Solar installation & service production manager job description
A solar production manager runs the crews that put systems on roofs and land, and holds every crew and subcontractor to one safety and quality standard. They review plans before work starts, inspect jobs in progress, and fix the causes of rework and delays.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, electrical contractors · BLS, May 2025
Solar Panel Install & Service - Production Manager
Company Name:
[INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE]
Department:
Operations
Reports to:
[Operations Manager]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
Responsible for overseeing all aspects of rooftop solar panel installations and service operations, ensuring safety compliance, and meeting code requirements to support the company's growth and operational excellence.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee and coordinate all rooftop installations to ensure timely completion and high-quality workmanship.
Enforce strict safety protocols and ensure all installation activities comply with local and federal code requirements.
Manage on-site crews and subcontractors, providing leadership, training, and performance feedback.
Collaborate with project managers and quality assurance teams to resolve any installation issues and maintain high service standards.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily inspections of job sites to verify adherence to safety and quality standards.
Coordinate scheduling of installations and service visits to optimize workforce efficiency.
Review and interpret technical drawings and installation specifications.
Liaise with customers, providing updates and addressing any service concerns in a professional manner.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Installation Completion Time: Achieve project completion within 15% of the scheduled timeline.
Safety Compliance Rate: Maintain a safety incident rate of less than 3%.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: Achieve an average customer rating of >4.8 stars.
Rework Rate: Keep the rework rate below 5% to ensure quality and efficiency.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
5+ years of experience in managing installation or construction projects, preferably in the renewable energy sector.
Strong knowledge of safety standards, building codes, and industry best practices.
Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience managing rooftop solar panel installations or similar large-scale home service projects.
Proven track record of managing cross-functional teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Familiarity with project management software and modern construction technologies.
Experience in developing and implementing safety programs.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
Regular exposure to outdoor construction environments, including high temperatures and varying weather conditions.
Frequent standing, walking, and climbing on ladders and roofs during installation activities.
Capacity to work extended hours during peak project phases.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM with potential overtime during critical project deadlines.
On-site work environment with exposure to changing weather conditions and outdoor environments.
Occasional travel between multiple job sites is required.
Availability for emergency response and on-call duties during critical situations.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000 USD per year, commensurate with experience.
Potential annual bonus based on performance and project outcomes.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Additional benefits such as paid time off, professional development opportunities, and employee wellness programs.
10. Company Culture and Overview
Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Thrive in a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and skill development.
Be part of a company dedicated to sustainable energy solutions and community impact.
Enjoy a culture that celebrates integrity, collaboration, and the success of every team member.
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].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
Production managers everywhere turn sold work into finished jobs. On solar, that means roof crews, subcontractors who may do the electrical or roof repairs, and battery jobs that run on a different plan.
A sub's hazard is still your problem
If you sub out roof repairs, trenching or electrical work, OSHA's multi-employer policy can treat you as the controlling employer when you have general authority over the site, by contract or in practice. That employer is expected to take reasonable steps to prevent and find violations, a lower bar than it owes its own crews. Put safety terms in each sub's contract, check their fall protection on your jobs, and log what you saw and fixed. Source: OSHA: Multi-employer citation policy (CPL 02-00-124).
Concrete tile and block bring the silica rule
Cutting concrete roof tiles, drilling block for a conduit run, or cutting pavers for a trench throws silica dust. OSHA's silica standard for construction covers this work unless exposure will be under a set level in any foreseeable case. You'll need a written plan for controlling exposure, plus a competent person who checks sites to make it happen. The rule's table names controls, such as a drill fitted with a dust shroud and collector. Write the plan before the first tile job. Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1926.1153, respirable crystalline silica.
Rework starts in the plan set
Much solar rework traces back to the plans: an attachment pattern the rafters can't take, a conduit route through a vent, or a main panel that doesn't match the survey. Snow is another. REC's installation manual warns that snow buildup can push panels past their rated load even when it doesn't look deep, and recommends extra support, mostly on the lower row. Review each plan set with the designer before it goes to permit. Source: REC: Solar panels installation manual (UL).
Battery jobs need their own crew plan
A battery install is often wall and panel work in a garage or basement, sometimes with loads moved to a backup panel. It looks nothing like a roof day. Train a few crew members on batteries and keep them together. Give each battery job enough time to finish, so the homeowner isn't left with half-moved circuits overnight.
How much solar installation & service production managers make
The closest BLS group for solar installation & service production managers is construction managers. Construction managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $114,450 a year ($55.02 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $114,990 median for construction managers in all industries. About 21,840 of the 380,360 construction managers in that survey work for electrical contractors.
Commonly salaried, plus a bonus for install volume, rework and safety results. The template's range ends below where BLS places the median for construction managers at electrical contractors.
Electrical contractors
$114,450$114,450 median Middle half $91,490–$144,780 10th–90th $73,110–$186,150
All industries
$114,990$114,990 median Middle half $88,550–$151,640 10th–90th $69,690–$189,440
$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k
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
$73,110
$91,490
$114,450
$144,780
$186,150
All industries
$69,690
$88,550
$114,990
$151,640
$189,440
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
Has run several install crews and subcontractors at once
Reads plan sets, engineer's letters and single-line diagrams
Builds and enforces a written safety program
Finds the cause behind repeat rework, not just the fix
Explains a delay to a homeowner plainly and on time
Teach these on the job
Your racking, panel and battery lines
Your job management software and reports
The roof types and house ages common in your market
Your subcontract terms and insurance checks
Your bonus plan and crew KPIs
Production runs on job management software, photo logs from every site, and the makers' design and monitoring portals. Say in the ad whether the manager will build the safety program from scratch or take over one that exists.
Solar installation & service production 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 · Raising inspection pass rates
First-time inspection pass rates fell this quarter. How would you fix it?
A strong answer: Sorts failures by cause, crew and inspector, adds a photo pre-inspection checklist, fixes plan set issues with design and coaches crews.
Behavioral · Safety programs that stick
Tell me about a roof safety rule you introduced that crews resisted at first.
A strong answer: Kept the rule simple, such as anchors set before anyone works the roof, explained why, audited jobs unannounced and acted on what they found.
Solar installation & service production manager KPIs
The sample figures in the template are a start. Build real ones from a year of your job dates, incidents and rework, and post them where crews can see.
Installation Completion Time
Compare each job's planned install days with the days it took, from your job software. Sort the overruns by cause, such as weather, missing parts or roof surprises.
Safety Compliance Rate
Log injuries, near misses and failed site audits for your crews and subs each month. Read each report for its cause and track whether the fix held.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Survey homeowners after installs and after service visits, and keep the two scores apart. Look for patterns by crew, sub and job type.
Rework Rate
Jobs that needed a return trip for workmanship, divided by jobs finished in the period. Tag each by cause and crew so training goes after the real problem.
Solar installation & service production manager FAQ
What field tasks sit behind the solar production manager template's physical lines?
Checking work from a roof in a harness, walking ground-mount sites, and carrying a box of parts or a panel. Site visits go on through hot and cold months, and some days run long near a deadline. Say how many site visits a week the job involves, and offer reasonable accommodation.
How much does a solar installation & service production manager make?
Construction managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $114,450 a year ($55.02 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $91,490 and $144,780 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
At what point should a solar company add a production manager?
When the owner or operations manager can't get to enough jobs to catch problems before callbacks. Other signs: each crew installs its own way, subs aren't held to your rules, and rework eats the margin. One person who owns quality and safety in the field frees operations to plan and schedule.
Should a solar production manager come from roofing or electrical work?
Either can work. A roofer knows flashing and roof decks, where leak claims start. An electrician knows wiring, inspections and batteries. Hire for the gap your field supervisors and leads don't already cover, and train the rest.
How should a solar production manager roll out a new panel or racking product?
Read the maker's manual and listing first. Try it on one job with your best crew, then update the photo checklist and training. Make sure the designer's templates and permit sets use the new part, and don't let crews switch products partway through a job.
