What Do Solar Energy Installation Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Solar Energy Installation Managers direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems. They also supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Other tasks include:

• Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
• Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
• Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
• Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.
• Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
• Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.

We asked Solar Energy Installation Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Solar Energy Installation Managers estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects. They supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.

A typical day for a Solar Energy Installation Manager will also include:

• Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
• Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
• Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
• Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase efficiency of solar installation projects.
• Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.

We asked some Solar Energy Installation Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	60% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	59% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	86% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	32% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	58% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Solar Energy Installation Managers also purchase or rent equipment for solar energy system installation. They may also coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Solar Energy Installation Managers Evaluate subcontractors or subcontractor bids for quality, cost, and reliability. They might also Visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.

In addition, they Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.

To some Solar Energy Installation Managers, it is also their responsibility to Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Solar Energy Installation Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/solar-photovoltaic-installers.htm

http://www.bls.gov/green/solar_power/