Manager, Strategic Operations & Vendor Management

Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This role will lead end-to-end vendor operations supporting solar remediation efforts. This role is responsible for optimizing intake workflows, ensuring financial and operational accuracy, and managing funding flows tied to remediation execution. The ideal candidate combines operational rigor, financial stewardship, and cross-functional leadership to drive efficiency, accountability, and scalable processes. This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving, excellent communication skills, and a deep commitment to delivering results.

This position will be based out of one of our offices in Irvine, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Clara, CA or Teaneck, NJ. Remote may be considered in exceptional cases.

Responsibilities

• Own the vendor management lifecycle, including onboarding, performance management, and offboarding.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality network of remediation vendors across markets.
• Establish KPIs, SLAs, and scorecards to monitor vendor performance, quality, and timeliness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance vendor efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Oversee intake of queues for remediation requests, ensuring timely triage, prioritization, and assignment.
• Design and optimize workflows to improve cycle times and throughput.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (operations, finance, customer success) to ensure alignment on prioritization and execution.
• Implement governance and controls around vendor quote submissions.
• Review and approve remediation quotes to ensure accuracy, competitiveness, and scope of alignment.
• Identify trends in pricing and recommend cost-containment strategies.
• Lead invoice review processes to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to approved scopes.
• Establish QA/QC frameworks to prevent billing discrepancies and reduce financial leakage.
• Ensure alignment between approved quotes, completed work, and invoiced amounts.
• Own weekly invoice approval submissions to Treasury, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Oversee remediation account balances and track funding utilization against forecast and actuals.
• Partner with Treasury and Finance to manage cash flow and ensure adequate liquidity for ongoing remediation work.
• Forecast funding needs based on pipeline, backlog, and vendor throughput.
• Submit and justify requests for additional funding to support remediation execution.
• Identify risks related to funding gaps, delays, or over/under-allocation and escalate proactively.
• Design and manage onboarding processes for new vendors, including compliance, training, and system access.
• Ensure vendors are equipped with clear scopes, documentation standards, and performance expectations.
• Drive standardization across vendor processes and documentation.
• Serve as the primary liaison between vendors and internal teams.
• Collaborate with product/tech teams to improve tooling, automation, and reporting capabilities.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership on performance, financial health, risks, and opportunities.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in business or other related field with a minimum of 8 years of professional work experience including 5–8 years of experience in operations, vendor management, program management, or financial operations.
• Strong experience in remediation, field operations, or post-install service environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing high-volume workflows (intake queues, approvals, and invoicing).
• Financial acumen with experience in quote analysis, invoice auditing, budgeting, or treasury coordination.
• Experience managing or forecasting operational budgets and funding requirements
• Proven track record of building and scaling vendor networks.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to explain complex issues with clarity and empathy.
• Working knowledge of CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk) and supporting ticketing systems.
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize competing demands including pursuing/managing multiple threads, making accurate forecasts, and hitting major milestones on time.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully working on multiple projects, possess the ability to work effectively under pressure, meet strict deadlines, and complete assignments with little oversight.
• Advanced working skill set with Salesforce, Tableau, and MS Office (specifically Excel and PowerPoint) including advanced Excel formulas (vlookup, if statements, pivot tables).
  
  

Core Competencies

• Experience in solar servicing, EPC operations, or distributed energy
• Familiarity with QA/QC frameworks, audit controls, and compliance standards
• Experience with CRM/ERP systems and workflow tools (e.g., Salesforce, NetSuite, ServiceTita
  
  

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world-class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.

Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands

To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Mobility

Standing

20% of time

Sitting

70% of time

Walking

10% of time

Strength

Pulling

up to 10 Pounds

Pushing

up to 10 Pounds

Carrying

up to 10 Pounds

Lifting

up to 10 Pounds

Dexterity(F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

Typing

F

Handling

F

Reaching

F

Agility(F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

Turning

F

Twisting

F

Bending

O

Crouching

O

Balancing

N

Climbing

N

Crawling

N

Kneeling

N

The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.

• This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.
  
  

You may view your privacy rights by reviewing Qcells' Privacy Policy or by contacting our HR team for a copy.