Solar Energy Installation Managers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $43K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $54K
Median Salary: $67K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $87K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $109K
Demand
Core Tasks
Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.
Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase efficiency of solar installation projects.
Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
Coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.
Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.
Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
Evaluate subcontractors or subcontractor bids for quality, cost, and reliability.
Visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.
Develop and maintain system architecture, including all piping, instrumentation, or process flow diagrams.
Purchase or rent equipment for solar energy system installation.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Building and Construction
86%
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Customer and Personal Service
86%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design
78%
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology
78%
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mathematics
75%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical
73%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
English Language
72%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management
68%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Sales and Marketing
64%
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Public Safety and Security
62%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Top 10 Skills
Coordination
75%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources
75%
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Monitoring
75%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management
75%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening
73%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
73%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing
70%
Teaching others how to do something.
Reading Comprehension
70%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
70%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making
68%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
80%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
78%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression
75%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
73%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
70%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
70%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision
70%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Category Flexibility
68%
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision
68%
The ability to see details at a distance.
Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
94%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
91%
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Getting Information
91%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
89%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
85%
Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
83%
Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
83%
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Developing and Building Teams
82%
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
82%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
82%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Detailed Work Activities
Direct construction or extraction personnel.
Estimate materials requirements for projects.
Estimate construction project labor requirements.
Estimate construction project costs.
Plan layout of construction, installation, or repairs.
Coordinate construction project activities.
Assess locations for potential green technology installations.
Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
Test green technology installations to verify performance.
Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.
Create construction or installation diagrams.
Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Coordinate or Lead Others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Education
Majors based on the broader career First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Major
Interests
Enterprising
96%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
62%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
43%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
34%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
34%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
19%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
91%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
89%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation
87%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity
85%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility
82%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
82%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Initiative
81%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control
81%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Leadership
80%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence
78%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Work Values
Achievement
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Working Conditions
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
