Senior Project Manager - Utility Solar in Houston, Texas at Hays Electrical Services

Position Summary
The Senior Project Manager — Utility Solar is responsible for the overall commercial, contractual, and administrative management of one or more utility-scale solar (and where applicable, BESS) construction projects. This role reports to the Director of Project Management and works in close, ongoing coordination with the Project Executive on strategic/client matters and the Electrical Manager on electrical scope, procurement, and technical risk. The Senior Project Manager owns risk management, change management, contract compliance, and deliverable/reporting cadence across the project(s), acting as the primary point of accountability for keeping projects contractually sound, financially healthy, and transparently reported to leadership and ownership.
This is a senior individual-contributor/management role with a strong emphasis on risk management, change management, contract and deliverable management, and reporting — distinct from, and complementary to, the field leadership chain (Area Superintendent/Senior Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/Foreman).Key Responsibilities
Risk Management

• Own the project risk register: identify, assess, quantify, and track risks (schedule, cost, contractual, interconnection, supply chain, labor/union, weather, permitting) throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead regular risk review sessions with the project team, Electrical Manager, and Project Executive; escalate high-severity risks to the Director of Project Management promptly.
• Develop and maintain risk mitigation and contingency plans; track effectiveness and adjust as conditions change.
• Proactively identify emerging risks from field operations, procurement, subcontractor performance, and client/owner communications.
• Maintain risk-adjusted forecasts for schedule and cost, and clearly communicate risk exposure in leadership reporting.

Change Management

• Manage the full change order lifecycle: identification, documentation, pricing, negotiation, and closeout, in accordance with contract terms.
• Maintain a change log/tracker reflecting status, value, schedule impact, and approval stage of all changes.
• Partner with the Electrical Manager and field leadership to substantiate scope changes, delays, and impacts with accurate backup documentation.
• Negotiate change orders and time extensions with owners/clients and, where applicable, subcontractors.
• Ensure timely submission of notices, claims, and change requests per contractual notice provisions to protect the company's contractual position.

Contract & Deliverable Management

• Serve as the primary owner of contract compliance for assigned project(s), including prime contracts, subcontracts, and purchase agreements.
• Track and manage all contractual deliverables (submittals, schedules, insurance/bonding, permits, interconnection milestones, as-builts, closeout documents) to ensure on-time delivery.
• Monitor contract terms related to payment, retainage, liquidated damages, warranty, and indemnification; flag exposure areas to leadership.
• Coordinate with legal/contracts staff on contract interpretation, disputes, and claims as needed.
• Manage subcontractor contracts and compliance, including scope, insurance, and payment/billing requirements.

Reporting

• Own the project reporting cadence: prepare and deliver regular (weekly/monthly) project status reports to the Director of Project Management, Project Executive, and Electrical Manager.
• Report on schedule status, cost/budget performance, risk exposure, change order status, and key deliverable/milestone tracking.
• Prepare executive-level summaries and dashboards for leadership and, where applicable, client/owner reporting.
• Maintain accurate project financial forecasts (cost-to-complete, earned value, margin) in coordination with project controls/accounting.
• Ensure consistent, accurate documentation practices across the project team to support audits, claims, and closeout.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with the Electrical Manager on electrical scope risk, procurement timelines, and technical change impacts.
• Support the Project Executive on client/owner relationship management, particularly around commercial and contractual matters.
• Partner with the Area Superintendent/Senior Superintendent field leadership team to align field execution with contractual and commercial requirements.
• Interface with procurement, engineering, and commissioning teams to ensure deliverables and milestones are tracked and met.

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor Project Managers, Project Engineers, and Project Coordinators assigned to the project(s).
• Review and approve subordinate PM work products (change orders, reports, contract correspondence) for accuracy and completeness.
• Support staffing and resource planning for the project management team across assigned project(s).

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10+ years of project management experience in construction, with at least 3–5 years specifically in utility-scale solar (or comparable large-scale EPC/energy infrastructure) projects.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience managing project risk registers and mitigation planning on large capital projects.
• Strong track record managing change order processes, including negotiation and contractual notice compliance.
• Deep understanding of construction contract structures (EPC, fixed-price, cost-plus, etc.), including payment, claims, and closeout provisions.
• Proven experience building and delivering executive-level project reporting (status reports, dashboards, forecasts).
• Experience managing project financials (budget, forecast, earned value, margin).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and clients/owners.
• Proficiency with project management and reporting tools (Procore, MS Project, Primavera, Power BI, or similar).
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification or equivalent.
• Experience with utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project delivery.
• Prior experience working directly with Electrical Managers/Engineering on interconnection and technical scope risk.
• Experience in a company using both union and non-union labor, with familiarity with related contractual/labor risk considerations.