State Lead

Job Summary

The State Lead - Quality (Wind Projects & O&M) will be the primary custodian of all Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) activities for wind farm construction projects and the ongoing Operation & Maintenance (O&M) activities within the assigned state/region. This critical leadership role requires a seasoned professional with extensive experience to drive a Zero Non-Conformance culture, ensuring all projects and operational assets meet the highest industry standards, contractual specifications, and regulatory compliance.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Quality Management System (QMS) Leadership

2. Establish and Implement: Develop, implement, and maintain the State-level Quality Management System (QMS) in alignment with corporate policies, ISO 9001 standards, and other relevant certifications.

3. Process Excellence: Drive continuous improvement initiatives for all construction and O&M processes to minimize the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), reduce Non-Conformity Reports (NCRs), and enhance overall efficiency.

4. Documentation Control: Ensure rigorous control, maintenance, and archiving of all quality-related documentation, including Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), audit reports, and final quality dossiers for asset handover.

5. Project Quality Assurance & Control (EPC/Construction Phase)

6. ITP Oversight: Own the review and approval of ITPs for all wind project phases, including civil works (foundations, roads), electrical systems (substation, transmission lines), and WTG erection and commissioning.

7. Site Inspections & Audits: Conduct scheduled and surprise quality audits and inspections at project sites, ensuring adherence to design specifications, material quality, and workmanship.
8. Vendor and Contractor Management: Lead the technical evaluation and quality auditing of critical vendors and sub-contractors. Monitor their QA/QC performance, issue corrective actions, and ensure timely closure of all quality issues.

9. Handover Management: Oversee the final quality checks, performance testing (e.g., power curve testing), and documentation required for the seamless Handover to Operations (HOTO).

10. Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Quality

11. O&M Quality Protocols: Define and enforce quality protocols for all O&M activities, including scheduled Preventive Maintenance (PM), Corrective Maintenance (CM), and major component replacements (e.g., gearbox, blades).

12. Asset Health Monitoring: Collaborate with the O&M team to utilize SCADA and Condition Monitoring Systems (CMS) data to proactively identify potential quality issues or asset underperformance.
13. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Lead detailed Root Cause Analysis for chronic failures or significant equipment downtime, implementing robust Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to prevent recurrence.

14. Statutory Compliance: Ensure all operational quality and technical compliance requirements mandated by local and state regulatory bodies are met.

15. Team Leadership and Development

16. Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and develop the site Quality Engineers and Technicians within the state/region.

17. Training: Identify training needs and organize sessions on best practices, new quality tools, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the entire project and O&M team.
18. Safety Culture: Act as a champion for the integration of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) standards, ensuring quality goals are never pursued at the expense of safety.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering. A Masters degree or relevant certification (e.g., Certified Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt) is highly desirable.
• Experience: 10 to 15 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance/Control, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role within the Renewable Energy sector (specifically Wind).
• Domain Expertise: Proven expertise spanning both the Greenfield Construction (Projects) and the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) phases of utility-scale wind farms.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep knowledge of wind turbine technology (various OEM platforms), balance of plant (BoP) systems, and associated civil and electrical quality codes and standards.
• QMS Expertise: Extensive working knowledge of ISO 9001 and experience in managing external and internal audits.

Required Skills

• Exceptional Leadership: Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams (Projects, O&M, Engineering, Procurement) to achieve quality objectives.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to perform data-driven analysis, RCA, statistical process control, and performance reporting.
• Communication: Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills for reporting to senior management and communicating complex technical requirements to site personnel and external stakeholders.
• Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth understanding of state-specific regulatory and permitting requirements related to wind farm quality and safety.
• Problem-Solving: Decisive and pragmatic approach to resolving complex technical and quality-related bottlenecks on a fast-paced project/operational schedule.