Lead, Deployment Operations

Job description

ABOUT BASE Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization–electricity–by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time. ABOUT THE ROLE Base is seeking a Pipeline Operations Lead to manage a team of hourly Project Operations Associates who drive every battery deployment from contract through completion. This is a people-leadership role at the center of our deployment pipeline. You'll own the day-to-day performance of the team — making sure work is assigned to the right people, queues stay healthy, metrics are tracked, and every associate is set up to do good work without anything slipping. You'll spot problems before they become delays, train and develop your team so they grow, and keep the pipeline moving quickly without sacrificing quality. Because we're a fast-moving startup, the scope of this role evolves constantly — we expect you to adapt quickly, stay close to the details, and bring forward solutions, not just problems. What You'll Do People leadership - Supervise, coach, and develop a team of hourly Project Operations Associates, including regular performance feedback, conflict resolution, and corrective action when needed - Set clear expectations for productivity, accuracy, and ownership, and hold the team accountable to them - Monitor staffing levels, timekeeping, attendance, and coverage so the pipeline is never under-resourced - Build a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence - Take feedback from all levels of the organization and motivate the team to achieve strong results Queue and workload management - Review incoming work across the deployment pipeline — photo approval, paperwork approval, interconnection agreements, REP enrollments, permit closeout — and assign it to the right associates based on capacity and skill - Monitor queues in real time, rebalance work to prevent backlogs, and escalate anything at risk of causing a delay - Keep cycle times short and pipeline health strong by staying ahead of bottlenecks Performance tracking and reporting - Track and report individual and team metrics, including throughput, accuracy, and cycle time - Identify associates who are excelling and those who need support, and act on both - Surface pipeline trends and risks to leadership with proposed solutions Cross-training and team capability - Make sure every associate is cross-trained across the full deployment workflow so the team can flex with demand and isn't dependent on any single person - Build and maintain training materials and onboarding for new associates - Develop bench strength so the team scales smoothly as Base grows Process improvement - Proactively identify inefficiencies or gaps in workflows and tooling, and bring forward solutions - Standardize repeatable processes so the team can move faster without sacrificing quality What You'll Bring - Bachelor's degree or 5+ years of experience in operations, project coordination, or a similar role, preferably within the solar, battery, construction, or utility sectors - 3+ year of experience leading or supervising hourly teams in an operational environment for 20+ team members - Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to oversee many projects and people at once - A track record of managing team metrics and using data to make decisions about workload and performance - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with clear and professional interactions across internal teams and external stakeholders - Keen attention to detail and a habit of catching errors before they become problems - Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to stay ahead of roadblocks in a high-volume environment About the Team The Deployment Pipeline Operations team is responsible for driving every project from contract through to completion. This team owns the full deployment pipeline — from pre- to post-installation — including site survey review, AHJ permitting, utility interconnection agreements, REP enrollments, and installation scheduling. We turn complex, often inconsistent requirements into a standardized, repeatable process so we can deploy batteries as quickly as possible and scale without sacrificing quality or speed. Success on this team is measured by pipeline health, cycle times, and our ability to move every deal through without anything getting stuck or delayed — directly enabling Base's growth and member experience. Team members are highly detail-oriented, thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, and take pride in staying ahead of problems and solving operational challenges that keep the pipeline moving. Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive. OUR VALUES - First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules. - Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing. - Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset. - Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results. - Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information. - Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in. - Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things. DO THE BEST WORK OF YOUR LIFE AT BASE.