost, implementing actions to maximize labor productivity and cost-effectiveness.
Control changes/scope creep; document changes and obtain proper change orders before work.
Maintain construction equipment utilization and supply of tools and materials.

Project Execution

Ensure project leadership maintains excellent customer relationships while achieving milestones in cost, safety, and schedule.
Document and communicate change orders to customers; manage change orders and accounts receivable.
Ensure contract requirements are understood and executed by all project team members.
Achieve As-Sold margin and communicate deviations promptly.
Provide on-site support as needed to supervise self-performed and subcontracted work; lead change management to control schedule and cost.
Monitor productivity and cost; maintain effective construction equipment utilization and cost control.

Safety

Uphold the highest safety standards and partner with Safety to implement site safety procedures.
Develop and foster a safety culture on projects; ensure compliance with safety policies and procedures.

Quality

Ensure the construction management organization builds with quality and reduces rework and NCRs through effective supervision; enforce high quality standards and accountability.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in a related field
20 years of experience in engineering or construction
10 years of experience in solar and BESS development
Financial and accounting knowledge
Legal knowledge to review upstream EPCA, subcontract, PO, and TO
Cost management, scheduling, and quality control
Extensive experience designing and building large-scale solar plants, preferably in the Americas, with a proven track record of delivering results
Comprehensive knowledge of all phases of solar PV development (engineering, procurement, construction, project management)
Experience with project developers and understanding of the RFP process
Ability to highlight key risk factors and provide EPC cost estimates
Experience with current solar EPC tools and best industry practices
Proven capability to initiate programs for significant cost reduction and performance improvement
Understanding of solar module manufacturing and O&M is a plus
Ability to manage and lead large technical organizations with many suppliers and contractors
Strong cross-cultural communication with senior leadership
Strategic and action-oriented mindset with continuous improvement drive
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally

Examples of Physical Demands

Stationary position: frequently stationary up to 90% of the time; sitting up to 8 hours/day
Move/traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop, walk
Carry weight: occasional lifting up to 10 pounds
Hearing and speech: regular communication with ability to hear and talk with others
Sight: frequent use of vision for computer and documents
Climb: occasional stair access
Travel: up to 50% as needed

Mobility Barriers / Access to Job Site

Regular professional office setting; potential noise variations by site

Climatic / Environment Conditions at Job Site

Predominantly outdoor climate; exposure to extreme heat/cold, humidity, rain
Noise from tools and equipment; potential exposure to chemicals and hazardous equipment

Hanwha Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable 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. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting a dynamic and evolving work environment.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Hanwha Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits. Please contact us to request accommodations at hr-usa@qcells.com.

Nothing in this statement shall imply a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.

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