Director of EPC Warranties

Title: Director of EPC Warranties
Department: Business Planning & Operations
Location: Irvine, CA
Supervisor: Sr. Director of EHSQ
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time

Work Status: Hybrid

DIRECTOR OF EPC WARRANTIES

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Irvine, CA, specializes in providing utility-scale modules, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery energy storage systems (BESS) project development, along with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for solar and BESS projects nationwide. Qcells USA delivers comprehensive turnkey solutions encompassing the entire utility-scale project lifecycle. By choosing Qcells USA for turnkey solutions, customers can reduce uncertainty and risk, leading to enhanced investment returns and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Qcells USA’s complete turnkey solutions seamlessly integrate the expertise of our Development, Module, and EPC teams, while ensuring close coordination with other vital internal groups such as Project Finance, Systems Integration, and Legal. This collaborative approach ensures that Qcells USA projects deliver exceptional value and performance. With several multi-billion-dollar investments, Qcells is pioneering the establishment of the only complete module supply chain in the U.S., including the expansion of our Georgia module manufacturing facility, which stands as the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

As an integral part of the global Qcells brand, Qcells USA benefits from a legacy of excellence in photovoltaic manufacturing. Qcells is renowned worldwide for its high-performance, superior-quality solar cells and modules. With dual headquarters in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ), Qcells operates under the umbrella of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 company and one of the top 8 business conglomerates in South Korea.

SUMMARY

The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of the warranty program, utilizing a cross-functional leadership style working closely with internal teams such as Construction, Engineering, and Purchasing as well externally with OEMs who have supplied equipment and subcontractor for workmanship claims. The candidates shall have adequate technical & commercial aptitudes and be able to understand what constitutes legitimate warranty claims and technical issues faced by the completed projects. 

This position reports to the Sr. Director of EHSQ or another management personnel that the President of the Company may designate. This position is Hybrid located in Irvine, CA (we will consider remote candidates), working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. There are requirements for travel, as necessary across projects in the warranty stage. This position is expected to travel up to 40% of the time.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of processes to track warranty claims and related KPIs
• Designs strategies to minimize the overall cost of warranty claims
• Leads the deployment of upstream warranty requirements into downstream contracts
• Provide management expertise and insight to accurately mitigate risks associated with warran- ties
• Handles or oversees and provides support to manage warranty claims, from initiation to close- out
• Interprets contract language to understand Contractors and Vendors responsibilities related to equipment and workmanship
• Obtain thorough understanding and maintaining of QCELLS USA EPC warranty obligations to each customer and developing a collaborative relationship
• Ability to find creative solutions to complex problems
• Reviews and analyzes contract records to advice technical and Commercial SMEs to determine legitimacy of claims
• Coordinates clarifications and closure with contractors and OEMs on warranty related queries, in timely manner
• Supports integration of Company systems to track, monitor and control costs of warranty claims
• Oversees the warranty claims reporting by creating and maintaining a database of all claims
• Prepares dashboard reports and recommendations for progressing warranty claims along with KPIs and advises team on data-driven decision making
• Ensures accurate utilization of approved systems for document control and updates of war- ranty claims and repairs
• Leads the communications with owner, projects, and HQ for identifying, monitoring, and re- solving warranty claims
• Interfaces with legal counsels as appropriate
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives
• Create cost of claim closure financial estimates; risk and opportunity management
• Negotiate, draft and execute end of warranty settlements
• See through the execution of any QCELLS USA EPC warranty obligations alongside team members
• Performs additional assignments as required, for EHSQ support.
• Regular attendance, in accordance with company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university and 10+ years of experience or 15+ years of experience managing claims or utility-scale solar/renewable energy
• Contract management experience 
• Prior experience in the contract negotiation, project management, engineering, warranty management, solar industry experience 
• Proficiency in the Procore Construction Management Software, and Microsoft software suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability and desire to negotiate warranty claims with internal and external customers 
• Strong oral and written communication skills directed at both internal executives and external customers 
• Proven team player and collaborator with various levels of corporate structures 
• Successful track record of operating commercially and executing plans effectively 
• Ability to effectively present information internally and externally 
• Proven experience working in fast paced, high visibility environment 
• Experience working in cross-functional teams 
• Travel Required: up to 40% 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PowerBI experience
• Prior customer facing role

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a day
• Move/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walk
• Carry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 pounds
• Hearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• Sight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and far
• Climb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floors
• Travel: up to 40% as needed

EXAMPLES OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regular professional, office business setting
• Noise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting)
• Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)

SALARY RANGE FOR POSITION

The anticipated starting pay range of this position, which is to be located in Irvine, CA is $165,000 - $195,00 base salary per year.

The above-listed salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. The salary range shared in the job description is for the listed position and only pertains to the candidate if they work in Irvine, CA. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to internal pay equity, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, geographic location, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications. An additional discretionary bonus structure or incentives may be offered as part of the overall compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, dental, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Hanwha Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

It is important to note that the job descriptions provided by Qcells USA Corp are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the positions. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting our dynamic and evolving work environment.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  As part of this commitment, Hanwha Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.  Please contact us to request accommodations at [email protected].

Nothing in this statement shall imply implicitly or explicitly a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.