Senior Quality Assurance & Control Manager

Minnesota (Onsite/Field-Based) | Full-Time

At Sparkfund, we're helping organizations deploy and scale distributed energy solutions that support a more resilient and sustainable energy future. Our work sits at the intersection of energy infrastructure, construction, engineering, and operations — bringing battery storage and distributed energy projects from concept to reality.

We're looking for a Senior Manager, Quality Assurance & Control to lead and scale Sparkfund's field quality program across our growing portfolio of distributed energy projects.

This is more than a quality management role. It's an opportunity to build systems, lead a team, influence how projects are delivered, and establish the quality standards that ensure projects are safe, reliable, and ready for long-term operation.

If you're passionate about quality, operational excellence, team leadership, and building scalable programs that drive measurable impact, we'd love to talk.

Quality is one of the most important drivers of project success.

As Senior Manager, Quality Assurance & Control, you'll have the opportunity to build and strengthen the quality systems that support Sparkfund's growing portfolio of distributed energy projects. You'll work across construction, commissioning, engineering, and operations to ensure projects are delivered to the highest standards while helping prevent issues before they occur.

This role offers significant visibility and influence across the organization. You'll partner directly with leadership, lead a team of quality professionals, and help shape how Sparkfund approaches field quality as we continue to grow.

You'll be joining a collaborative, mission-driven organization where your expertise will directly contribute to building infrastructure that supports a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

• Own and continuously improve Sparkfund's quality assurance and quality control program across a growing portfolio of distributed energy projects

• Develop inspection standards, audit frameworks, quality metrics, acceptance criteria, and field quality processes

• Establish portfolio-wide quality reporting and performance metrics

• Analyze quality trends, identify systemic issues, and implement corrective actions that improve project outcomes

• Recruit, develop, and lead a team of QA/QC professionals responsible for field audits and quality inspections

• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability standards, and development plans

• Manage team workload, resource planning, and audit coverage across active projects

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, documentation rigor, and operational excellence

• Oversee quality audits and inspections across active construction projects

• Validate substantial completion and commissioning readiness prior to project handoff

• Ensure projects conform to approved drawings, specifications, applicable codes, and program requirements

• Conduct field reviews on complex, high-risk, or escalated projects as needed

• Own portfolio-wide defect management processes from identification through verified closure

• Partner with construction teams, subcontractors, and vendors to resolve quality issues and improve performance

• Track recurring quality concerns and drive long-term solutions

• Support vendor performance improvement and quality accountability initiatives

• Collaborate with Construction, Project Management, Engineering, Commissioning, Safety, and Operations teams to align quality expectations and delivery standards

• Provide quality reporting, insights, and recommendations to leadership

• Serve as Sparkfund's subject matter expert for field quality and commissioning readiness

• Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen project delivery and operational performance

• 7+ years of experience in quality assurance, quality control, field inspections, commissioning, construction management, or industrial infrastructure projects

• Experience leading or managing QA/QC teams, field inspection teams, or quality programs

• Demonstrated experience developing quality standards, inspection frameworks, or quality management processes

• Strong field observation, documentation, and problem-solving skills

• Experience reviewing work against drawings, specifications, scopes of work, or applicable codes and standards

• Ability to effectively influence contractors, vendors, and project stakeholders while maintaining quality expectations

• Comfortable working in active construction environments and traveling to project sites

• Experience supporting distributed energy, battery storage, utility, renewable energy, EPC, or infrastructure projects

• Familiarity with commissioning workflows, punch lists, and project handoff processes

• CQM, CQI, or similar quality management certification

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

• Knowledge of construction safety practices and field compliance requirements

• Building a scalable, high-performing quality program that supports Sparkfund's growing project portfolio

• Delivering consistent, high-quality project outcomes across active construction sites

• Reducing recurring defects through process improvement and root-cause analysis

• Developing a strong team capable of executing audits and quality reviews with consistency and rigor

• Establishing trusted partnerships across construction, engineering, commissioning, and operations teams

• Ensuring projects are commissioning-ready and delivered to the highest quality standards

$152,500 – $185,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and geographic location alignment.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• 401(k) with employer match

• Flexible vacation policy designed to support work-life balance

• Federal holidays observed plus alternating four-day work weeks (every other Friday off)

• 12 weeks gender-neutral paid caregiver leave

• Monthly communication stipend

• Opportunities to grow within a rapidly evolving energy industry

• Collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on innovation and impact

This position is based in Minnesota and requires regular travel to active project and construction sites. Candidates must reside within reasonable commuting distance of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.