Regional Quality Manager

Description

Title: Regional Quality Manager

Department: EHSQ / Quality

Location: Houston, TX

Supervisor: Senior Director of Quality

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Status: Permanent, Full-time

Work Status (Remote/Hybrid/In-Office): Remote

Regional Quality Manager

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (“HQC US”) develops, invests, and delivers solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects through Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) services in North America. The company brings a decade of global leadership in solar PV to deliver utility-scale power generation plants customized for local and regional energy markets. HQC US offers the full spectrum of PV solutions – from the core technology of cells and modules to large-scale project development and investment. With proven capabilities across the solar and battery storage chain, HQC US minimizes uncertainty and risk, and helps customers achieve a higher return on their investment in renewable energy.

SUMMARY

The Regional Quality Manager (RQM ) is the senior quality leader responsible for managing their assigned portfolio of projects within a designated construction group. Acting as the single point of contact for all regional quality matters, this role ensures consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement across a dynamic set of projects, which may range from a handful to as many as several dozen active or upcoming sites. The RQM oversees Site Quality Managers and, depending on portfolio size and complexity, may also manage other key staff within their own team structure. Success in this role requires a balance of technical expertise, portfolio-level oversight, and people leadership. The RQM is expected to own their region’s Quality program delivery covering pre-construction planning, audits, Cost of Quality management, KPI reporting, team development, and cross-functional collaboration while building a culture of accountability, process discipline, and excellence in Procore and SharePoint system usage. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Quality and interfaces regularly with regional construction leadership and corporate management teams. The role is remote, with standard business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. Travel is required up to 25% of the time, which may include short-notice trips and extended site visits as business needs dictate.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

- Serve as the single point of contact for all regional quality issues, directly supporting the Senior Director of Quality.

- Manage the Quality program across a portfolio of projects (up to 50 active sites), ensuring compliance with QMS requirements, company standards, and contractual obligations.

- Provide structured reporting and communicate Quality KPIs at weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual intervals, delivering insights on audit outcomes, staffing, portfolio risks, and overall performance.

- Oversee, mentor, and support Site Quality Managers.

- Support recruitment, interviews, and onboarding of quality staff within the region.

- Lead pre-construction quality planning, including scheduling updates, constructability reviews, and development of site-specific quality deliverables.

- Review LNTP and EPCA contract documents for assigned projects to identify quality related requirements, ensuring they are incorporated into site-specific plans, ITPs, and compliance reviews.

- Manage Cost of Quality (COQ) metrics, ensuring prevention, appraisal, and internal failure costs are tracked and communicated.

- Conduct and oversee regional audits, inspections, and site reviews; ensure timely corrective and preventive actions are implemented and closed.

- Monitor non-conformance trends across the portfolio and drive root cause analysis and systemic improvements.

- Develop, review, and approve Site-Specific Quality Management Plans (SSQMPs), Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), and Verification Checklists.

- Facilitate training for regional teams, ensuring staff understand and consistently follow QMS processes, Procore workflows, and SharePoint documentation practices

- Represent Quality in regional construction and corporate management meetings, ensuring alignment with operational priorities.

- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, construction, safety, commissioning, and operations teams to embed quality into project execution.

- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, process discipline, and accountability across the region.

- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

KEY COMPETENCIES / CORE SKILLS

- Leads distributed quality teams with confidence and accountability.

- Balances competing priorities across large, complex project portfolios.

- Applies deep technical expertise in PV solar construction (structural, mechanical, electrical, DAS).

- Analyzes and communicates KPIs, audit findings, and Cost of Quality data to drive decisions.

- Drives consistency by following and enforcing standardized processes in Procore and SharePoint.

- Engages enthusiastically with digital systems, modeling collaborative and disciplined use for regional teams.

- Communicates with clarity and professionalism at all organizational levels.

- Maintains composure and professionalism under pressure and in conflict situations.

- Adapts quickly to changing project scopes, schedules, and staffing needs.

- Builds collaborative relationships with regional construction and corporate leadership.

- Embeds lessons learned and continuous improvement into training, processes, and practices.

- Ensures accuracy and consistency in documentation by organizing and structuring large volumes of project data methodically.

- Meets deadlines reliably while managing multiple simultaneous project requirements.

- Provides clear, step-by-step guidance when training others on digital workflows.

- Maintains a professional, solutions-focused mindset even when tackling tedious or high-volume tasks.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Minimum of 10 years of progressive quality management experience in large-scale construction, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

- Demonstrated experience managing project portfolios or multi-site programs within EPC, utility, or industrial construction.

- Experience interfacing with project owners, lenders, and external stakeholders on quality matters.

- Proven ability to author and maintain SOPs, ITPs, Work Instructions, and technical documentation.

- Strong familiarity with PV solar construction practices, including structural, electrical, and mechanical scopes.

- Experience with Cost of Quality (COQ) tracking and KPI management/reporting.

- Proficiency with Procore (Quality & Field Management modules) and SharePoint as primary systems of record; ability to model and enforce disciplined system usage.

- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

- Excellent collaboration and communication skills across departments and stakeholders.

- Experience managing distributed or remote teams.

- Ability to work remotely with a reliable high-speed internet connection and flexibility to support projects across Eastern through Pacific Time Zones.

- Must hold and maintain a valid U.S. driver’s license and have the ability to safely operate/rent vehicles for business travel without restrictions.

- Ability to successfully pass a motor vehicle/driving record background check in accordance with company policy.

- Must be able to pass pre-employment, regular, and random drug and alcohol screenings in compliance with company and customer requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience working within EPC or EPCm construction organizations, particularly on large- scale solar PV or renewable energy projects.

- Experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and/or substation construction projects.

- Bachelor’s degree in Construction, Engineering, or related technical discipline.

- Professional certifications such as: ASQ (CMQ-OE / CCQM / CQE), NABCEP (PVIP, PVSI,

PVCMS), PMI (PMP/PgMP/PfMP), Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)

- Advanced proficiency with Procore, including workflow configuration, data integrations, and system automation.

- Experience training and mentoring staff in digital systems (Procore, SharePoint, Microsoft Office).

- Experience in both subcontractor and self-performing contractor environments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

- Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while operating a computer and reviewing documentation.

- Ability to sustain focus on detailed computer-based work with a high degree of accuracy.

- Ability to effectively exchange accurate information in verbal and written form with employees, contractors, and external stakeholders.

- Ability to conduct occasional site visits for audits and inspections. Site work may require wearing PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, high-visibility clothing), walking on uneven terrain, and exposure to outdoor weather and construction activity.

- Ability to travel domestically up to 25% of the time, including by air, with flexibility for short notice trips and overnight stays.

- Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

- Primary work performed in a remote/home office environment, requiring reliable high-speed internet and standard office equipment, including audio/video conferencing.

- Occasional work performed in a professional business office setting with low to moderate noise levels.

- Occasional visits to solar, BESS, and substation construction sites, where conditions may include moderate to high noise levels, outdoor weather exposure, dust, and uneven terrain. Appropriate PPE will be provided and required.

- Regular interaction with cross-functional teams in both virtual and in-person settings, requiring adaptability to both independent and collaborative work environments.

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.

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 hr-usa@qcells.com.

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

This job position is specific to Qcells USA Corp. only and not any other Hanwha affiliates. 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. If candidates are considered for a nationwide role, then the compensation range will follow the marketability of the job function within those states. 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.

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