O&M Manager

Role Overview

The O&M Manager owns maintenance management across Sunbird’s European solar PV portfolio. Our maintenance processes and tooling are being formalised now, and the post-holder will help design them, embed them and then run them day to day. The maintenance backbone is the CMMS module of meteocontrol VCOM, supported by Sitemark for aerial inspections and field work management. How the two platforms work together is still being refined — the post-holder will be a core part of that build-out with the Head of Engineering, and thereafter the owner of the combined toolchain.

Key Responsibilities

O&M process build-out (primary focus)

• Design, document and continuously improve Sunbird’s O&M processes: preventive and corrective maintenance regimes, fault-response and escalation paths, and SLA frameworks with subcontractors.

• Define how Sitemark (drone thermography inspections, anomaly management, task tracking) works alongside the VCOM CMMS, then run the combined workflow so every anomaly and maintenance item is tracked to closure in one system of record.

CMMS ownership (meteocontrol VCOM)

• Administer the VCOM CMMS end to end: the incident → alarm → ticket → work order workflow, automation rules, and work order and report templates.

• Maintain CMMS master data — forms, safety instructions and site access information — and manage the VCOM O&M mobile app used by field technicians, including check-in/check-out and time-on-site tracking.

Maintenance planning & subcontractor management

• Plan annual preventive maintenance campaigns, thermographic and statutory inspections, and module cleaning across the portfolio; schedule and dispatch work orders to subcontractors in each market.

• Manage O&M subcontractors across five countries: onboarding, work order quality, close-out review and performance management.

Spares, defects & warranty

• Track spare parts, defects and warranty claims with EPCs and equipment suppliers (modules, inverters, transformers).

Reporting & HSE

• Report maintenance KPIs to management: open ticket backlog, response and resolution times, and the availability impact of outstanding faults.

• Ensure maintenance activity meets HSE requirements and local regulations in each market.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Asset Manager (who monitors plant health and raises tickets), the projects team and Finance, and share lessons learned across the portfolio.

Person Specification

Essential

• Around three to five years’ experience in O&M, maintenance management or technical operations of solar PV plants (or closely comparable electrical infrastructure).

• Hands-on experience administering a CMMS or ticketing/work order system — meteocontrol VCOM experience is a strong advantage.

• A track record of building processes, not just following them: has set up or significantly improved a maintenance operation before.

• Strong organisational skills and comfort coordinating subcontractors remotely across multiple countries.

• Fluent professional English.

Desirable

• An engineering degree (electrical, mechanical or renewable energy) — preferred but not mandatory; practical solar O&M depth matters more.

• Experience with Sitemark or other aerial/drone thermography and inspection platforms.

• Additional European languages, especially Polish, German, French or Spanish.

• Familiarity with monitoring/SCADA platforms and metering systems.

What We Offer

• Ownership of how a multi-country solar portfolio is maintained, with the mandate and tooling to build it properly.

• A role positioned to grow as the O&M department grows.

• Travel support, including visa costs where required and generous living-out allowances.

• All tools and IT equipment required to perform the role.

• A collaborative, entrepreneurial team culture.