Project Analyst, Illinois Solar for All

The Illinois Solar for All Program (ILSFA), directed by the Illinois Power Agency and administered by Elevate, aims to deliver the benefits of solar and the clean energy economy to low-income and environmental justice communities across Illinois. The Project Analyst, Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) facilitates the vetting, support, and ongoing performance management of ILSFA Approved Vendors who develop and install qualified solar projects for the program. The Project Analyst works across internal and external functional teams to manage project applications and approvals, including verification of program requirements and quality assurance for solar photovoltaic installations. This position requires excellent skills for managing time and priorities, complex data, technical solar installation processes, and vendor relationships. The ILSFA Project Analyst may collaborate with other teams and leadership in conducting work related to the ILSFA program.

The Project Analyst reports to the Manager, ILSFA. This position is located in Chicago, Illinois and is currently remote with availability to work during Central Standard Time.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Vendor Management Team, provide ongoing, expert, one-on-one support to Approved Vendors to ensure ILSFA processes are understood and adhered to and that technical requirements are met.
Manage day-to-day communications with vendors, providing clear, concise, and timely updates and responding to requests for information.
Ensure ILSFA projects meet ILSFA program requirements, including quality assurance, and coordinate with other entities as needed to verify that projects meet state, local, utility, and technical requirements.
Review and manage Approved Vendor registration applications and project data, including solar system design, REC delivery, and general Data Analysis, as well as data related to program requirements according to established protocols.
Leads assigned project tasks and initiatives, driving successful completion within scope, budget, and timeline.
Conducts advanced data analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Provides expert technical guidance to vendors and colleagues, solving complex problems and proposing innovative solutions.
Develops and delivers training materials for junior analysts, fostering their technical and project management skills.
Identifies and mitigates significant project risks, proactively developing and implementing solutions.
Proposes and leads process improvement initiatives to optimize project efficiency and quality.
Acts as a subject matter expert within the team, sharing knowledge and best practices.
Stays current on emerging industry trends and proactively identifies their potential impact on projects.
In collaboration with the Vendor Management Team, assist in the development of training materials and provide training opportunities to Approved Vendors to further their understanding of the ILSFA Program and improve project review efficiency.
Support ILSFA Program Management team in the ongoing development and maintenance of ILSFA Approved Vendor Manual, operational protocols, and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure program milestones and deliverables are met.
Work with internal functions to maintain and update project data and communications relevant to Approved Vendors, including website content, newsletters, and responding to technical assistance requests.
Find opportunities to gain and maintain expertise in current solar PV technical processes, installation, and equipment.
Attend and participate in inter-departmental teams and staff meetings and assist in other departmental and/or organizational activities as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a technical field such as renewable energy and sustainability, finance and economics, or energy engineering required
At least four (4+) years of experience in solar site assessment, solar project management, or energy management
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
Customer service skills and experience preferred
NABCEP certification or solar PV installation training experience preferred
General knowledge and experience with solar-related regulations, standards, codes, methods, and practices required
Working knowledge of solar design tools such as Helioscope, PVSyst, Aurora, or similar platforms helpful but not required
Familiarity with technical documentation such as one-line diagrams, site maps, structural drawings preferred, but not required
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required
Project management experience preferred
Experience with Salesforce preferred
Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Visio, etc.)
Ability to independently leverage critical thinking skills to address project challenges
Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and manage workload, and meet tight deadlines with high degree of accuracy
Willingness to be a flexible team player
Demonstrated attention to detail
Exceptional organizational and coordination skills
In general, expected to be capable of independently performing and leading various tasks within the program as assigned by the Senior Manager and Vendor Management Team Leads

Organization Description

We design and implement programs that reduce costs, protect people and the environment, and ensure the benefits of clean and efficient energy use reach those who need them most.

At Elevate, the greatest asset of our organization is the kind of people we attract. Elevate employees co-create our energetic and collaborative environment, where constant learning and service to others take priority. We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of innovation and we seek dynamic, hardworking team members who are inspired to work with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Every day we make a difference by placing our team, clients, and community partners first. From our mission to our focus on staff wellbeing and career development opportunities, there’s no better place to grow your career than Elevate.

Compensation

The total compensation for this position includes health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.), defined contribution benefit (401k with contribution), professional development, generous paid time off policies, and a flexible schedule. This is an exempt individual contributor position with a salary range of $65,000 – $75,000, based on experience.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Elevate is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

ADA Accommodation

Elevate will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace, and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation, or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Elevate. Contact the People Team with any questions or requests for accommodations.

To Apply

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume through our candidate portal at https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/. Search for “Project Analyst, Illinois Solar for All” to find the position listing.

Please note that Elevate will only contact candidates via an elevatenp.org email address. We will never ask a candidate for payment of any kind as part of the hiring or onboarding process or send payment to any candidate prior to completing the hiring and onboarding process.

No phone calls please.