Technical Operations Manager

Job Title: Technical Operations Manager Department: Renewables Sector – Solar Principal Responsibilities: As our portfolio of Renewable Energy assets under management continues to increase, we are looking to expand our team by recruiting a Technical Operations Manager to join our Solar team and support the day-to-day management of assets within our portfolio along and provide technical support and performance analysis. The role location is flexible as EMS have offices throughout the UK, however the preferred location for this role is Glasgow. Primary responsibilities of the position are to carry out the day to day management of the portfolio of solar projects that we manage on behalf of our clients, however the role will also involve data driven performance analysis and technical investigations and discussions with project service providers. The successful candidate will report to the Solar Subsector Lead but will be expected to be a self-starter able to manage their own workloads. There will also be opportunities to be involved in business development activities, system design & development and strategic corporate discussions, and to interact with the wider Renewables sector teams As the Technical Operations Manager, you’ll play a crucial role in the following: Managing service providers and ensuring performance meets contractual requirements. Confidently reviewing, and querying as necessary, maintenance activities undertaken by service providers to ensure industry best practice is followed. Managing Health, Safety and Environmental obligations including awareness of SSOW, RAMS and CPPs and an understanding of CDM obligations. Data analysis including site performance monitoring and calculations, component downtime losses and performance improvement suggestions, cost-benefit analyses for additional work streams and insurance claim management. Supporting the Subsector Lead to ensure compliance with all contractual obligations and project documentation including PPAs, grid connections, planning permissions, landscape management plans, leases, O&M contracts, Meter Operator Provider contracts and MSAs. Promoting effective communication with all stakeholders and maintaining project Responsibilities of the Role: Responsible for the day-to-day asset management of multiple commercial scale solar sites and report directly to the Clients. Preparation and submission in a timely manner of reports including KPIs, monthly reports and Board reports to the Client and other stakeholders. Analysis of performance data including SCADA and service provider reports. Liaising with O&M contractors to ensure any communications required under sub-contracts are supplied in a timely manner. Management of component warranty claims, insurance claims, performance warranty calculations and settlement and quantifying missed maintenance tasks. Liaising with professional advisers of the SPV Companies and Lenders, as appropriate. Ensuring that all assets under management adhere to statutory requirements for Health, Safety and Environmental performance and comply with project specific requirements in accordance with document management protocols, planning requirements, grid company connection conditions and power purchase agreements. Coordinating day-to-day management of operational solar assets by monitoring preventative and reactive maintenance completed, monitoring response times, reacting to emergencies and approving quotes within agreed parameters. Maintaining project specific management tools including; Operating Plans, CMMS, Asset Registers, Task Management tools and other quality management tools as necessary. Carrying out regular reporting using in-house data management systems and, where required, in-depth data analysis in order to maximise asset performance. Developing and implementing project specific plans and managing follow-up actions. Developing strong relationships with contractors to maximize their performance and developing strong community relations in the project’s locality, including managing landowner and community interests. Challenging proposals from contractors and service providers and seeking the best resolution to issues for our clients. Reviewing service provider KPIs alongside budgets including the review of exclusion events, performance methodology calculations and management of liquidated damages. Contributing to the development and implementation of in-house data management systems and operational processes and procedures. Advise on performance and contractual matters to seek resolution; working collaboratively with the Asset Engineer and General Managers. Act as the interface between O&M Service Provider/s and Senior Management on relevant operational matters. Identify optimization opportunities, manage repowering projects and contract renewals as appropriate. Candidate Experience & Attributes: Technical solar site experience / knowledge – either general or related to specific components (e.g. inverters, modules, transformers) Proficient data analysis skills Contract Management experience with strong commercial acumen and ability to adeptly apply contractual mechanisms to commercial discussions Tenacious self-starter Professional and organised Process driven Able to work independently Good communicator with proven ability to build sound business relationships IT literate (familiar with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) & SharePoint; willing to learn and make full use of internal systems) Strong understanding of the importance of data management processes Experience of, or strong interest in, the renewable energy industry – particularly related to the solar industry. Experience in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage but not a requirement Repowering projects Health & Safety process management Battery Storage (BESS) technology SCADA systems High Voltage Electrical systems PowerBi Additional Ad Hoc Duties: Carry out such additional duties as may be required by EMS from time to time