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 and around £60k pending experience

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)
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed