Director, Partner Engagement
Geli
Director, Partner Engagement
Location: Irvine, CA, United States
Location Type: On-site
Salary Range: 150000 - 180000 USD Annually
Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Qcells Service Solutions(‘QSS’) is a residential solar asset operation and maintenance service company powered by Qcells. QSS set up a design standard and installation guide for EnFin TPO and provide a specialized Quality assurance review service. QSS monitors all assets proactively to resolve any issue, so that maximizes homeowner experience and capital investor’s value.
We are seeking an experienced Director of Partner Engagement to lead our partner ecosystem in the solar industry. This senior leadership role will oversee a dedicated team responsible for vendor quality oversight, performance verification, and proactive communication with strategic partners (including suppliers, subcontractors, EPC firms, and installation partners). The primary goal is to drive continuous improvement in operational throughput—accelerating project timelines, increasing installation volumes, reducing rework, and enhancing overall supply chain and deployment efficiency in utility-scale, commercial, and residential solar projects.
The Director will combine strategic relationship management with rigorous quality assurance and process optimization to ensure vendor deliverables meet high standards while fostering collaborative partnerships that boost project velocity and scalability in a fast-growing renewable energy market.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of partner engagement professionals focused on vendor inspections, quality audits, and partner liaison activities.
- Set performance goals, conduct regular reviews, and foster a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee all vendor work verification processes, including on-site inspections, document reviews, compliance checks (e.g., UL standards, IEC certifications, OSHA safety), and quality audits for solar components, racking systems, inverters, and installation services.
- Develop and enforce standardized checklists, escalation protocols, and corrective action plans to minimize defects and delays.
- Serve as the primary executive point of contact for key partners.
- Facilitate regular performance reviews, joint problem-solving sessions, and feedback loops to align on expectations, resolve issues swiftly, and co-develop solutions that enhance collaboration and mutual success.
- Identify bottlenecks in the end-to-end solar project delivery process (procurement → logistics → installation → commissioning).
- Lead cross-functional initiatives to increase throughput metrics—such as installations per week, megawatts deployed per quarter, or cycle time reductions—through process re-engineering, tool implementation, training programs, and performance incentives for partners.
Performance Monitoring & Reporting
- Establish and track KPIs related to vendor quality (defect rates, on-time delivery, rework percentage), partner engagement (response time, satisfaction scores), and throughput (project velocity, capacity utilization).
- Prepare executive dashboards and reports to highlight trends, root causes, and impact of improvement efforts.
Strategic Planning & Program Development
- Design and implement partner engagement frameworks, vendor scorecards, onboarding programs, and continuous improvement roadmaps (e.g., Lean/Six Sigma principles applied to solar deployments).
- Collaborate with procurement, engineering, project management, and field operations teams to align partner strategies with company growth objectives.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all vendor and partner activities comply with industry regulations, safety standards, and contractual obligations.
- Proactively mitigate risks related to supply chain disruptions, quality failures, or performance shortfalls.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Renewable Energy), Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
- Deep understanding of solar industry standards, photovoltaic systems, supply chain dynamics, and installation best practices. Familiarity with Sales Force is strongly preferred
- 10+ years in the solar, renewable energy, or utility-scale construction industry.
- 5+ years in a leadership role managing teams focused on vendor/partner relations, quality assurance, or operational excellence.
- Proven track record improving throughput or process efficiency in complex supply chains or field deployment environments (e.g., solar installations, EPC projects).
- Background working with international vendors or global supply chains for solar components.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- Lean Six Sigma Certified
| PHYSICAL, MENTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS: To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.
*This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.
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