Construction Manager

Construction Manager

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 company at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

About the Role

The Construction Manager is Orenda's contract administrator and commercial lead for construction, responsible for delivering multiple BESS projects safely, on schedule, and within budget. You will own each project from the notice to proceed through commissioning and handover to asset management administering the construction contracts, adjudicating change orders and claims, controlling cost and schedule, and directing general-contractor performance across a concurrent portfolio.

Reporting to the Director of Construction, you are the primary decision-maker on your projects and the owner of every decision with contractual or commercial consequence. You direct the general contractor, coordinate with utilities and equipment vendors, manage the commissioning process, and drive each project through closeout. A Project Engineer supports you with day-to-day on-site representation and administrative coordination, so the role is primarily office-based with site visits as needed. You operate in New York City's dense urban regulatory and interconnection environment, coordinating closely with NYC agencies and Con Edison, and you represent Orenda with contractors, landowners, AHJs, and other external stakeholders while working closely with development, pre-construction, and asset management internally.

This role also carries responsibility for building the construction team. You will onboard and mentor new members of the construction team, giving them real project responsibility and coaching them toward independent leadership.

What You'll Do

• Contract & Commercial Administration: Administer the construction contracts as the Owner's representative. Review and disposition change orders, distinguishing valid scope changes from work already covered. Review contractor payment applications against actual progress, manage retainage and back-charges, and adjudicate delay and other claims against the contract. Track project budgets and produce cost-to-complete forecasts. Identify conflicts or gaps between agreements and coordinate with legal and commercial teams to resolve them.
• Project Ownership & Delivery: Own each project starting at NTP, managing multiple concurrent builds to deliver them on schedule, within budget, and ready for operations. Advance projects by resolving uncertainties, working through disputes, and addressing field challenges before they stall progress.
• Schedule Management: Track critical-path activities, identify what drives the completion date, and produce reliable schedule reporting and forecasts. When delays occur, analyze the time impact, interpret it against contractual requirements, evaluate the contractor's entitlement, and recommend a recovery path.
• Technical Coordination: Read civil, structural, and electrical drawings and submittals well enough to coordinate the work, identify scope gaps, and route technical questions to the Engineer of Record. Evaluate contractor proposals and recognize out-of-scope work in BESS-specific systems, including battery racks, inverters, HVAC, and fire suppression.
• Safety: Set safety expectations for each project and ensure contractor compliance. Review contractor safety plans, respond to incidents, and verify that corrective actions are adequate. The target is zero recordable incidents across all managed sites.
• Commissioning & Closeout: Manage each project through commissioning, punch list resolution, and handover to operations. Coordinate commissioning activities with the contractor, equipment vendors, and internal operations. Assemble turnover packages that meet contract and operational requirements.
• Reporting & Process Improvement: Build and maintain the tracking and reporting systems that give management reliable budget, schedule, and forecasting data. Identify improvement opportunities and turn them into process or policy recommendations. Provide feedback to development, pre-construction, and other internal groups to improve future projects.
• Team Development: Onboard and develop new construction managers and other construction team members so they can independently manage BESS construction projects. Delegate real project work, provide direct feedback, and hand off more responsibility as people prove ready.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Direct experience administering construction contracts, including change orders, payment requests, budget management, and delay claims.
• 5-7+ years in owner's-representative, project-management, or contract-administration roles on commercial, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• Proven ability to coordinate complex projects and schedules across utilities, AHJs, and contractors.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including monthly forecasting and cost-to-complete reporting.
• Ability to hold contractors accountable to their safety plans.
• Proficiency with scheduling software and construction project management platforms.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• Experience working with NYC agencies (DOB, FDNY, DEP, OTCR) and Con Edison in complex interconnection environments.
• Experience in Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) or broader renewable energy projects.
• Professional Engineer License, PMP or CCM certification.

Skills and Attributes

• Organized, process-driven, and capable of running multiple complex projects at once without dropping balls.
• Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions on commercial and field issues, and knows when to escalate.
• Communicates clearly in writing and in person. Produces concise project updates that give leadership what they need to act.
• Works effectively across departments and builds strong working relationships with contractors, utilities, and AHJs without compromising Orenda's position.
• Takes full ownership of project outcomes and holds contractors accountable without being adversarial.
• Positive, solutions-oriented mindset and genuine work ethic.
• Comfortable reaching for modern software, data, and AI tools to work more efficiently, and quick to learn new ones.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position based at Orenda's headquarters in Brooklyn, NY. The role requires extensive and regular travel to active project sites across all five NYC boroughs.

Why Join Orenda?

At Orenda, you'll help build the real-world infrastructure that makes the energy transition possible.

You'll join a mission-driven culture that values ownership, accountability, continuous learning, high performance, and genuine collaboration. We work hard, move quickly, and enjoy doing it together.

In addition to the chance to do important work with a great team, Orenda 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 $120,000-$170,000 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, with 3% employer match
  • LifeTime Fitness corporate membership
  • Monthly commuter stipend
  • Learning and education stipend
  • Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
  • Regular company events

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair and inclusive hiring and employment practices in accordance with federal, New York State, and New York City law. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employmentincluding hiring, promotion, compensation, or terminationon the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.