Director, Subcontracts & Trade Partnerships

About The Role The Director, Subcontracts & Trade Partnerships is a senior leader responsible for building, sustaining, and scaling long‑term subcontractor partnerships that enable the company’s commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop solar development and EPC growth strategy. This role owns the subcontractor market strategy across electrical, roofing, structural, civil, and specialty trades, with a core mandate to ensure the company is a preferred partner of choice in competitive labor markets. Success in this role is measured not only by cost, schedule, and quality outcomes, but by the strength, durability, and capacity of subcontractor relationships over time. The Director balances relationship leadership and commercial rigor, developing partnership models, commercial frameworks, and governance structures that protect the company while enabling trust, transparency, and long‑term alignment. The leader works closely with Development, Construction, Engineering, Legal, Finance, Safety, and Supply Chain to support growth across multiple regions and multi‑site programs. Subcontractor Partnership Strategy & Market Development Develop and execute a national and regional subcontractor partnership strategy aligned with long‑term company growth, market expansion, and project pipeline visibility. Serve as the senior relationship owner for key strategic subcontractor partners, maintaining executive‑level relationships and acting as the primary escalation and alignment point. Proactively engage subcontractors ahead of project awards to understand capacity constraints, market dynamics, and growth opportunities. Build and maintain a high‑performing network of subcontractors across all required trades, with an emphasis on repeat work, mutual commitment, and long‑term collaboration. Position the company as a preferred client by promoting transparency, fair dealing, predictable work pipelines, and collaborative problem‑solving. Capacity Planning & Long‑Term Alignment Ensure adequate subcontractor capacity to support near‑term execution and future pipeline demand, including markets where projects are not yet fully allocated. Develop approaches to secure and influence subcontractor capacity 6–12 months in advance of construction mobilization through early engagement, framework agreements, and strategic commitments. Partner with Development and Construction leadership to align subcontractor strategies with geographic expansion, phasing plans, and programmatic rollouts. Support subcontractor growth by aligning forecasted demand, onboarding plans, and performance expectations in advance of peak execution periods. Commercial Structuring & Contracting Lead negotiation of subcontract agreements, MSAs, pricing frameworks, and scopes of work that balance risk management with long‑term partnership objectives. Partner closely with Legal to ensure contracts meet company standards while remaining commercially practical and relationship‑oriented. Design standardized yet flexible subcontracting models that accommodate regional market conditions and trade‑specific realities. Establish clear, fair, and predictable change management and payment structures that reinforce trust and reduce friction. Support project teams with subcontractor selection strategies, bid evaluations, and award recommendations grounded in both performance history and partnership value. Performance Management, Quality & Continuous Improvement Establish performance frameworks and scorecards to measure subcontractor outcomes related to safety, quality, schedule, cost, and responsiveness. Lead regular performance reviews with strategic partners focused on continuous improvement, forward planning, and lessons learned. Address underperformance through collaborative corrective action plans, balancing accountability with relationship preservation. Drive improvements in installation quality, productivity, and rework reduction by partnering with subcontractors on root‑cause analysis and best practices. Safety, Compliance & Risk Stewardship Ensure subcontractors meet all safety, insurance, licensing, and compliance requirements. Partner with Safety leadership to promote a strong safety culture across the subcontractor ecosystem. Reinforce safety and compliance expectations through leadership presence, communication, and partnership—not solely enforcement. Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Internal Alignment Work closely with Construction, Engineering, and Project Management to align subcontractor strategies with project designs, sequencing, and execution plans. Coordinate with Supply Chain and Procurement to align labor and material strategies where appropriate. Support Development and Estimating teams with market intelligence, subcontractor availability insights, and labor pricing trends. Partner with Corporate Finance to forecast subcontractor cash flow requirements, payment schedules, and working capital impacts. Ensure subcontracting strategies, payment terms, and milestone structures align with company financial objectives while maintaining strong, trust‑based subcontractor relationships. Team Leadership & Scalable Infrastructure Build, lead, and mentor a subcontracting and trade partnerships team as the organization scales. Design and implement scalable processes, tools, and systems that support subcontractor relationship management, performance tracking, and governance. Drive consistency across regions while allowing flexibility for local labor markets and subcontractor dynamics. Qualifications Required 7+ years of experience in construction subcontracting, procurement, or trade partnership management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Significant experience in C&I rooftop solar, electrical contracting, or related commercial construction sectors. Proven success building and managing long‑term subcontractor relationships across multiple markets. Strong commercial judgment with the ability to negotiate agreements that support both risk management and partnership longevity. Solid understanding of construction sequencing, means and methods, and labor productivity. Experience managing safety, quality, and performance at scale. Preferred EPC or self‑perform construction background. Experience supporting distributed generation portfolios or multi‑site programs. Familiarity with union and non‑union labor environments. Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience). Core Competencies Relationship‑first leadership mindset with strong external presence. Strategic thinking paired with practical, execution‑oriented judgment. Ability to influence outcomes without reliance on formal authority. Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Comfort operating in a fast‑growing, evolving organization. Ability to balance commercial discipline with long‑term partnership value. Salary range: $105,000 - $150,000 per year, varying by location and job‑related skills and experience. This is an incentive‑based position with potential to earn more. For part‑time roles, compensation will be adjusted to reflect hours. Benefits and Perks Training / Professional development opportunities 401(k) with 4% company match Summer Fridays Flexible remote/hybrid work options Paid parental leave Team lunches, events, and stocked kitchens Modern, collaborative office spaces in Asbury Park, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore Medical, dental, and vision coverage Company‑paid life and long‑term disability insurance #J-18808-Ljbffr