HV Operations Manager

SOLV Energy is a leading provider of infrastructure services to the power industry, designing, building and maintaining utility scale solar, battery storage and high voltage substation projects nationwide.

Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

*This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provide leadership and oversight for day-to-day operations of high-voltage electrical infrastructure projects, with a core focus on substations (69kV–500kV), switchyards, and transmission interconnections

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve substation-focused operational procedures and best practices in alignment with utility standards, NESC, and OSHA guidelines

• Mentor and develop field leadership personnel including superintendents, assistant superintendents, foremen, and craft labor—emphasizing technical competency and safety in substation construction

• Coordinate closely with engineering, procurement, and subcontracting teams to ensure accurate design interpretation, on-time delivery of major substation components (transformers, breakers, relays, P&C panels), and field readiness

• Conduct regular site visits and quality control inspections specific to substation installations, grounding, relay wiring, terminations, and equipment testing

• Enforce and model a strong culture of safety, with a priority on energized substation environments and high-voltage electrical hazards, following SOLV and OSHA standards

• Lead task planning and crew mobilization activities, providing clear direction for substation civil, electrical, and commissioning scopes

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, utility, and internal standards applicable to substation construction, energization, and operation

• Serve as the primary operations liaison with utilities, project owners, regulatory agencies, contractors, and vendors, maintaining transparent communication and issue resolution

• Monitor and track construction progress, commissioning milestones, and operational KPIs, reporting updates and challenges to senior leadership

• Support project handoff to O&M teams post-energization, ensuring all as-built documentation, testing records, and training materials are in place

• Lead and participate in lessons learned reviews to improve future substation operations

Objectives or Goals to Measure Performance:

• Adherence to company policies, safety manuals, and substation-specific operational procedures

• Timely and safe execution of substation scope in accordance with project schedule

• On-budget performance and effective resource utilization across all projects

• High-quality construction and commissioning outcomes, with minimal rework

• Positive evaluations from clients, utilities, and regulatory bodies

• Growth and competency development of substation-focused field personnel

• Accurate, timely reporting of key performance metrics to senior management

• Strong collaboration with internal departments and external partners

Minimum Skills or Experience Requirements

• 7–10 years of experience in high-voltage substation construction, commissioning, or operations, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management capacity

• Experience working with IBEW locals within California and surrounding states

• Proven track record managing utility-scale substation projects (greenfield or retrofit), including civil, structural, electrical, and protection & control scopes

• Strong knowledge of substation equipment, grounding systems, relay coordination, SCADA integration, and utility interconnection procedures

• Demonstrated experience in operational planning, budget control, resource allocation, and contractor oversight

• Familiarity with NFPA 70E and recognition as a “Qualified Person” preferred

• OSHA 30-hour Construction Safety Certification required

• Proficient in scheduling and project management tools (P6, MS Project, Procore, or similar)

• Strong leadership, team-building, and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to analyze problems, propose solutions, and execute field-level decisions independently

• Willingness to travel extensively and support site operations in remote or varied environments

Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

• Frequent walking, standing, lifting (50+ lbs), climbing, bending, and reaching in outdoor field conditions

• Exposure to energized equipment, elevated work locations, and construction environments

• Must maintain depth perception, hearing, and clear vision at close and long distances

• Requires use of PPE, ability to work around heavy equipment and mechanical systems

• Occasional exposure to extreme weather conditions and physically demanding tasks

SOLV Energy Is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At SOLV Energy we celebrate the power of our differences. We are committed to building diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces that improve our communities. SOLV Energy prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind against an employee or applicant based on race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, or ethnicity, mental or physical disability, veteran status, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits:

Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance. Employees can enroll in our company’s 401(k) plan and are provided vacation, sick and holiday pay.

Compensation Range:

$163,248.00 - $217,694.00

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

If you’re interested in a meaningful career with a brighter future, join the SOLV Energy Team.