Director of Construction – Utility-Scale Solar & BESS

Director of Construction – Utility-Scale Solar & BESS

We are seeking an experienced, field-oriented Director of Construction to lead construction operations across multiple regions and active project sites supporting utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and other renewable infrastructure projects.

This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for leading a team of Construction Managers who oversee project execution across Illinois, with planned expansion into Pennsylvania.

The ideal candidate has a strong utility-scale solar/EPC field background, combined with the leadership, project controls, financial, and people-management skills required to oversee multiple Construction Managers and a growing portfolio of projects.

We are looking for a leader who has earned credibility in the field and can effectively balance safety, schedule, quality, productivity, client relationships, subcontractor performance, and project profitability.

What You'll Do:

Lead Construction Managers

• Directly manage, mentor, and develop Construction Managers overseeing multiple active projects.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for safety, schedule, staffing, quality, client satisfaction, change-order management, and profitability.
• Conduct weekly operating reviews covering project health, staffing, risks, schedule, cost, and financial performance.
• Establish and monitor KPIs including schedule adherence, labor productivity, safety performance, change-order capture, and gross margin.
• Develop performance goals, succession plans, and leadership development pathways for construction leadership.
• Provide escalation support for critical schedule, subcontractor, client, staffing, and execution issues.
• Ensure SOPs, project requirements, and company standards are consistently followed.

Multi-Region Construction Operations

• Oversee construction execution through regional teams supporting utility-scale solar and BESS projects.
• Balance manpower, equipment, and management resources based on project demand.
• Approve regional staffing plans for Construction Managers, QA/QC, and Safety personnel.
• Standardize field reporting, dashboards, forecasting, and project closeout processes.
• Lead regional business reviews covering manpower, project risks, claims exposure, subcontractor performance, backlog, and revenue forecasts.

Project Controls & Financial Performance

• Review construction budgets, labor curves, indirect costs, and equipment utilization.
• Monitor earned value, cost-to-complete forecasts, budget-versus-actual performance, and project margins.
• Drive accountability for construction P&L performance and project cash flow in partnership with Project Management.
• Support change-order identification, review, documentation, and recovery of owner-caused impacts and delays.
• Drive schedule recovery and corrective-action plans when projects fall behind.

Safety & Quality

• Maintain a strong safety culture and hold regional leadership accountable for industry-leading safety performance.
• Lead and maintain company safety programs, OSHA compliance, ISNet requirements, audits, incident response, and corrective actions.
• Ensure consistent QA/QC execution, including inspections, first-article requirements, definable features of work, turnover documentation, punch-list completion, and commissioning readiness.
• Benchmark performance across regions and implement continuous-improvement initiatives.

Talent & Organizational Development

• Recruit, onboard, and develop Construction Managers as the company grows.
• Build leadership bench strength for future Directors, Project Managers, and Operations leaders.
• Develop standardized training for field leadership covering QA/QC, scheduling, contracts, owner relations, safety, and construction best practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and operational excellence.

Client & Subcontractor Leadership

• Support Construction Managers in senior-level client meetings and project escalations.
• Build strong relationships with developers, utilities, owners, and subcontractors.
• Evaluate and develop subcontractor relationships and regional subcontractor networks.
• Provide strategic input on market expansion and regional execution risks.

Direct Reports

• Construction Manager – Peoria Area
• Construction Manager – East Illinois
• Construction Manager – Central Illinois / Chicagoland
• Construction Manager – Southern Illinois
• Construction Manager – Southern Illinois
• Assistant Construction Manager – Southern Illinois

Key Performance Metrics

Success in this role will be measured through:

• TRIR and regional safety performance
• Gross margin performance
• Schedule milestone achievement
• Revenue conversion and backlog execution
• Labor productivity
• Client satisfaction
• Subcontractor performance and scorecards
• Successful project turnover to O&M

What We're Looking For:

• 7 years of construction leadership experience in utility-scale solar, EPC, renewable energy, or heavy civil construction.
• Direct utility-scale solar construction experience is strongly preferred.
• 5 years managing Construction Managers, Regional Construction Managers, or other operations leaders.
• Proven ability to lead multiple Construction Managers across numerous active projects.
• Strong understanding of construction scheduling, project controls, contracts, cost forecasting, labor productivity, and project financial performance.
• Experience managing a portfolio of simultaneous renewable-energy projects.
• Strong field leadership presence with the ability to earn the respect of experienced Construction Managers and field personnel.
• Strong computer/project-management skills and the ability to effectively manage reporting, forecasting, budgets, schedules, and project controls.
• Excellent communication and senior-level client leadership skills.
• Experience with safety programs, OSHA requirements, ISNet, QA/QC, and subcontractor management.
• Willingness to travel regularly to regional offices and active project sites.

Location & Travel:

This role will primarily support projects across Illinois, with planned expansion into Pennsylvania.

We are open to considering candidates who are not currently local; however, relocation assistance is not provided.

Candidates outside the area must be willing to relocate to Peoria, Illinois, or the St. Louis, Missouri area. Chicago is not the intended relocation location for this position.

Regular travel to regional offices and active project sites is required.

Benefits:

• Paid company holidays
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave as required by applicable law
• Medical insurance
• 401(k) plan with company contribution

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity for a proven utility-scale solar construction leader to take ownership of a growing multi-region construction organization. You will have the opportunity to develop Construction Managers, establish scalable operating standards, influence project profitability, and help build the company's renewable-energy construction platform as it expands into new markets and technologies.

If you are a field-driven construction leader who can combine hands-on construction credibility with strong operational, financial, and people leadership, we'd like to hear from you.