Business Development Manager
Solar Business Development Manager
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire
Type: Permanent, Full-time (Mon-Fri 3 days onsite, 2 wfh, Hybrid set up)
Salary: Up to £68k pending candidate experience (+ £4k car allowance)
Project Partners are now recruiting for a Solar Business Development Manager to lead, establish and grow the clients Solar PV market portfolio. The ideal candidate will be someone with a strong Solar Energy and Business Development background who is ready to get stuck in and generate new leads for the company to grow within the Solar PV Market.
Purpose of role:
The Solar Energy Development Manager will lead our clients' entry, establishment and growth within the Solar PV market. The postholder will be responsible for building the complete operational, commercial and compliance capability required to deliver safe, efficient and profitable solar installation programmes across domestic and commercial environments. The role combines business development, programme establishment and technical oversight ensuring our client develops robust processes, a skilled workforce, and a reliable supply chain. Working closely with Solutions, PMO, Programme Delivery, Training, Quality, HSSQE and Supply Chain teams, the postholder will embed high standards of safety, compliance, customer experience and operational performance while driving continuous improvement and contributing to our clients strategic growth in renewables.
Duties and Key Responsibilities (Day-to-day requirements and Smart Objectives). Please note this list is non-exhaustive.
Objectives (SMART) Within 3 Months:
Produce a Solar Opportunity Roadmap outlining target customer segments, revenue modelling and delivery requirements.
Establish the core solar supply chain (minimum 3 panel suppliers, 2 inverter suppliers, 2 roof/subcontract partners).
Deliver a Solar Capability Gap Analysis across our clients workforce with training recommendations.
Create Solar Installation Process v1.0 including survey design install commission steps.
Within 6 Months:
Support training and upskilling of at least 10 operatives (surveyors/electricians/fitters).
Finalise Solar Quality & Compliance Framework aligned to industry standards.
Deliver the first fully compliant solar installations with our clients crews (pilot phase).
Implement supply chain performance measures and monthly reporting.
Within 12 Months:
Grow monthly installation capacity to agreed business targets (based on strategic ramp).
Achieve 95% first-time-right installations across pilot programmes.
Reduce installation cycle time by 20% through process optimisation.
Contribute to our clients achieving their annual solar revenue target.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Business Development & Opportunity Growth
Identify, qualify and develop new Solar PV opportunities across domestic, commercial and local authority sectors.
Produce business cases, growth plans, and revenue projections in line with our clients financial targets.
Develop and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders, clients, suppliers, distributors and technology partners.
Support the Customer Solutions Director with bid input, pricing strategies, solution design and commercial models.
2. Programme Establishment & Delivery Readiness
Work closely with the PMO to define programme structures, workflows, risks, quality gates and delivery milestones.
Develop scalable processes for survey, design, installation, commissioning, and aftercare.
Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms for installation throughput, quality and customer satisfaction.
Ensure all installation activities comply with MCS, DNO, IET, HSE and relevant Solar PV industry standards.
3. Internal Capability Growth & Workforce Upskilling
Identify skills gaps (surveyors, electricians, fitters, PMs).
Work with the Training and Quality Teams to develop:
o Training roadmaps
o Modular training programmes
o Accreditation pathways for operatives
o Toolbox talks, SOPs and competency frameworks
Coach internal teams to work confidently and safely within solar installation environments.
Support Solutions and Programme Teams with technical guidance during the early phases of rollout.
4. Supply Chain Development & Management
Source, vet and onboard a reliable, compliant solar supply chain, including:
o Panel and inverter manufacturers
o Mounting and racking suppliers
o Battery storage partners
o Roofing and scaffolding subcontractors
Maintain approved supplier lists, ensuring pricing accuracy and availability of materials.
Manage commercial agreements, performance reviews and cost updates, working with Procurement and Solutions Teams.
5. Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
Ensure full compliance with HSSQE, MCS, electrical safety standards and industry best practice.
Lead root-cause analysis and improvement actions for defects, rework or client complaints.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives across delivery, safety, customer experience and cost efficiency.
Ensure accurate documentation, certification, commissioning packs and audit records are produced for every installation.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work collaboratively with:
o Solutions Team commercial integrity, pricing, compliance
o PMO programme structuring, governance, reporting
o Programme Delivery operational execution and workforce management
o Training & Quality competence and compliance
o HSSQE risk management, RAMS, safety leadership
Support senior management with progress reports, risks, mitigations and performance insights.
Candidate Experience Required:
Essential:
Strong background in Solar PV (domestic and/or commercial).
Proven experience working within renewable energy, electrical or construction sectors.
Experience in developing or scaling new service offerings/programmes.
Strong commercial awareness and supply chain management capability.
Knowledge of MCS standards, DNO notifications, IET wiring regulations and solar safety practices.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable:
Experience working with PMO or Programme Delivery environments.
Technical qualification in electrical engineering, renewables or construction.
Experience integrating solar with battery storage, EV charging or smart-home technologies.
Familiarity with quality frameworks, audit processes and compliance reporting.
KPIs & Success Measures:
Solar revenue and margin performance
Number of installations delivered successfully
Audit pass rate and compliance score
Workforce capability uplift (training completions, competence sign-off)
Supply chain performance (cost, reliability, quality)
Customer satisfaction and defect rate
Programme delivery efficiency (cycle time, first-time-right)