Solar Operations & Maintenance Supervisor

Southwest Generation Valmont Facility; Bakersfield, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Onward Energy in Bakersfield, CA seeks a Solar Operations & Maintenance Supervisor to lead daily site execution for PV plants, ensure safe work practices, coordinate technicians, and manage maintenance activities in alignment with performance targets.

You will provide leadership, coaching, and technical guidance, oversee training, recruiting, and development, and assure compliance with environmental, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

Qualifications

• Requires degree in engineering/physics/power generation or related field.
• Five years of operations/maintenance in power generation; at least two years in solar.
• At least one year in a lead or supervisory role.
• Valid US driver license with acceptable MVR history.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily site operations and maintenance activities with a strong safety-first culture.
• Supervise solar technicians and coordinate work to ensure quality and compliance.
• Conduct job hazard analyses, LOTO, and other safety processes.
• Maintain CMMS records and ensure timely documentation of maintenance work orders.
• Coordinate with ROC, Asset Mgmt, Engineering, and Compliance to improve plant performance.

Skills

Safety leadership

Team leadership

Communication

Planning & scheduling

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Power Generation, or related field

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

PV inverters

Job description

Solar Operations & Maintenance Supervisor

Position Title: Solar Operations & Maintenance Supervisor

Reports To: Solar O&M Manager

Direct Reports: Yes

Functional Unit: Asset Management & Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Type: Full-Time

Location: Bakersfield, California

THE COMPANY

Onward Energy is an independent power platform that owns and operates over 7 GW of utility-scale wind, solar and natural gas generation projects across the U.S. Our Vision is to reliably power a sustainable future. Our Mission is that as North America’s premier independent power generator, we will deliver renewable and reliable power to our customers, opportunities to our employees, sustainable returns to the families who invest in us, and a better world to the next generation. Corporate offices are in Denver, New York and Charlotte, and we are where renewable meets reliable. See www.onwardenergy.com for more information.

THE CHALLENGE

This position reports to the Solar O&M Manager. The Solar O&M Supervisor leads daily site execution for assigned PV plant sites, including safe work practices, technician coordination, maintenance execution, work order quality, contractor readiness, troubleshooting support, and compliance with company procedures. This role ensures that day-to-day operations and maintenance activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with plant performance, reliability, environmental, and compliance expectations.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure the highest level of health and safety performance through strict adherence to company policies, procedures, and safe work practices.
• Lead daily site operations and maintenance activities while promoting a strong safety-first culture.
• Conduct and participate in Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Pre-Job Briefs, Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO), and other required safety processes.
• Supervise and coordinate the daily activities of solar technicians to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and to company standards.
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to site personnel.
• Support employee development through training, qualification tracking, skills assessments, and performance feedback.
• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, and development of site personnel.
• Ensure compliance with all environmental, NERC, regulatory, and company requirements applicable to assigned facilities.
• Coordinate corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and outage activities.
• Support site operational readiness by ensuring maintenance activities are properly planned, scheduled, and executed.
• Maintain accountability for work order quality, completion, and documentation within the CMMS.
• Ensure work orders, maintenance records, inspection reports, and operational documentation are accurate and completed in a timely manner.
• Monitor plant performance and investigate equipment issues to identify corrective actions and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts on solar equipment including inverters, trackers, DC systems, MV systems, communication systems, relays, transformers, and balance-of-plant equipment.
• Coordinate contractor and vendor activities to ensure all work is performed safely, within scope, and in accordance with company expectations.
• Verify contractors have approved purchase orders, scopes of work, site access authorization, and required safety documentation prior to beginning work.
• Manage site inventories including spare parts, consumables, tools, and critical equipment.
• Support material planning and procurement efforts by identifying spare parts and maintenance needs.
• Coordinate with the Remote Operations Center (ROC), Asset Management, Engineering, Compliance, and other internal support teams to resolve operational issues and improve plant performance.
• Support budgeting efforts by providing accurate field input related to maintenance activities, staffing needs, and operational requirements.
• Lead and participate in root cause analyses, equipment failure investigations, and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Prepare and provide input for monthly, quarterly, and annual operational reports.
• Ensure compliance with applicable contracts, warranties, and service agreements affecting plant operations.
• Maintain emergency response readiness and lead site response efforts during operational events and equipment failures.
• Promote continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, availability, productivity, and cost control.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

THE PROFILE TO SUCCEED

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Power Generation, or related field preferred. Applicable years of experience may substitute for degree.
• Five (5) years of work experience in operations and/or maintenance in power generation, transmission, and/or distribution, including at least two (2) years in the solar industry and at least one (1) year in a lead or supervisory position.
• Ability to plan, organize, schedule, and direct safe operation and maintenance activities at assigned project sites.
• Demonstrated understanding of power plant operations, EH&S compliance, budgeting support, personnel management, maintenance execution, and performance management.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to support business initiatives and communicate effectively with site and cross-functional teams.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite programs and enterprise work management systems.
• Technical knowledge of PV inverters, tracking systems, DC systems, medium voltage equipment, communication systems, and plant controls preferred.
• Ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in the organization and operating environment.
• Self-starter with ability to make decisions and take necessary actions with appropriate direction and escalation.
• Effective time management, organizational skills, multi-tasking capability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Valid U.S. driver license with acceptable MVR history.

THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to accomplish physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Hazardous conditions include working in confined spaces, exposure to bloodborne pathogens, exposure to energized electrical equipment, and working in extreme hot and cold conditions.
• The work may require providing first aid/CPR and maintaining First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
• The work may require irregular hours depending on site operations and the unpredictable needs of the solar plant.
• Ability to travel up to 10% or as business needs require.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including but not limited to steel/composite-toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron, and arm guards.
• Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.
• Will lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.

THE TEAM

The Onward Energy team is comprised of industry professionals who embrace our values of accountability, adaptability, collaboration, and excellence. At Onward Energy, we seek to find solutions rather than assign blame.

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

Performing this job without full and focused attention may cause serious injury or fatality. Work is generally performed outside at project sites and may include weather conditions ranging from warm/hot to cool/cold, occasional rain, and moderate to high noise levels. Job sites may contain light to heavy equipment, vehicles, materials, communication equipment, tools, personnel walking and working, alarms, bells, whistles, and other active industrial conditions. The role also routinely uses standard office equipment such as a laptop computer, phone, scanner, and printer.

Onward Energy’s total rewards philosophy is motivated by a key tenet of People First and offers associates a comprehensive total rewards package, including market competitive compensation, health, life insurance, and retirement savings benefits.

If you require an accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact [e-mail].

EEO STATEMENT

Onward Energy is an Affimative Action Employer, Females/Minority/Veterans/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.