Wind farms provide clean, renewable energy across the country. Developing and running them relies on the skills of wind energy project managers and operations managers. Wind energy project managers lead efforts to develop potential wind energy businesses, from conducting environmental studies, and writing business proposals, to applying for permits. Their plans factor in detailed schedules and anticipated costs. Once they have a green light to build, they may also manage project construction. Project managers may also negotiate a variety of agreements, such as tax savings, contracts to buy the wind power generated, or land use. They must know civil design, engineering and construction codes to ensure they meet government standards. Wind energy operations managers oversee existing wind field operations. They may also need to negotiate wind farm contracts to ensure they continue to have buyers for the power they generate. They oversee equipment maintenance, hire and supervise employees, and ensure that safety policies are observed. Wind energy operations managers interact with a variety of stakeholders, from land owners and developers to utility reps and customers. Wind energy project and operations managers share similar education requirements: most jobs require a bachelor’s degree, although some require technical expertise and a certificate along with work experience, rather than a degree.
What they do:
Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.
On the job, you would:
Supervise employees or subcontractors to ensure quality of work or adherence to safety regulations or policies.
Train or coordinate the training of employees in operations, safety, environmental issues, or technical issues.
Track and maintain records for wind operations, such as site performance, downtime events, parts usage, or substation events.
Business
management
human resources (HR)
Engineering and Technology
mechanical
product and service development
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Social
understanding people's reactions
changing what is done based on other people's actions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
order or arrange things
Visual Understanding
quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
see hidden patterns
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Leadership
Dependability
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Cooperation
Initiative
You might use software like this on the job:
Electronic mail software
IBM Lotus Notes
Microsoft Outlook
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Facilities management software
Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Oracle Enterprise Asset Management eAM
associate's degree or bachelor's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
$124,650
$60,390
$208,000+
You might like a career in one of these industries:
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