Manager, New Homes Utility Interconnections

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Qcells North America is seeking a Manager of New Home Utility Interconnections to oversee the end-to-end processing of utility interconnection applications for solar, battery storage, and smart energy systems in new home communities. This role will be responsible for executing and improving day-to-day workflows, submitting and tracking PTO applications, resolving utility rejections, and ensuring all documentation, data, and timelines meet internal SLAs and utility requirements.

The ideal candidate is a detail driven operations professional with experience in high-volume process management, utility or permitting workflows, and cross-functional coordination across design, field operations, sales, builders, and electric utilities. This person will play a critical role in building scalable interconnection processes as Qcells expands its new home solar footprint across California and other U.S. markets.

• Execute and manage day-to-day interconnection workflows for new home solar and storage installations, ensuring timely and accurate submission of Permission to Operate (PTO) applications across California IOUs and municipal utilities.
• Research new electric utilities as they are added to the builder portfolio to determine suitability for solar and/or solar + storage interconnections.
• Document each utility’s interconnection processes, timelines, fees, net metering policies, metering requirements, and any applicable restrictions or rate structures for accurate Salesforce record creation.
• Coordinate with builder contacts to secure all necessary utility authorization agreements, letters of authorization (LOAs), or portal credentials when submitting PTO applications under the builder’s utility account when applicable.
• Collaborate with the Customer Experience team to obtain homeowner information, signatures, or post-closing support documentation when required for application completion.
• Monitor Salesforce records for interconnection-related milestones, documentation requirements, and application statuses; ensure data is accurately captured and maintained across home, contract, and interconnection records.
• Identify and resolve interconnection rejections or utility deficiencies by coordinating with design, operations, legal, and field teams; ensure all necessary corrections are implemented and resubmitted promptly.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to build scalable SOPs, documentation templates, and utility-specific process maps that align with evolving interconnection rules and builder timelines.
• Partner with IT and Salesforce administrators to flag and improve automation workflows, including PDF generation, status tracking, and utility-specific triggers.
• Track interconnection KPIs and help design Salesforce reports and dashboards to measure application turnaround times, rejection rates, utility performance, and internal processing gaps.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for coordinating with installation partners, field inspectors, and utility representatives when escalations or on-the-ground troubleshooting is required.
• Support the Senior Manager of Interconnections in scaling the department, training new hires, identifying automation opportunities, and continuously optimizing processes for future utility and VPP integrations.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Energy Systems, Public Policy, or a related field, with a minimum of 8+ years of professional work experience including 5-8+ years of work experience in utility interconnection, solar operations, or energy project management; at least 2+ years in a direct solar interconnection, permitting, or program management role.
• Familiarity with California IOU and municipal utility interconnection processes (e.g., PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SMUD), including net energy metering (NEM), Rule 21, PTO workflows, and experience tracking and resolving common rejection types.
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRMs to manage complex operational workflows, with strong data hygiene and reporting instincts.
• Ability to read and interpret solar and storage system design sets, single-line diagrams, site plans,…