SVP, Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESHQ)

Qcells USA Corp.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA) seeks a SVP, Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESHQ) to provide executive leadership for environmental, safety, health, and quality across EPC construction operations in the United States. The role drives zero-incident culture, regulatory compliance, and quality excellence while partnering with project leadership and corporate functions.

This senior position requires overseeing the Quality Management System, interacting with regulatory agencies, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Environment, Health & Quality or related field.
• 18+ years of progressive ESHQ leadership experience.
• Experience in large-scale EPC/construction environments with ISO standards.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead integrated ESHQ strategy across EPC projects.
• Build and manage a geographically dispersed ESHQ organization.
• Oversee ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, OSHA, and EPA requirements.

Skills

Executive leadership

EHSQ

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, Engineering, or Quality Management

Job description

Description

Title: SVP, Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESHQ)
Department: EPC Business Unit
Location: Houston, TX
Supervisor: COO
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-time

Work Status: Hybrid

SVP, ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY, HEALTH & QUALITY (ESHQ)

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Houston, TX, specializes in providing utility-scale modules, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery energy storage systems (BESS) project development, along with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for solar and BESS projects nationwide. Qcells USA delivers comprehensive turnkey solutions encompassing the entire utility-scale project lifecycle. By choosing Qcells USA for turnkey solutions, customers can reduce uncertainty and risk, leading to enhanced investment returns and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Qcells USA’s complete turnkey solutions seamlessly integrate the expertise of our Development, Module, and EPC teams, while ensuring close coordination with other vital internal groups such as Project Finance, Systems Integration, and Legal. This collaborative approach ensures that Qcells USA projects deliver exceptional value and performance. With several multi‑billion‑$ investments, Qcells is pioneering the establishment of the only complete module supply chain in the U.S., including the expansion of our Georgia module manufacturing facility, which stands as the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

As an integral part of the global Qcells brand, Qcells USA benefits from a legacy of excellence in photovoltaic manufacturing. Qcells is renowned worldwide for its high‑performance, superior-quality solar cells and modules. With dual headquarters in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ), Qcells operates under the umbrella of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 company and one of the top 8 business conglomerates in South Korea.

SUMMARY

The SVP, Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESHQ) provides senior executive leadership over all environmental, safety, health, and quality programs across Qcells USA's EPC construction operations. This role is accountable for developing and executing the company's integrated ESHQ strategy, driving a zero‑incident safety culture, embedding construction quality excellence into every phase of project delivery, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing ESHQ performance across active utility‑scale solar PV and BESS project sites nationwide.

Working in close partnership with EPC project leadership, site teams, subcontractors, and corporate stakeholders, the SVP, ESHQ sets the enterprise standard for environmental stewardship, occupational health, construction safety, and quality management. This role serves as the primary ESHQ authority for the EPC business, owns the company's Quality Management System (QMS), and represents Qcells USA with regulatory agencies, clients, certification bodies, and industry organizations.

This position reports to the COO or another management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position is hybrid, based out of our Houston, TX office, requiring up to 4 days per week in the office. Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. This position is expected to travel up to 40%.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and lead the integrated ESHQ strategy for Qcells USA's EPC business, aligning programs with corporate goals, project requirements, client expectations, and regulatory standards across the ESH and Quality functions
• Build, develop, and manage a high-performing ESHQ organization including site safety managers, environmental coordinators, industrial hygienists, quality managers, and QA/QC engineers across multiple active projects
• Establish and enforce ESHQ policies, standards, and integrated management systems including ISO 45001 (Safety), ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 9001 (Quality), OSHA, and EPA requirements applicable to utility-scale solar and BESS construction
• Drive a proactive zero-incident safety culture through leadership engagement, hazard recognition programs, behavioral safety initiatives, and accountability frameworks embedded across all project sites and subcontractor workforces
• Oversee incident investigation processes; ensure root cause analyses are thorough, corrective actions are implemented, and lessons learned are shared across the project portfolio and incorporated into future planning
• Lead emergency preparedness and crisis response planning for site-level incidents; serve as executive escalation point for serious incidents, regulatory actions, or significant near-misses
• Monitor and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental, safety, and health regulations across all project sites and corporate operations
• Manage environmental permitting, compliance monitoring, stormwater and spill prevention plans, and environmental impact mitigation programs for EPC projects from NTP through construction completion
• Manage relationships with OSHA, EPA, and state regulatory agencies; lead responses to inspections, citations, and enforcement actions with urgency and thoroughness
• Own and continuously improve Qcells USA's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring it is documented, implemented, audited, and certified in accordance with ISO 9001 and applicable client and contractual quality requirements
• Oversee the development, issuance, and field implementation of Construction Quality Management Plans (CQMPs), Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), and quality specifications for all EPC projects
• Manage the non-conformance report (NCR) process across the portfolio, ensuring timely identification, documentation, disposition, and systemic corrective action to prevent recurrence
• Lead quality audits of Qcells USA's construction operations and subcontractor quality programs; drive corrective action plans and track closure to ensure sustained compliance
• Partner with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction teams to integrate quality requirements at the design, procurement, and field execution stages, minimizing rework and defect costs
• Oversee construction punchlist management and systems turnover quality processes, ensuring projects are handed over to owners with complete documentation and no outstanding quality deficiencies
• Develop and maintain ESHQ metrics, KPIs, and reporting frameworks across both safety and quality dimensions; present integrated performance data and strategic updates to executive leadership and the Board
• Partner with EPC project managers and construction managers to integrate ESHQ requirements into project planning, scheduling, and execution from bid phase through close-out
• Oversee ESHQ orientation, training programs, and competency assessments for craft workers, site supervisors, and subcontractor personnel covering safety, environmental, and quality topics
• Support client ESHQ audits, pre‑qualification requirements, and quality reporting obligations across the EPC project portfolio
• Develop and manage the ESHQ department budget, including staffing, equipment, training, certifications, and third‑party services
• Represent Qcells USA in industry associations, safety councils, quality forums, and regulatory proceedings to advance ESHQ best practices in the renewable energy construction sector
• Regular attendance, in accordance with company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned by Management

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 18 years of progressive ESHQ leadership experience, with at least 7 years in a senior or executive role with accountability across both ESH and Quality functions
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated ESHQ programs in large-scale construction, EPC, energy, or infrastructure environments; utility‑scale solar or BESS construction experience strongly preferred
• Deep knowledge of OSHA construction standards (29 CFR 1926), EPA regulations, NFPA 70E, and applicable state safety and environmental requirements
• Proven expertise in Quality Management Systems including ISO 9001 implementation, internal auditing, NCR management, and construction QA/QC program leadership on utility-scale EPC projects
• Experience with integrated management system frameworks (ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001) and leading third‑party certification or surveillance audits
• Proven ability to build and lead geographically dispersed ESHQ teams across multiple concurrent project sites
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Quality Manager (CQM), or equivalent professional certification required or strongly preferred; CIH a plus
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence project leadership, subcontractors, clients, and field personnel at all levels of the organization
• Experience managing regulatory relationships and leading responses to OSHA inspections, EPA audits, client quality audits, or state agency enforcement actions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to present complex ESHQ performance data and strategy to executive leadership, clients, and certification bodies
• Strong organizational and program management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across a fast‑paced, growing construction portfolio

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a day
• Move/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walk
• Carry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 pounds
• Hearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• Sight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and far
• Climb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floors
• Travel: up to 40% as needed

EXAMPLES OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regular professional, office business setting
• Noise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting)
• Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)
• Under the Office Mobilization Plan (OMP) policy, the role may transition to an onsite or hybrid arrangement, as determined by business needs and the Head of Department

Hanwha Qcells is proud to be an at‑will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

It is important to note that the job descriptions provided by Qcells USA Corp are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the positions. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting our dynamic and evolving work environment.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Hanwha Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations at [e-mail].