Senior Manager, BESS Operations

Senior Manager, BESS Operations  

Basic Function

The Senior Manager of BESS Operations will oversee operations and management for SBE’s operating portfolio of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This role involves ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and safety of BESS assets, while coordinating with SBE internal teams and managing external service providers. A strong technical foundation of education, experience and Subject Matter Expertise is required for cross-functional coordination between SBE Engineering, Projects, Asset Management, OEMs (Battery, IEMS, Integration) and O&M providers. 

Reports to: Head of Operations Management 

Responsibilities 

BESS Operations Leadership: 

• Ensuring day-to-day operational readiness and disciplined execution on all aspects of BESS assets in the SBE portfolio. 

• Establish and govern key operating cadence (daily monitoring, issue triage, corrective action follow-through) and ensure clear responsibilities across internal teams and external service providers. 

• Ensure all BESS offtake requirements are met 

• Act as an escalation point for complex electrical/controls issues and coordinate rapid restoration of generation. 

• Coordinate with OEMs, external service providers and SBE Performance Engineering team and Fleet Quality for systematic troubleshooting and root cause analysis for site events, recurring alarms, performance degradation, and communication/controls issues; drive corrective and preventive actions.  

• Coordinate “fix-forward” plans, including firmware/controls changes, component replacement, and Field Technical Bulletins to prevent recurrence 

• Work with Asset Management team to ensure BESS related revenue objectives are met 

KPI ownership, with emphasis on BESS: 

• Ensure data quality and actionable reporting for operations and stakeholders. 

• Monitor and analyze BESS performance to identify trends, abnormal behavior, and improvement opportunities; communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.  

• Oversee KPI frameworks commonly used in BESS operations such as availability and energy/power performance indicators  

Vendor, OEM, and Warranty Management: 

• Manage day-to-day relationships and SLA performance with OEMs, O&M service providers ensuring alignment on priorities and quality of execution.  

• Pursue and resolve open warranty items; ensure operating practices and support warranty claims and compliance with OEM requirements.  

• Ensure high priority issues are closed in timely manner 

Safety, Compliance, and Operational Risk: 

• Ensure BESS operation is compliant with Safety, Regulatory requirements and industry best practices, including robust procedures, audits, and emergency readiness.  

• Partner with EHS and site stakeholders to support BESS fire/life-safety compliance expectations and evidence packages commonly referenced in the industry (e.g., NFPA 855 and UL 9540A testing expectations).  

Coordination with BESS Commissioning, HOTO and Operational Readiness: 

• Lead or support operational readiness planning, HOTO closure with Projects/EPC/OEM including monitoring SOPs, communications/RACI, and transition of CCC to O&M Service Provider. 

• Ensure commissioning/acceptance deliverables enable stable operations including data connectivity, alarms, controls integration, and reporting readiness. 

• Build strong cross-functional partnerships (asset management, trading/market ops, engineering, data/SCADA) to align dispatch strategy, reliability, and lifecycle objectives 

• Drive continuous improvement in BESS Operations 

Qualifications/Requirements

• BS in Electrical Engineering (or closely related discipline) 

• Demonstrated experience leading BESS operations for 5 or more years. 

• More than 10 years of Renewable Energy experience  

• Working knowledge of electrical standards and ability to interpret electrical drawings (single-line/three-line diagrams) and system schematics.  

• Familiarity with common BESS subsystems, controls stack (BMS/EMS/PCS and SCADA integration concepts) and BESS KPIs. 

• Strong analytical and diagnostic capability using operational data to identify performance issues and guide corrective actions.  

• Familiarity with BESS OEMs, technologies, system architectures, and operating models available in the industry. 

•  Experience coordinating vendors/OEMs and managing field execution through third-party providers.  

 Preferred: 

• MS in Electrical Engineering or other related advanced degrees 

• Background supporting regulatory / safety code considerations for utility-scale storage projects (industry commonly references NFPA 855 and UL 9540A).  

Core Competencies: 

• Ownership mindset 

•  Bias for results 

• Structured problem-solving approach 

• Data-driven performance management and KPI responsibility 

• Vendor/OEM management and SLA accountability  

• Safety-first leadership habits  

Location/Travel 

• Proximity to Redwood City/Denver/San Diego/Austin preferable.  

• Remote can be considered. 

• Travel to sites in SBE operating portfolio as needed for HOTO, major corrective actions, performance investigations, audits, and stakeholder meetings. 

Location: On-site

Base Pay - $160000-$190000

The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

Our Health & Wellness Benefits

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now! 

SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.

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