Position: Senior Technical Project Manager – Solar for All
Reports to: Senior Program Manager, Solar for All
Compensation*: Starting salary range: $81,600 - $102,800 commensurate with skills and experience, Full Pay Range: $81,600 - $124,000
Energy Trust is committed to pay equity. Energy Trust is committed to fair employment practices and non-discrimination, including pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class (race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation) in the payment of wages or screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. We determine salary by completing a review of your application materials to evaluate your related education, experience and training.
*Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications in the pay equity assessment to determine equitable salary placement. Candidates should expect compensation offers within the starting compensation range. The full pay range is included to show the earnings potential for this position with sustained high performance.
Employment Classification: Full Time, Exempt – Limited Term Duration
Anticipated Start Date: Late July/Early August
Office Location: Portland Metro Area, Oregon, USA
Application Deadline: Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, June 13th 5:00PM PST. We reserve the right to close the application process early or keep the posting open based on candidate volume and progress in the recruitment process. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
BACKGROUND
About Energy Trust of Oregon
Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. We serve Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista, and SW Washington customers of NW Natural. Year over year Energy Trust is recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.
Our Vision
Clean, affordable energy for everyone.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We recognize the lack of diversity in our industry, and we actively seek to address it with our hiring and retention practices as well as our values. We believe every person and their lived experience is integral to building a vibrant culture and delivering effective services to all customers we serve. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.
Our Location
Energy Trust operations on a fully flexible working model which includes hybrid option or onsite-office work. We are open to candidates who live throughout Oregon and Washington.
What We’re Looking For:
Given its funding source, the estimated end date of this position is 4/30/2029, with potential for other opportunities after its conclusion.
The Sr. Technical Project Manager – Solar for All will lead the technical support for advanced community solar developments, with a strong emphasis on overcoming utility interconnection challenges. This includes direct coordination with utilities, management of external engineering consultants, and resolution of complex compliance issues. This role is part of a broader statewide initiative funded by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All grant and contributes directly to achieving its goals to expand access to solar energy for eligible low-income and priority customer groups.
Additionally, this position provides early project development guidance to a wide range of stakeholders - including public, nonprofit, tribal, and community-based organizations - many of whom are new to solar energy and construction. The incumbent offers hands-on guidance across all stages of project development. The role also includes executing competitive procurement processes and developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to select and manage consultants providing tailored technical assistance that ensures project success and maximizes community benefits.
This position is based in Portland, Oregon, and requires quarterly in-person attendance at Energy Trust’s office, monthly participation in core department meetings, and occasional travel to project sites for field evaluations or stakeholder engagement. Total travel time is estimated to be no more than 10% cumulative.
What You’ll Do:
- Support community-solar projects ranging in size from 25kW to 3MW in navigating the utility Small Generator Interconnection Process (GIP) within the Oregon Community Solar Program (OCSP).
- Facilitate utility-developer coordination to address interconnection barriers.
- Design and run competitive RFPs to select consultants, community partners, and contractors to support low-income serving community solar projects.
- Play an active role in providing technical support for community-led, nonprofit-driven solar project development by connecting organizations with installation contractors and overseeing the planning and development process.
- Support financial planning and project modeling, including exploring community ownership structures and creative financing options to ensure long-term project sustainability.
- Explore the feasibility and benefits of integrating battery storage for backup power and grid dispatch capacity, especially for projects serving as community hubs and emergency gathering centers.
- Establish and maintain effective collaboration with external partners, including developers, contractors, and community-based organization (CBO) project proponents, ensuring projects stay on track and aligned with goals.
- Cultivate a relationship with the OCSP Administrator and relevant Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) staff to ensure projects comply with OCSP program requirements and remain aligned with program expectations.
- Track community solar project progress and ensure financial and technical assistance or installation incentives are processed correctly and in compliance with federal grant requirements, including Build America, Buy America (BABA) compliance and other project-specific design terms.
- Evaluate and continuously improve the Solar for All Community Solar Program based on feedback and performance data.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
- Perform all functions of the job in a safe manner.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
- This position does not have direct employee supervisory responsibilities but will oversee and manage 10-15 subcontractors and 20-30 unique community solar project developments over a 3–4-year period.
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor’s degree (engineering, energy systems, construction management, public planning or environmental science preferred) or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum five years of professional experience in project evaluation, technical customer support or design/construction/development (direct experience with at least one renewable energy technology preferred).
- Minimum three years of experience in managing program initiatives or project management.
- Deep understanding of utility interconnection processes, distributed generation regulations, and solar system design for systems up to 3 MW.
- Understanding of solar energy project development, solar system design and engineering basics, as well as project financial modelling.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills and writing ability.
- Demonstrated ability to work constructively with parties that may have divergent interests.
- Ability to oversee contractors, project developers and consultants.
- Strong Excel skills and demonstrated experience in financial modeling for renewable energy, in addition to Power Point and Word software applications.
- Familiarity with renewable energy incentives, tax credits (including ITC, bonus credits, depreciation), and financing options for community-based projects.
- Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and be comfortable working in culturally diverse settings and groups.
- Public speaking experience is preferred.
The above information is designed to outline the major functions and position requirements of this job. It does not identify all tasks that may be expected, nor address the performance standards that must be maintained.
What You’ll Get:
- Health/dental/vision insurance
- Employer sponsored and paid life/disability
- 401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment
- TriMet pass
- Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts
- Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick days
- Paid volunteer hours
- Employee assistance program
- Career advancement opportunities
- Great colleagues and culture
- Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location
- Work from home laptop provided
- Read more about our benefits here
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
Our interview process will consist of the following:
- Recruiter Screen
- Hiring Manager Screen
- Panel Interview
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Please submit a cover letter and resume on Energy Trust’s website www.energytrust.org/About/careers.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that candidates from certain demographics are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification—for example, women and People of Color. At Energy Trust we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.
Energy Trust of Oregon is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, mental and physical disability, political affiliation, union membership, status as a parent, military or veteran status or other non-merit based factors. We will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the application, interviewing and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, contact us. Energy Trust of Oregon is an E-Verify employer. This policy is applicable to all phases of the employment relationship, including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, terminations, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.
www.energytrust.org