Project Lead, Operational Excellence & Transformation

Nextpower; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower is transforming from a solar tracker company into an integrated utility-scale energy technology platform. The Project Lead will define improvement projects, drive Lean and Kaizen practices, and coordinate with Operations, supply chain, planning, procurement, quality, logistics, and field teams.

The role reports to the Director of Operational Excellence & Transformation and requires expert project management, process redesign, and systems adoption to deliver measurable operating and

Qualifications

• 8+ years leading operational improvement projects in manufacturing, industrial technology, energy, or engineered products.
• Hands-on use of Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, A3, PDCA, process mapping, or comparable problem-solving methods.
• Strong project management, facilitation, analytical, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience supporting enterprise systems, reporting, workflow automation, or digital process changes.
• Ability to build business cases, establish baselines, and track benefits with Finance and process owners.

Responsibilities

• Develop project charters, current-state assessments, plans, milestones, owners, risks, and action logs for assigned initiatives.
• Lead working sessions and project reviews; follow up on commitments and elevate decisions or barriers to the Director.
• Maintain accurate status, issue, dependency, and benefit reporting for portfolio reviews.
• Map workflows and handoffs, identify root causes, and implement simpler, more consistent processes with business owners.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and apply standard work, visual management, A3 thinking, PDCA, and other improvement tools.
• Document future-state processes, controls, training materials, and ownership so improvements are sustained.

Skills

Project management

Facilitation

Analytical

Stakeholder communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business/Finance

Job description

Job Description

Project Lead, Operational Excellence & Transformation

Strategic Program Management

• Systems & Automation

Job Title

Project Lead, Operational Excellence & Transformation

Department

Operational Excellence Office (PMO)

Reports To

Director, Operational Excellence & Transformation

Direct Reports

None

Classification

Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

Nextpower is evolving from a solar tracker company into an integrated utility-scale energy technology platform spanning trackers, eBOS, foundations, power conversion, energy storage, robotics, and other adjacent solutions. As the company grows through organic expansion and acquisitions, it needs greater alignment, standardization, scalability, and execution across the enterprise. Reporting to the Director, Operational Excellence & Transformation, the Project Lead defines improvement projects and workstreams within the Operational Excellence Office portfolio. The role works primarily with Operations teams across manufacturing, supply chain, planning, procurement, quality, logistics, and field operations, and coordinates with other functions where processes cross boundaries. The project lead applies disciplined project management, Lean and Kaizen methods, process redesign, and systems adoption to improve execution and produce measurable operating and financial results.

Key Responsibilities

Project Execution and Reporting

• Develop project charters, current-state assessments, plans, milestones, owners, risks, and action logs for assigned initiatives.
• Run working sessions and project reviews; follow up on commitments and elevate decisions or barriers to the Director.
• Maintain accurate status, issue, dependency, and benefit reporting for portfolio reviews.

Process Improvement

• Map workflows and handoffs, identify root causes, and implement simpler, more consistent processes with business owners.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and apply standard work, visual management, A3 thinking, PDCA, and other appropriate improvement tools.
• Document future-state processes, controls, training materials, and ownership so improvements are sustained.

Systems and Automation

• Work with IT and business users to gather requirements, test redesigned workflows, and support rollout of enterprise systems and automation.
• Support Oracle and other platform adoption by identifying pain points, improving data quality, and reducing manual or spreadsheet-based work.
• Define useful project metrics and maintain reliable operational reporting.

Benefits And Adoption

• Establish baseline performance and expected benefits with Finance and process owners; track results after implementation.
• Measure changes in service, productivity, cost, quality, cycle time, working capital, or cash flow as relevant to each project.
• Coordinate communications, training, and follow-up with supervisors and users to embed new ways of working.

Collaboration and Capability

• Facilitate cross-functional teams and build constructive relationships with site and functional stakeholders.
• Coach project participants on basic problem solving and continuous improvement practices.
• Surface new opportunities and lessons learned to the Director for portfolio planning.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years experience running operational improvement projects or cross-functional workstreams in manufacturing, industrial technology, energy, or engineered products.
• Hands-on use of Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, A3, PDCA, process mapping, or comparable problem-solving methods.
• Strong project management, facilitation, analytical, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience supporting enterprise systems, reporting, workflow automation, or digital process changes.
• Ability to build business cases, establish baselines, and track benefits with Finance and process owners.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Finance, or a related discipline.

Success Measures First 6 to 12 Months

• Assigned projects have clear charters, owners, plans, measures, and timely status reporting.
• Early projects produce measurable, Finance-validated improvement in at least one operational or financial outcome.
• Improved processes are documented, adopted by users, and monitored after rollout.
• Project risks and barriers are surfaced promptly, with actions and decisions tracked to closure.

Working Relationships

Works with the Director, project sponsors, site and functional teams, Finance, and IT to execute assigned initiatives and sustain results.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We are Nextpower