Director of Operations

Leeward Renewable Energy is a high-growth renewable energy asset owner, operator, and development company headquartered in Dallas Texas. Leeward currently owns and operates a portfolio of 28 renewable energy facilities across nine states, totaling close to 3000 MW of installed capacity and is actively developing new wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S., with ~20 GW of projects under development spanning over 100 projects. Leeward is a portfolio company of OMERS, one of Canada's largest pension plans with over C$121 billion in assets.

Job Summary:

Leeward Renewable Energy is currently seeking an experienced Director of Operations to manage the operation, productivity and costs of wind and solar projects across the Leeward fleet. This includes safety, management of daily activities, coordination and communication with customers, interfacing with the Commercial Optimization group, and assistance with the financial performance of the wind projects. Provides guidance for the site managers and works to enforce fleet standards. This position can work from multiple locations, but the preferred location is the Dallas, Texas office. It provides a perfect opportunity for a professional looking for interesting work within a small team, the ability to expand their experience, work with all levels of the organization, and contribute to the company's success.

Essential Functions:

1. Work collaboratively with the COO and other Directors of Operations to carry out responsibilities in accordance with Company policies and applicable laws.
2. Establish effective processes and controls that enable plant staff to operate the plants in a manner that promotes the highest levels of safety, compliance, and productivity.
3. Work with staff at the plants to return turbines, inverters, and BOP systems back to service when downtime exceeds 24 hours, engage resources as needed.
4. Work with a large corrective coordinator and contractors, ensuring that main component exchanges are being executed according to budget and schedule.
5. Work with purchasing, engineering, third-party services providers, and others to control, track and set the inventory of parts and tools to address the needs of the plants.
6. Work with Data Analytics and OCC to perform plant performance reviews, establish KPI’s and metrics for plant staff.
7. Manage commercial relationships and lead reoccurring discussions with OEMs and third party service providers; aggregate fleet concerns, highlight operational positives and negatives, drive any issues to closure.
8. Work with Asset Management to identify and resolve larger third-party service provider contractual issues.
9. Identify opportunities to improve the commercial terms of plant service contracts.
10. Leads, supervises and provides resources for all plants.
11. Constantly monitors and evaluates the status and productivity of the wind and solar projects. Provides solutions and directs action to improve performance.
12. Monitors and analyzes the financial operational records. Assists in the development of annual budgets for any the plants and any special projects. Provides solutions and directs action to ensure compliance with the Company’s and plant approved budgets.
13. Works with Data Analytics to report on statistical and performance data and other regional activities as required.
14. Work to develop your direct reports, identify required areas of improvement and use development plans to continually improve the organization.
15. Maintains company relationships both inside and outside of the plant.
16. Manages relationships with turbine and solar service providers and other BOP contractors.
17. Serves as a member of relevant company committees as assigned.
18. Adheres to company policies, safety standards and good housekeeping practices.
19. Assist Plant Managers with plant coverage as needed for vacations, heavy plant workloads, etc.
20. Conduct plant visits on a regular basis.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Technical Field and/or equivalent experience.
2. 10+ years progressive and relevant experience in energy operations management preferably in the wind or solar energy business.
3. Knowledge of operating codes, standards, regulations, and industry practices.
4. Proven leadership skills to liaise with industry partners, regulatory agencies, other external stakeholders.
5. Demonstrated ability to manage across functional groups within a large organization using problem solving, technical background, and sound decision making.
6. Strong financial acumen for budgeting, forecasting, understanding of revenue opportunities, market variables and commercial contract underpinnings.
7. Strong team leadership experience managing people in multiple locations with collaborative working style.
8. Demonstrated results getting individuals/teams to perform at higher levels through changing expectations.
9. Demonstrated contract and negotiations skills and strong vendor relations.
10. Interpret and analyze business correspondence, contracts, financial and statistical data, and technical procedures.
11. Ability to present business cases to optimize the assets and perform cost/benefit analysis.
12. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
13. Ability to direct operations and manage employees remotely.
14. Ability to travel for training and meetings up to 50% of the time.

Physical Demands:

1. Position will require sitting for long periods of time.
2. Ability to climb occasionally ladders 60-125 meters in height.

Comfort entering confined spaces and at heights up to 125 meters.

Leeward Management Services, LLC is committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provides equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.