Director, Operations and Maintenance Business Development

Job Description

Strata Clean Energy is one of the largest Solar PV and Storage Operations & Maintenance providers in the United States and continues to grow. We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Business Development professional to lead strategic growth of Strata's Operations and Maintenance division. This role is pivotal in driving the company's growth by leading and coordinating the development of strategic growth plans which support growth in current and future markets. The role will focus on implementation of the strategic plan by developing high-quality, competitive proposals for Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services related to solar photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in renewable energy services, market analysis, customer engagement, technical writing, pricing strategy, and cross-functional collaboration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor industry trends, competitor offerings, and regulatory developments to inform proposal positioning and strategy.
• Lead the end-to-end proposal development process for O&M contracts, ensuring on-time submission of compliant, compelling, and customer-focused proposals.
• Review and analyze Requests for Proposals (RFPs), RFIs, and tender documents to determine requirements, deliverables.
• Write, edit, and coordinate technical and commercial proposal content, including executive summaries, service descriptions, pricing narratives, and capability statements.
• Develop pricing strategies and cost models in coordination with Business Operations to ensure competitive and profitable bids.
• Serve as a central liaison between Business Development, Engineering, Legal, Procurement, and O&M Operations to gather input and ensure alignment on proposal content.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients during the negotiation and post-sales phases, ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Track competitor activities and identify new market opportunities to stay ahead of industry trends.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to develop promotional materials, case studies, and other content for business development activities.
• Maintain and enhance proposal templates, boilerplate content, and knowledge libraries specific to solar and BESS O&M.
• Collaborate with account managers and technical teams to ensure seamless project execution and maintenance service delivery.
• Provide feedback to internal teams regarding customer needs and preferences to enhance service offerings.
• Monitor and report on the success of new business initiatives and partnerships.
• Must be a self-starter who takes initiative and possesses an "ownership" attitude to follow up on assigned tasks and issues.
• Requires the ability to handle multiple complex issues under pressure simultaneously and successfully.
• Interpersonal skills with the desire and ability to develop relationships and work closely with cross functional support teams.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Responsible for leading and managing the negotiation process with clients and stakeholders, ensuring the contract terms align with the company's capabilities and business objectives.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Renewable Energy, or a related field. A Master's degree or MBA is a plus.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of business development or sales experience in the renewable energy sector, with a focus on Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
• Proven track record of successfully developing and executing business strategies, managing client relationships, and closing deals.
• Experience with O&M services for renewable energy systems is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System technologies, O&M requirements, and industry standards.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to operate in a manner consistent with organizational policies, procedures, and vision.
• Ability to communicate with peers, supervisor, and all other individuals both effectively and respectfully within and outside of the organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications to include but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint, as well as various industry-related software platforms.
• Ability to collaborate with technical teams and effectively translate complex technical solutions to non-technical stakeholders.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• The role primarily involves office-based activities such as meetings, phone calls, presentations, and working on a computer. This requires the ability to sit for long periods, manage administrative tasks, and prepare documents, reports, and proposals. Must have the ability to travel to remote project sites, warehouses and depots.
• The role may involve visits to solar farms, BESS installations, or other operational sites to meet with clients, contractors, or technical teams.
• Ability to wear full complement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.