Sr Project Manager (Energy Storage)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Company Summary:

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of solar cells, modules and custom-designed solar power applications. Canadian Solar’s world-class team of professionals works closely with our customers to provide them with solutions for all of their solar needs. Founded in 2001, Canadian Solar is one of the world’s fastest-growing companies in the solar industry and has been listed on the NASDAQ since November 2006. Canadian Solar is an equal opportunity employer.

Position Summary:

The Sr. Project Manager, Energy Storage will be responsible for managing the execution of BESS projects from Limited Notice to Proceed activities through to Final Completion.  This will include managing and coordinating all related activities with various stakeholders including internal departments, the client / owner, equipment vendors, EPC’s and general contractors and various subcontractors to provide a ‘turn-key’ BESS project.  A significant amount of project management and EPC construction experience is required as well as demonstrated influence, negotiation and conflict resolution skills. 

Responsibilities:

Overall:

• Manage the execution of one or more cross-functional projects of medium to high complexity (quality, scope, schedule, cost, communication, resource issues, risks and customer satisfaction).
• Serves as primary point-of-contact by establishing, maintaining and managing customer, subcontractor, and joint venture partner's expectations (where applicable) relating to project performance.
• Responsible for assembling project plans and teamwork assignments, directing and monitoring work efforts on a daily basis, identifying resource needs, performing quality review, and escalating functionality, quality, timeline issues appropriately.
• Coordinates communication with all areas of the organization that impacts the scope, budget, risk and resources of the work effort being managed.
• Determine and assess need for additional staff and/or consultants and make the appropriate recruitments if necessary during project cycle.
• Determine the frequency and content of status reports from the project team, analyze results, and troubleshoot problem areas.
• Define project success criteria and disseminate them to involved parties throughout project life cycle.
• Coach, mentor, motivate and supervise project team members and contractors, and influence them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
• Build, develop, and grow any business relationships vital to the success of the project.
• Conduct project post mortems and create a recommendations report in order to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements.
• Develop best practices and tools for project execution and management.
• Ensure all environmental, health and safety policies and procedures are followed.
• Complete other duties and projects as assigned.

LNTP:

• Support Sales and Application Engineering team with  due diligence of Storage project opportunities.
• Work in conjunction with in-house system designers as well as subcontractors to prepare project-specific system design plans that take into account customer site- and project considerations as well as pertinent local codes and regulations.
• Assist in estimation of project costs and development of project schedules.
• Prepare, negotiate and manage surveying, geotech or other such work scopes to support project execution activities.
• Develop and manage project requirements, division of responsibility, request for proposals and make procurement recommendation for construction and various supporting subcontractors.
• Support commercial and legal team in preparing and negotiating EPC Contracts.

Engineering:

• Prepare, negotiate and manage design engineering contracts.
• Manage construction permitting activities and ensure that all required construction permits have been obtained.
• Schedules due dates for drawings, specifications, software, technical manuals, and other documents required to complete technical proposals.
• Direct and support the Project Engineer in leading the engineering activities.

Procurement and Construction:

• Oversee project execution to ensure that all systems are installed exactly according to plan and that there are no technical installation errors committed that would decrease system performance or lifespan or cause potential system failure.
• Develop full-scale project plans and associated communications documents.
• Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path.
• Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.
• Direct and support Project Coordinator in coordinating day to day project management activities.
• Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team.
• Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential crises, and devise contingency plans.
• Monitors the status of the project to ensure documentation is submitted according to schedule.
• Reviews and verifies project documents for completeness, format, and compliance with contract requirements.

Quality and H&S:

• Ensure that the site construction activities adhere to established safety requirements and construction protocols.
• Coordinate project’s supplier quality audits in collaboration with Procurement and Quality teams.
• Monitors the status of the project to ensure documentation is submitted according to schedule.
• Reviews and verifies project documents for completeness, format, and compliance with contract requirements.

Reporting:

• Reports project status and performance data as required to management, project sponsors and other stakeholders.
• Promote transparent communication and use of company project management platform and tools.
• Collaborate with execution team leadership to implement state of the art project management tools.
• Maintain and report monthly of project budget and payment status.

Requirements:

• Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) degree or diploma
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in managing construction projects, with preference for experience in utility scale renewalbe projects
• Bilingual in Mandarin & English – Essential
• Extensive project management and EPC construction experience with the ability to influence, gain consensus, and drive projects to completion – Essential
• Strong negotiation, facilitation, risk management and consensus building skills.
• Knowledge of general and national codes, medium voltage power systems and photovoltaic or Energy Storage system applications is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally and influence positively a diverse group of executives, managers, and subject matter experts.
• Proven ability to prioritize, manage multiple projects, and execute in a fast-paced and dynamic environment with a strong ownership mentality.
• Expert knowledge of creating business requirements, work plans, project schedules and associated project artifacts.
• Professional-level capabilities with project management tools (e.g., MS 365 and Microsoft Project).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license with a driving record.
• Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time to domestic locations as needed per project.
• Ability to function successfully both independently and within a team
• Demonstrated professional appearance and conduct
• Work will be performed in a standard office environment, in front of a computer monitor and will involve sitting, bending, standing, walking, typing, reaching.