Director, Construction

Company

Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology. We develop, build, own and operate battery energy storage projects in dense urban environments to bridge the gap between renewables and electricity consumption.

We are a dynamic, NYC-based startup at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

Role

Orenda's Project Execution division is responsible for designing, permitting, procuring equipment, and constructing distributed energy resources. Led by the Chief Project Officer, Orenda’s Project Execution division is divided into Development, Pre-Construction, and Construction department.  We thoughtfully develop processes and manage third parties to bring these projects to life. We are seeking an experienced and tactical Director of Construction to lead the critical Construction department.

This senior leadership role will report directly to the Chief Project Officer.This role is responsible for development and implementation of the entire field execution strategy, from the Pre-construction handoff through final commissioning and project closeout. You will design and scale the processes, systems, and organizational structure that will form the foundation of Orenda’s long-term Construction function.

You will take command of project portfolios as they enter the construction phase, owning all aspects of field execution — schedule, safety, quality, and contractor performance. Your focus will be on mitigating field-based risks by ensuring all projects are built to specification, on schedule, and within the approved construction budget.  At Orenda, you  will build and lead a dedicated team, including Construction Project Managers and Assistant Construction Managers, to manage all on-site activities, financial controls, and stakeholder coordination. You will work in close partnership with the Director of Pre-Construction to align procurement with field realities and with the Director of Project Development to ensure design and permitting decisions support downstream constructability.

This position is ideal for a seasoned construction leader with a proven track record of field leadership and deep commercial expertise in change management, field-based problem-solving, and project controls. You will ensure our projects are delivered safely, to the highest quality, and primed for a seamless handover to our Asset Operations department, all while building a scalable and repeatable field execution engine designed to support a rapidly scaling project pipeline anticipating15 projects per quarter at scale.

 

What you’ll do

• Strategic Portfolio Leadership: Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for all construction activities, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and the successful delivery of the entire project portfolio, taking full accountability for the construction schedule and budget.
• Team Leadership & Development: Build organizational capacity by leading, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing team of Construction Project Managers and Assistant Construction Managers. Set clear objectives, develop KPIs, and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and high performance.
• Safety Culture: Architect and institutionalize a portfolio-wide safety culture that scales across all project types. You will develop, oversee, and enforce a best-in-class safety program to ensure the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance are met on all sites.
• Process Architecture & Standardization: Institutionalize robust field execution processes and workflows. This includes standardizing on-site quality control, commissioning, and project closeout procedures, and defining clear workflows for RFI/submittal management to drive cross-departmental alignment and mitigate risk.
• Field Leadership, Risk, & Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary escalation point for all major construction-related issues and risks, providing senior guidance to resolve roadblocks. Take ownership of the landowner relationship from the Pre-construction team at the start of construction, acting as the primary point of contact for all site-related stakeholders and ensuring full compliance with lease obligations.
• Pre-construction Collaboration: Partner closely with the Pre-construction department to ensure a seamless transition from the procurement phase into construction mobilization. Provide critical constructability input to de-risk projects and confirm that all contractual and logistical elements are in place for a successful project kick-off.
• Resource Planning & Assignment: Maintain deep insight into the project pipeline to accurately forecast resource needs and formally assign Construction Management teams to projects as they are approved for construction.
• Financial Stewardship: Take full accountability for the Construction budget and contingency. Manage all departmental financial reporting, including approving Change Orders, submitting monthly cash flow forecasts, and consolidating General Contractor (GC) payment applications for funding requests.
• Commercial & Contractor Management: Oversee all GC relationships post-award, holding partners accountable for performance. Directly coordinate with major equipment manufacturers to manage delivery logistics, on-site support, and commissioning activities. Participate in GC pre-qualification and continuous improvement reviews.
• Systems & Tools Ownership: Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of project management and field reporting tools (ex. Procore, Kahua), ensuring consistent data capture across all sites.
• Continuous Improvement: Compile and analyze lessons learned from the construction teams into a consolidated quarterly report, identifying key trends and driving actionable recommendations for process and design improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in construction management, with a significant focus on managing complex electrical or power generation projects.
• At least 5 years of experience in a direct leadership role, with a proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing project management team.
• Extensive experience managing active construction sites, with deep knowledge of construction means and methods, coordination, budget management, and quality control.
• Proven ability to drive and manage complex construction schedules, coordinating multiple stakeholders including utilities, AHJs, equipment vendors, and contractors to meet critical deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing relationships with vendors and contractors, with proven expertise in managing construction contracts and rigorously managing the change order process.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and enforcing comprehensive safety programs (EHS) on complex industrial or commercial construction projects.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing and managing multi-million dollar construction budgets, including forecasting and change order management.
• Proficiency in advanced scheduling software (ex. Primavera P6, Microsoft Project) and construction project management platforms (ex. Procore, Kahua).

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• Direct experience in the renewable energy or power generation sectors, particularly with medium voltage power systems, grid-interconnection, or Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
• Experience managing construction within New York City or a similarly dense and complex urban regulatory environment.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Fluency in utility (ex. Con Edison) commissioning and interconnection requirements.
• Direct experience managing projects under large-scale Master Service Agreements (MSAs) or other alternative contracting models in addition to standard GC agreements.
• Established, active relationships with key BESS equipment manufacturers, major electrical contractors, or GCs in the NYC-area energy market.
• Experience in a high-growth startup environment, demonstrating a high degree of flexibility and a track record of building new processes from the ground up.

Skills and Attributes:

• Extremely organized, process-oriented, and capable of leading multiple complex projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
• An ability to translate high-level corporate goals into actionable project plans.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to make timely, well-reasoned decisions on complex commercial and project-related issues.
• A highly collaborative work style with the ability to work effectively with other departments to ensure smooth project transitions.
• Takes ultimate accountability for project outcomes and the commercial readiness of the project portfolio.
• A deep passion for clean energy and the company's mission.
• A positive and solutions-oriented mindset, strong work ethic, and a sense of humor.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring work from our headquarters (Brooklyn, NY) five days a week, with regular travel to project sites within the NYC area.

Compensation

Orenda Inc. offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent.

• Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $200,000 - $250,000 per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Bonus: In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• LifeTime Fitness corporate membership
• Monthly commuter stipend
• Learning and education stipend
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.