Director of Government Relations

Job Title: Director, Government Relations (State & Local)

Company: Hounen Solar America Inc.

Department: Public Affairs / Corporate Affairs

Location: Orangeburg, South Carolina (with regular travel to Columbia, Summerville, and other county and municipal locations across South Carolina)

Reports To: Executive Vice President and Assistant to Chairwoman

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Hounen Solar America

Hounen Solar America is a fast-growing U.S.-based manufacturer of high-quality photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Headquartered in South Carolina, the company currently operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Orangeburg with 1 GW annual production capacity. Hounen is actively expanding with plans to open a second major manufacturing facility in Summerville by the end of 2026, adding approximately 2 GW of additional capacity, and is launching a new Group Brand in the United States. This growth will strengthen domestic solar production, create hundreds of new jobs, and reinforce the company’s commitment to American-made clean energy.

As we scale our U.S. footprint, we are seeking a Director of Government Relations to lead our relationships with state and county government, secure and manage economic development incentives, coordinate with utility providers, and introduce our new Group Brand to South Carolina’s public and business communities.

About the Role

The Director of Government Relations is the company’s senior representative to state and local government. This role focuses on South Carolina state government and the county and municipal governments where Hounen operates or plans to operate, including Orangeburg County and the counties serving the Summerville site. The Director will lead incentive negotiations and compliance, act as the primary liaison with electric and other utility providers, and serve as the public-facing advocate for the launch and growth of the new Group Brand .

Success in this role means projects that are sited, powered, permitted, and incentivized on schedule, with Hounen recognized by state and local leaders as a trusted, long-term partner in South Carolina’s economy.

Key Responsibilities

State & County Government Relations

• Develop and execute a state and local government relations strategy aligned with the company’s manufacturing expansion and business priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with South Carolina state legislators, the Governor’s office, the S.C. Department of Commerce, and other relevant state agencies.
• Serve as the company’s primary point of contact with county councils, county administrators, municipal leaders, and regional economic development organizations in Orangeburg County, the Summerville area, and any future sites.
• Monitor state legislation, regulations, and local ordinances (zoning, land use, permitting, tax, and energy policy) and provide timely analysis and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Coordinate with state and local agencies to keep permits, approvals, inspections, and infrastructure commitments on track for current and planned facilities.
• Represent the company at public meetings, council sessions, hearings, and community and industry events; prepare testimony, briefing materials, and position papers as needed.
• Manage external lobbyists, consultants, and outside counsel engaged on state and local matters.

Economic Development Incentives

• Lead the company’s negotiation of state and local incentive packages, including fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) agreements, special source revenue credits, job development credits, infrastructure and site-readiness grants, and workforce training support.
• Partner with the S.C. Department of Commerce, county economic development offices, and regional alliances to identify, structure, and secure incentives for new investments and expansions.
• Work closely with Finance, Legal, and Operations to model incentive value, review agreement terms, and align commitments (capital investment, job creation, wage levels) with business plans.
• Oversee ongoing incentive compliance, including tracking investment and employment milestones, preparing required certifications and reports, and maintaining relationships with granting agencies to protect incentive value.

Utility Liaison

• Serve as the company’s primary liaison with electric, natural gas, and water/sewer utility providers serving current and planned facilities.
• Coordinate service agreements, capacity and load requests, interconnection, line extensions, and infrastructure upgrade timelines to support production ramp-up.
• Negotiate or support negotiation of rates, economic development rate riders, and service terms in partnership with Finance and Operations.
• Engage with utility economic development teams and, where relevant, state utility regulators on matters affecting the company’s energy cost and reliability.

Promotion of the New Group Brand

• Partner with our Marketing team to lead the government and community introduction of the new Group Brand , positioning it with state and county officials, economic development partners, and local business communities.
• Develop and execute launch outreach, including meetings with officials, announcements, site visits, and ribbon-cutting or groundbreaking events.
• Support the Marketing team on press releases, media relations, and executive visibility related to the new Group Brand and facility milestones.
• Build relationships with chambers of commerce, technical colleges, workforce boards, and community organizations to strengthen local support, recruiting pipelines, and reputation.
• Support community investment and sustainability messaging that highlights the company’s local economic and workforce impact.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Business, Economics, Law, or a related field (Master’s, MPA, MBA, or JD preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in government relations, economic development, public affairs, or a related field, including at least 3 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Demonstrated success negotiating and managing state and local economic development incentives for large capital projects.
• Proven relationships with state and county officials and economic development organizations, preferably in South Carolina.
• Experience working with electric and other utility providers on service, capacity, or rate matters for industrial facilities.
• Strong knowledge of state legislative processes and county and municipal government operations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with strong negotiation ability.
• Willingness to travel regularly within South Carolina.

Preferred:

• Experience in or with South Carolina state government, the S.C. Department of Commerce, or county economic development offices.
• Background in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, solar, or other energy-intensive industries.
• Experience supporting the launch or market entry of a new company, brand, or facility.
• Experience working with international or multinational parent companies; Mandarin language skills are a plus.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with sharp political acumen and strong business and financial judgment.
• Skilled negotiator who can balance company objectives with public-sector priorities.
• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. xuwmhxw
• High professionalism, discretion, and integrity.