Director, Construction

Job Description

Job Description

Urban Grid is a leading independent power producer (IPP) delivering reliable, utility-scale solar and storage solutions to help meet America’s unprecedented energy demand. We develop, own and operate projects that strengthen local economies through long-term partnerships and responsible land stewardship. By integrating agrivoltaics into our land management practices, we enhance soil health, support local farmers and benefit the communities we serve.

With a strong focus on execution and integrity, we are committed to being a trusted domestic energy provider and responsible corporate citizen. Urban Grid is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and operates across the United States with a growing portfolio that includes 12,000 megawatts of development assets. We continue to maintain our optionality to co-locate with battery storage based on customer demand, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness in our energy solutions.

Since becoming an IPP in 2023, we have successfully brought five solar projects online, begun construction on three additional projects and are actively advancing one gigawatt of capacity into pre-construction. To learn more, please visit

Urban Grid is a portfolio company of Brookfield, one of the world’s largest owners and operators of renewable power and climate transition assets.

Job Summary

Urban Grid is seeking an accomplished and driven Director of Construction to lead our pre-construction and construction efforts in the utility scale solar, wind and battery storage sector. The ideal candidate will possess a comprehensive background encompassing both commercial and technical facets necessary to lead project teams from pre-construction through the final completion of solar development projects. This role requires a deep understanding of the industry, construction management, risk mitigation, contract management, and successful leadership of cross-functional teams in the renewable energy domain.

Responsibilities

Pre-NTP Projects

• Lead and oversee integrated project teams, guiding a portfolio of advanced-stage solar projects from pre-construction through final completion.
• Collaborate closely with Procurement, Engineering, Project Development, and Business Development departments to ensure a seamless transition from project development to pre-construction phases.
• Monitor projects nearing offtake commercialization and develop a forward-looking procurement strategy for late-stage projects in collaboration with Procurement.
• Participate in negotiations with suppliers for critical long-lead items, including modules, racking, inverters, main transformers, and other major components.
• Direct the formulation of initial construction schedules and budgets for projects, considering both internal and external variables influencing project completion dates and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) costs.
• Engage in the design optimization process to refine project designs in preparation for offtake commercialization and EPC Request for Proposal (RFP) stages. This includes decisions related to site layout, array configuration, equipment selection, design basis, coordination of electrical/civil/structural components, scope definition, and design specifications.
• Lead Project Managers in issuing EPC RFPs, identifying areas of work or technical gaps that can impact contractor pricing or project schedules.
• Support Project Managers in analyzing EPC contractor bids, reviewing project capital expenditure (CAPEX) estimates and construction schedules. Ensure all obligations from the PPA, ISA, IA, and other project documents are upheld.
• Create redlines for commercial and technical documents linked to equipment or EPC contracts.
• Collaborate with the Business Development team and Project Finance to generate proposal materials. Participate in bid or proposal approval presentations and processes.
• Build, coach, and retain a growing team of project management professionals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with senior members of key contractor partners.
• Serve as the expert in contract administration and construction management. Coach, train, and mentor team members to become subject matter experts.
• Initiate and attend meetings with clients for problem resolution and planning.
• Initiate, review, approve, and negotiate change orders following organizational standards.
• Aggregate and roll up project status reports.
• Oversee project execution progress
• Identify and mitigate potential risks to projects.
• Ensure all project financing needs are being met.
• Take an active role in safety management and ensure that ensure everyone goes home safely

Post-NTP Projects

• Build, coach, and retain a growing team of project management professionals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with senior members of key contractor partners.
• Serve as the expert in contract administration and construction management. Coach, train, and mentor team members to become subject matter experts.
• Initiate and attend meetings with clients for problem resolution and planning.
• Initiate, review, approve, and negotiate change orders following organizational standards.
• Aggregate and roll up project status reports.
• Oversee project execution progress
• Identify and mitigate potential risks to projects.
• Ensure all project financing needs are being met.
• Take an active role in safety management and ensure that ensure everyone goes home safely.

Location

Position is local to Houston with a hybrid office policy. Position may require periodic trips for team meetings or site visits.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in utility scale solar PV, wind or battery storage with 10+ years experience within construction, or related field with focus project management or other relevant work applicable to this position.
• Must be self-motivated and be able to work both individually and/or in a collaborative team environment with minimal guidance.
• Must be able to manage multiple deadlines and priorities while creating and maintaining internal and external relationships with vendors and co-workers, respectively.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be able to coordinate and communicate work with multiple disciplines, organizations, agencies, vendors, and contractors.
• Must have strong organizational capacity to simultaneously manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and be able to quickly adapt to changes and shift priorities to meet project needs and deadline.
• Experience with bid analysis, estimating, contract negotiations, proposals, RFPs, project documents.
• Knowledge of renewable project construction schedules, cost and risk identification is preferred.
• Experience reviewing scopes of work, technical specifications, drawings and estimates.
• Experience supporting the development of supplier bids packages, proposals and various contract exhibits.
• Experience negotiating contracts, master service agreements, purchase orders or other types of contracts or agreements.

Benefits

Urban Grid offers an exciting benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account, company-paid life insurance and short-term disability, voluntary life, and long-term disability, paid parental leave, and a retirement plan with matching. Full-time position with a competitive compensation package, including bonus.