A solar operations manager builds each day's install and service schedule, assigns crews, and makes sure panels, racking and batteries reach the right site on time. They line up permits, inspections and customer appointments so no crew arrives at a job that can't start.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, electrical contractors · BLS, May 2025
Solar Panel Install & Service - Operations Manager
Company Name:
[INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE]
Department:
Operations
Reports to:
[General Manager]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
Responsible for overseeing and optimizing daily solar panel installation and service operations, ensuring efficient crew allocation, schedule management, and resource coordination to deliver superior service and customer satisfaction.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Allocate and manage installation crews to meet project deadlines and quality standards.
Organize and adjust daily schedules to ensure timely service delivery and installation efficiency.
Coordinate resources, including materials and equipment, across multiple sites.
Monitor operational performance and implement process improvements for enhanced productivity.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Review and update daily schedules to optimize crew assignments and installations.
Communicate with install crews to provide guidance and troubleshoot operational challenges.
Liaise with customers to confirm appointment times and address service inquiries.
Collaborate with supply and logistics teams to ensure availability of necessary materials.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
On-time installation rate: >95%.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: >4.8 stars.
Schedule adherence rate: >98%.
Resource utilization efficiency: ≥90%.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
Minimum of 3 years of operations or project management experience, preferably in a technical field.
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in scheduling software and Microsoft Office Suite.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience in the solar panel installation or renewable energy industry.
Demonstrated success in managing field service operations within home services.
Familiarity with safety protocols and compliance standards related to solar installations.
Experience working in fast-paced, customer-focused environments.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
Capacity to work in outdoor settings and varied weather conditions.
Occasional exposure to on-site job hazards mitigated by proper safety equipment.
Comfortable with brief periods of physical activity typical of facility walkthroughs.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Potential for extended hours during high-demand periods.
Occasional travel to various job sites within the service area.
On-call responsibilities may be required during emergencies or peak service periods.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Annual salary range: $70,000 - $90,000 USD, commensurate with experience.
Performance-based bonus opportunities.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
401(k) retirement plan with company matching.
Additional fringe benefits including paid time off and professional development programs.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we are driven by a passion for renewable energy and a commitment to excellence in home services. Our team fosters a collaborative, growth-oriented environment where every individual is empowered to innovate and excel. We value transparency, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of superior customer satisfaction as we work together to create sustainable solutions for our community.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
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What changes for an operations manager at a solar company
Every operations manager balances crews, parts and time. Solar adds outside inspectors, digging for ground mounts and a schedule that bends to weather on the roof.
Book the state electrical inspector
In South Dakota, for example, the Electrical Commission says every wiring installation needs a rough-in and a final inspection by a state electrical inspector, and the work isn't approved until it passes final. Rapid City and Sioux Falls inspect work inside their own city limits. Plan crew days around both visits and know which inspector covers each job. Source: South Dakota Electrical Commission: Inspections.
Call 811 before the trench
Ground mounts and buried conduit runs mean digging. South Dakota 811 says it is illegal to dig before notifying it at least two business days ahead, and that skipping the call can leave you paying for a damaged line. Book the locate request before the dig crew's date, and hold the crew until the marks are in. Source: South Dakota 811: Why call before you dig.
The roof decides the day
Rain, wind and snow stop roof work, while ground jobs can often go on. Keep a short list of work to move crews to when the forecast turns, such as battery installs, service calls and ground-mount racking.
Check five things before a job goes on the board
Before booking a crew, confirm the permit is issued, the equipment is in stock, any HOA approval is in hand, the customer knows the date and the roof is sound enough to work on. A missing item found at the curb costs a full crew day.
Reroofs need two visits
When a customer replaces their roof, the panels come off and go back on. Line your dates up with the roofer's, store the panels safely, and send the same crew back to reinstall when you can.
How much solar operations managers make
The closest BLS group for solar operations managers is general and operations managers. General and operations managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $119,990 a year ($57.69 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s above the $105,770 median for general and operations managers in all industries. About 29,880 of the 3,503,020 general and operations managers in that survey work for electrical contractors.
Salaried, with bonus pay for results. This template's pay sits below the BLS median for its SOC code, a code that also includes general managers.
Electrical contractors
$119,990$119,990 median Middle half $84,900–$165,460 10th–90th $58,340–$230,120
All industries
$105,770$105,770 median Middle half $72,320–$167,280 10th–90th $50,090–$253,390
$0k$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Electrical contractors
$58,340
$84,900
$119,990
$165,460
$230,120
All industries
$50,090
$72,320
$105,770
$167,280
$253,390
BLS doesn’t publish pay for solar installers on their own. These figures cover electrical and wiring contractors, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Builds a daily crew schedule across many sites and changes it fast
Knows the steps a solar job goes through, from site survey to inspection
Tracks equipment by job and spots shortages early
Talks clearly with crew leads, customers and inspectors
Works well in scheduling software and spreadsheets
Teach these on the job
Your permit offices and how to book inspections
Your racking, inverter and battery models
Your service area, roads and drive times
Your safety rules for roof and ground-mount work
Each crew's skills and certifications
Install schedules usually live in solar project software such as Enerflo or Sunbase, or a field service app like Jobber, with stock tracked in the warehouse system. Ask candidates to show you a week they planned in a tool like yours.
Solar operations manager interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Planning installs and service
You have [five] crews, [12] jobs ready to install, [four] waiting on permits and [30] open service calls. How do you plan next week?
A strong answer: Schedules ready jobs, protects dedicated service capacity, watches permit timing, matches crew skills and tells customers realistic dates.
Behavioral · Cutting wasted crew time
Tell me about a time you cut the number of install days lost to missing parts, permits or deliveries.
A strong answer: Names the causes, the change (day-before readiness checks, staging, delivery timing) and the measured result in lost days or jobs finished.
Start from the template's targets, then rework them from your crew count, drive times and install history. Go over them monthly with the general manager.
On-time installation rate
Count installs that start on the date booked with the customer, and log the cause of every slip: permit, parts, weather or crew.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Ask customers about arrival times, cleanup and whether the crew walked them through the system, and read the comments with each crew lead weekly.
Schedule adherence rate
Compare each day's planned schedule to what crews actually did, using start and finish times from your field software.
Resource utilization efficiency
Track booked crew hours, truck days and hoist use against what was available, and look for idle days caused by missing equipment.
Career path
Lead installerLeads a crew on the roof and sees how jobs get staged.
Project managerMoves jobs through permits, inspections and utility approval.
Operations managerBuilds the schedule and assigns crews and equipment.
What physical tasks does a solar operations manager do?
The template mentions lifting up to 25 pounds at times, work outside in varied weather, and short walkthroughs with safety gear. Those translate to tasks like carrying a box of parts to a crew, walking a ground-mount site or checking a staging area. Put the tasks in the posting, and note whether the job includes going on roofs.
How much does a solar operations manager make?
General and operations managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $119,990 a year ($57.69 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $84,900 and $165,460 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
Should a solar operations manager also dispatch service calls?
At a small company, often yes. Once service calls come in every day, a dispatcher should take them so the operations manager can plan installs further out. Write down who moves a crew when an urgent service call lands on an install day.
How should a solar operations manager handle a failed inspection?
Get the inspector's notes the same day, send back the crew that did the work if you can, and rebook the inspection before giving the customer a new date. Track failed items by crew so the field supervisor knows what to retrain.
Who should order equipment, operations or the warehouse?
The warehouse or inventory specialist orders and receives stock. The operations manager hands them the install schedule early, with the exact equipment each job needs, and flags any design change. That split keeps one person answering for what's on the shelf.
