Our client is the largest producer of oil and gas in the United States and is also one of the nation’s largest energy investors. The company’s alternative energy arm was launched in November 2005, combining the company’s interests in low and zero-carbon power generation: wind, solar, hydrogen power, natural gas-fired power generation, biofuels and distributed energy for emerging markets. The company is one of the leading wind developers in the U.S. and has portfolios of wind assets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The North American wind portfolio includes nearly 100 projects under development with a potential total generating capacity of 15,000MW.
North America has the largest wholesale power market in the world and a favorable environment for wind energy development. Our client has recently made several strategic acquisitions and has also forged alliances with key wind power developers, positioning the company to become one of the leading wind power providers in North America. The company seeks a power professional with extensive experience in the engineering, procurement, and construction of power projects who will be responsible for a team of twenty five to thirty professionals who are overseeing the construction of multiple wind project sites across the U.S. – typically four to six projects constructed each year. Our client’s U.S. wind portfolio includes the opportunity to develop almost 100 projects with a potential total generating capacity of some 15,000MW. These projects are the result of several agreements and acquisitions the company made in 2006. Our client currently has 300MW of wind energy projects under operation and 700MW in construction. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior power executive to be at the forefront of expansion in the renewable market representing a global leader in power and energy production.
Job Scope:
- Direct the engineering, procurement, and construction of all U.S. wind energy projects – approximately four to six projects annually totaling 700MW.
- Manage 25 to 30 engineering, procurement, project management, and construction professionals and up to 500 contract staff during construction.
Construction Project Management:
- Accountable for the safe, commercially optimal and technically excellent engineering and construction of all wind power assets within the Americas region; protecting and maximizing the company’s power investments by providing direction to operations teams and ensuring compliance with company policy.
- Managing key construction contracts including contract compliance, change order negotiations, contract close-outs, etc.
- Providing key project and construction management services to the asset management and partner teams, who are ultimately responsible for overall project P&L and commercial management. Services include construction monitoring & management, reporting, etc.
- Set and implement safety standards (keeping abreast of regulations, changing systems where necessary and supporting improvements in others’ systems) for projects in construction.
- Implement organizational planning, reporting, and control processes to ensure appropriate governance and delivery for all company wind energy projects on schedule and within budget.
- Ensuring the development of AE Power Services construction project management capabilities by managing 12+ project construction staff plus additional contractor personnel.
- Working with industry construction companies and other leaders to promote industry standards for E&C of wind projects.
Development & Project Engineering:
- Support new business development activities by hiring, deploying and managing a team of development engineers to support new development projects.
- Provide technical guidance to asset managers and project engineers on key asset contracts – principally the engineering and construction at each site. From time to time, on highly complex issues, take the lead on contract negotiations with third parties.
- Ensure the development of AE power technical capabilities by managing a six to nine person engineering staff.
- Responsible for Balance of Plant scope development, contractor selection, and contract negotiation and compliance.
Procurement & Logistics:
- Manage a team of three procurement and logistics professionals providing procurement services to the company for all aspects of the business, including WTG, BOP contract, other component contracts, and ancillary and development services.
- Oversee WTG procurement efforts of approximately 700MW/year with multiple turbine vendors from initial WTG evaluations through final contract completion to and including contract administration and support.
- Oversee transportation logistics where not provided by WTG OEM vendors to ensure economical, safe, and timely delivery of WTG components to projects.
Experience/Skills Required:
- Fifteen plus (15+) years of experience in engineering and constructing wind power and/or cogeneration power assets, including significant accountability for contracts negotiation with complex issues surrounding contractual arrangements.
- Track record of personal safety leadership resulting in project management and construction success where the individual is accountable, including a history of actively influencing the safe operations of third party contractors.
- Significant team leadership experience, ideally in a technical area overseeing the construction of multiple power assets simultaneously.
- Experience in project management, contractual relationships, commercial asset optimization, energy value realization, business negotiation, and understanding trading.
- Experience implementing and enforcing project management processes, resulting in a track record of delivering projects on-time, safely, and within budget.
- Experience leading substantial business growth including market development and building a new team.
- BS in Engineering or demonstrable experience in equivalent roles; MBA is a plus;
Professional Engineer (PE) is a plus.
