Director, Subcontracts & Trade Partnerships
Solar Landscape, Asbury Park, NJ, United States
About Us
Solar Landscape is the leading commercial rooftop solar developer in the U.S. Only 4% of commercial rooftops host solar today — we’re changing that, fast. Commercial rooftop solar is the fastest, smartest way to build new clean power — delivering megawatts of generation in months, not years, and powering America’s energy and future right where it’s needed most. By turning rooftops into local power plants, we’re reshaping how — and how fast — energy gets built in the U.S.
Recognized as the #1 Distributed Generation Developer by New Project Media, the #1 National Commercial Rooftop Solar Developer by Solar Power World, and winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grand Prize for Clean Energy, Solar Landscape is defining the future of energy generation in America.
Headquartered in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Solar Landscape has offices in Chicago, Baltimore, and New York City and operates in over a dozen states nationwide.
We move fast, solve hard problems, and take our work seriously — but never ourselves. We value clear thinking, accountability, and execution. At the same time, we’re collaborative by default, and believe the best work happens when people enjoy working together. Our team is made up of smart, grounded people who show up for each other — whether that’s troubleshooting a system design or catching up over lunch.
If you’re looking to do meaningful work in a high-performance environment — and be part of the team reshaping how energy gets built in the U.S. — we’d love to meet you.
About The Role The Director, Subcontracts & Trade Partnerships is a senior leader responsible for building, sustaining, and scaling long-term subcontractor partnerships that enable the company’s commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop solar development and EPC growth strategy.
This role owns the subcontractor market strategy across electrical, roofing, structural, civil, and specialty trades, with a core mandate to ensure the company is a preferred partner of choice in competitive labor markets. Success in this role is measured not only by cost, schedule, and quality outcomes, but by the strength, durability, and capacity of subcontractor relationships over time.
The Director will balance relationship leadership and commercial rigor, developing partnership models, commercial frameworks, and governance structures that protect the company while enabling trust, transparency, and long-term alignment. This leader works closely with Development, Construction, Engineering, Legal, Finance, Safety, and Supply Chain to support growth across multiple regions and multi-site programs.
Key Responsibilities
Subcontractor Partnership Strategy & Market Development
Develop and execute a national and regional subcontractor partnership strategy aligned with long-term company growth, market expansion, and project pipeline visibility
Serve as the senior relationship owner for key strategic subcontractor partners, maintaining executive-level relationships and acting as the primary escalation and alignment point
Proactively engage subcontractors ahead of project awards to understand capacity constraints, market dynamics, and growth opportunities
Build and maintain a high-performing network of subcontractors across all required trades, with an emphasis on repeat work, mutual commitment, and long-term collaboration
Position the company as a preferred client by promoting transparency, fair dealing, predictable work pipelines, and collaborative problem-solving
Capacity Planning & Long-Term Alignment
Ensure adequate subcontractor capacity to support near-term execution and future pipeline demand, including markets where projects are not yet fully allocated
Develop approaches to secure and influence subcontractor capacity 6–12 months in advance of construction mobilization through early engagement, framework agreements, and strategic commitments
Partner with Development and Construction leadership to align subcontractor strategies with geographic expansion, phasing plans, and programmatic rollouts
Support subcontractor growth by aligning forecasted demand, onboarding plans, and performance expectations in advance of peak execution periods
Commercial Structuring & Contracting
Lead negotiation of subcontract agreements, MSAs, pricing frameworks, and scopes of work that balance risk management with long-term partnership objectives
Partner closely with Legal to ensure contracts meet company standards while remaining commercially practical and relationship-oriented
Design standardized yet flexible subcontracting models that accommodate regional market conditions and trade-specific realities
Establish clear, fair, and predictable change management and payment structures that reinforce trust and reduce friction
Support project teams with subcontractor selection strategies, bid evaluations, and award recommendations grounded in both performance history and partnership value
Performance Management, Quality & Continuous Improvement
Establish performance frameworks and scorecards to measure subcontractor outcomes related to safety, quality, schedule, cost, and responsiveness
Lead regular performance reviews with strategic partners focused on continuous improvement, forward planning, and lessons learned
Address underperformance through collaborative corrective action plans, balancing accountability with relationship preservation
Drive improvements in installation quality, productivity, and rework reduction by partnering with subcontractors on root-cause analysis and best practices
Safety, Compliance & Risk Stewardship
Ensure subcontractors meet all safety, insurance, licensing, and compliance requirements
Partner with Safety leadership to promote a strong safety culture across the subcontractor ecosystem
Reinforce safety and compliance expectations through leadership presence, communication, and partnership—not solely enforcement
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Alignment
Work closely with Construction, Engineering, and Project Management to align subcontractor strategies with project designs, sequencing, and execution plans
Coordinate with Supply Chain and Procurement to align labor and material strategies where appropriate
Support Development and Estimating teams with market intelligence, subcontractor availability insights, and labor pricing trends
Partner with Corporate Finance to forecast subcontractor cash flow requirements, payment schedules, and working capital impacts
Ensure subcontracting strategies, payment terms, and milestone structures align with company financial objectives while maintaining strong, trust-based subcontractor relationships
Team Leadership & Scalable Infrastructure
Build, lead, and mentor a subcontracting and trade partnerships team as the organization scales
Design and implement scalable processes, tools, and systems that support subcontractor relationship management, performance tracking, and governance
Drive consistency across regions while allowing flexibility for local labor markets and subcontractor dynamics
Qualifications
Required
7+ years of experience in construction subcontracting, procurement, or trade partnership management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
Significant experience in C&I rooftop solar, electrical contracting, or related commercial construction sectors
Proven success building and managing long-term subcontractor relationships across multiple markets
Strong commercial judgment with the ability to negotiate agreements that support both risk management and partnership longevity
Solid understanding of construction sequencing, means and methods, and labor productivity
Experience managing safety, quality, and performance at scale
Preferred
EPC or self-perform construction background
Experience supporting distributed generation portfolios or multi-site programs
Familiarity with union and non-union labor environments
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Core Competencies
Relationship-first leadership mindset with strong external presence
Strategic thinking paired with practical, execution-oriented judgment
Ability to influence outcomes without reliance on formal authority
Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Comfort operating in a fast-growing, evolving organization
Ability to balance commercial discipline with long-term partnership value
Benefits And Perks
Training / Professional development opportunities
401(k) with 4% company match
Summer Fridays
Flexible remote/hybrid work options
Paid parental leave
Team lunches, events, and stocked kitchens
Modern, collaborative office spaces in Asbury Park, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Salary will vary depending on your location and job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive-based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Recognized as the #1 Distributed Generation Developer by New Project Media, the #1 National Commercial Rooftop Solar Developer by Solar Power World, and winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grand Prize for Clean Energy, Solar Landscape is defining the future of energy generation in America.
Headquartered in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Solar Landscape has offices in Chicago, Baltimore, and New York City and operates in over a dozen states nationwide.
We move fast, solve hard problems, and take our work seriously — but never ourselves. We value clear thinking, accountability, and execution. At the same time, we’re collaborative by default, and believe the best work happens when people enjoy working together. Our team is made up of smart, grounded people who show up for each other — whether that’s troubleshooting a system design or catching up over lunch.
If you’re looking to do meaningful work in a high-performance environment — and be part of the team reshaping how energy gets built in the U.S. — we’d love to meet you.
About The Role The Director, Subcontracts & Trade Partnerships is a senior leader responsible for building, sustaining, and scaling long-term subcontractor partnerships that enable the company’s commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop solar development and EPC growth strategy.
This role owns the subcontractor market strategy across electrical, roofing, structural, civil, and specialty trades, with a core mandate to ensure the company is a preferred partner of choice in competitive labor markets. Success in this role is measured not only by cost, schedule, and quality outcomes, but by the strength, durability, and capacity of subcontractor relationships over time.
The Director will balance relationship leadership and commercial rigor, developing partnership models, commercial frameworks, and governance structures that protect the company while enabling trust, transparency, and long-term alignment. This leader works closely with Development, Construction, Engineering, Legal, Finance, Safety, and Supply Chain to support growth across multiple regions and multi-site programs.
Key Responsibilities
Subcontractor Partnership Strategy & Market Development
Develop and execute a national and regional subcontractor partnership strategy aligned with long-term company growth, market expansion, and project pipeline visibility
Serve as the senior relationship owner for key strategic subcontractor partners, maintaining executive-level relationships and acting as the primary escalation and alignment point
Proactively engage subcontractors ahead of project awards to understand capacity constraints, market dynamics, and growth opportunities
Build and maintain a high-performing network of subcontractors across all required trades, with an emphasis on repeat work, mutual commitment, and long-term collaboration
Position the company as a preferred client by promoting transparency, fair dealing, predictable work pipelines, and collaborative problem-solving
Capacity Planning & Long-Term Alignment
Ensure adequate subcontractor capacity to support near-term execution and future pipeline demand, including markets where projects are not yet fully allocated
Develop approaches to secure and influence subcontractor capacity 6–12 months in advance of construction mobilization through early engagement, framework agreements, and strategic commitments
Partner with Development and Construction leadership to align subcontractor strategies with geographic expansion, phasing plans, and programmatic rollouts
Support subcontractor growth by aligning forecasted demand, onboarding plans, and performance expectations in advance of peak execution periods
Commercial Structuring & Contracting
Lead negotiation of subcontract agreements, MSAs, pricing frameworks, and scopes of work that balance risk management with long-term partnership objectives
Partner closely with Legal to ensure contracts meet company standards while remaining commercially practical and relationship-oriented
Design standardized yet flexible subcontracting models that accommodate regional market conditions and trade-specific realities
Establish clear, fair, and predictable change management and payment structures that reinforce trust and reduce friction
Support project teams with subcontractor selection strategies, bid evaluations, and award recommendations grounded in both performance history and partnership value
Performance Management, Quality & Continuous Improvement
Establish performance frameworks and scorecards to measure subcontractor outcomes related to safety, quality, schedule, cost, and responsiveness
Lead regular performance reviews with strategic partners focused on continuous improvement, forward planning, and lessons learned
Address underperformance through collaborative corrective action plans, balancing accountability with relationship preservation
Drive improvements in installation quality, productivity, and rework reduction by partnering with subcontractors on root-cause analysis and best practices
Safety, Compliance & Risk Stewardship
Ensure subcontractors meet all safety, insurance, licensing, and compliance requirements
Partner with Safety leadership to promote a strong safety culture across the subcontractor ecosystem
Reinforce safety and compliance expectations through leadership presence, communication, and partnership—not solely enforcement
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Alignment
Work closely with Construction, Engineering, and Project Management to align subcontractor strategies with project designs, sequencing, and execution plans
Coordinate with Supply Chain and Procurement to align labor and material strategies where appropriate
Support Development and Estimating teams with market intelligence, subcontractor availability insights, and labor pricing trends
Partner with Corporate Finance to forecast subcontractor cash flow requirements, payment schedules, and working capital impacts
Ensure subcontracting strategies, payment terms, and milestone structures align with company financial objectives while maintaining strong, trust-based subcontractor relationships
Team Leadership & Scalable Infrastructure
Build, lead, and mentor a subcontracting and trade partnerships team as the organization scales
Design and implement scalable processes, tools, and systems that support subcontractor relationship management, performance tracking, and governance
Drive consistency across regions while allowing flexibility for local labor markets and subcontractor dynamics
Qualifications
Required
7+ years of experience in construction subcontracting, procurement, or trade partnership management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
Significant experience in C&I rooftop solar, electrical contracting, or related commercial construction sectors
Proven success building and managing long-term subcontractor relationships across multiple markets
Strong commercial judgment with the ability to negotiate agreements that support both risk management and partnership longevity
Solid understanding of construction sequencing, means and methods, and labor productivity
Experience managing safety, quality, and performance at scale
Preferred
EPC or self-perform construction background
Experience supporting distributed generation portfolios or multi-site programs
Familiarity with union and non-union labor environments
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Core Competencies
Relationship-first leadership mindset with strong external presence
Strategic thinking paired with practical, execution-oriented judgment
Ability to influence outcomes without reliance on formal authority
Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Comfort operating in a fast-growing, evolving organization
Ability to balance commercial discipline with long-term partnership value
Benefits And Perks
Training / Professional development opportunities
401(k) with 4% company match
Summer Fridays
Flexible remote/hybrid work options
Paid parental leave
Team lunches, events, and stocked kitchens
Modern, collaborative office spaces in Asbury Park, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Salary will vary depending on your location and job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive-based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.
#J-18808-Ljbffr