Solar Senior Project Manager

BEAR Construction Company; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Pet Insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

BEAR Construction Company in Rolling Meadows, Illinois is seeking a Senior Project Manager for its corporate solar projects. The ideal candidate will manage project planning, budgeting, and schedules while ensuring profitability and timely delivery. Key responsibilities include leading teams, maintaining relationships with clients and subcontractors, and overseeing project financials. The position requires strong leadership skills, financial management experience, and familiarity with solar projects. Benefits include 401(k), health insurance, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex and multiple projects.
• Experience with budgeting, profitability, and change management.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement project goals as the project lead.
• Create and maintain project schedules and documentation.
• Ensure projects meet financial targets and adhere to safety standards.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Financial management

Client relationship management

Vendor network expansion

Solar project experience

Job description

Click on apply now to access our application. Attach your resume, and include project list or relevant work samples. We appreciate your interest in joining our team.

Position Description

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) – Corporate Solar is responsible for the overall management (plans, budgets, schedules, safety, people, and profit) of multiple projects, multi-phased projects, or large complex projects, delivering work on time and within company profit guidelines.

A Senior Project Manager has demonstrated the ability to successfully manage complex projects and/or increased project volume from preconstruction through closeout. The SPM creates and maintains detailed construction schedules, project documents, and budgets, and implements team strategies aligned with company goals.

Senior PMs are also expected to manage and mentor project team members (including Project Coordinators, Project Engineers, Assistant Project Managers, and/or Project Managers as assigned).

Solar Differentiators (What makes this role unique)

This position is tailored to BEAR’s solar workstream, requiring strong portfolio thinking and consistent execution across multiple concurrent projects. The SPM will:

• Lead solar projects with a strong focus on profitability, schedule performance, and stakeholder communication, while coordinating closely with the Superintendent/field leadership.
• Support solar growth by building and maintaining relationships with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and industry partners, and by helping expand the vendor network for a more competitive solar delivery model.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Planning & Delivery

• Develop, drive, and implement project goals as the project lead.
• Ensure there is a detailed plan for how to achieve each stage of the project.
• Create and maintain project schedules, including 3-week look-aheads.
• Coordinate construction field staff with the project Superintendent/field manager.
• Ensure projects are closed out on a timely basis.
• Ensure projects meet financial targets and align to BEAR’s profit expectations.
• Manage all project financials and ensure profitability for assigned projects.
• Manage change events and process prime and subcontractor contract change orders.
• Assist with timely completion of accounting-related duties (invoicing, collections, AP invoice approvals, contract issuance, reporting).
• Prepare and assist with project estimating as needed.

Preconstruction, Contracts & Procurement

• Support the preconstruction process.
• Create scope of work assignments for subcontractors and vendors.
• Negotiate subcontracts with external vendors to reach profitable agreements.
• Determine needed resources (workforce, equipment, and materials) with attention to budgetary limitations.
• Work to find new vendors and suppliers for expanding markets to create a more competitive project.
• Work with engineering and preconstruction to obtain permits and licenses from appropriate authorities.
• Monitor compliance to applicable codes, QA/QC policies, and performance standards.
• Ensure adherence to all quality, health, and safety standards and report issues in a timely basis.
• Prepare, review, and submit internal and external job status reporting; evaluate progress and prepare detailed reports (including profit status).
• Ensure reporting is completed timely and accurately using company sanctioned software.

Client & Partner Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain working relationships with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and other agencies of the project team.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, consultants, estimators, and other partners to determine project specifications.
• Continue to build and maintain relationships with clients and design teams to support a stable and growing backlog.
• Develop working relationships with industry partners by contacting new and existing customers to discuss needs and nurture relationships for future projects.
• Manage and mentor project team members; provide oversight and training for assigned Project Coordinators, Project Engineers, and Assistant Project Managers.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage complex projects and/or multiple projects from preconstruction through closeout.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability; ability to collaborate with a team and delegate appropriately.
• Strong financial ownership mindset (budgeting, change management, profitability focus).
• Ability to create and maintain detailed project schedules and documentation.
• Experience delivering solar projects with multiple stakeholders and fast-track schedules.
• Experience building/expanding vendor networks in an emerging market segment.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Pet Insurance
• Vision insurance

Equal Opportunity Employer

BEAR Construction provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.