Wind Energy Operations Managers

Career summary

Wind energy operations managers oversee maintenance. They determine if towers or transformers need cleaning or repair. Wind energy farms are located in rural areas, or even in the ocean. Managers make sure roadways and boats have access to the turbines. This ensures that workers, engineers, and technicians can reach them easily.

Operations managers estimate costs for fixing or improving equipment. They also order parts and tools needed for maintenance and upgrades.

Wind energy operations managers communicate with customers, site managers, landowners, and residents. Operations managers also work with local utilities and governments. Managers oversee budgets and costs, schedules, and timelines. They may also prepare and approve contracts.

Managers supervise employees and subcontractors. They may also recruit and hire employees and contractors. They often help train new employees, help them learn day-to-day tasks, and ensure workers comply with safety regulations and codes.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• General and Operations Managers
• Power Plant Operators
• Wind Energy Engineers
• Wind Energy Project Managers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to wind energy operations managers.

• Maintain records of all aspects of wind operations.
• Oversee the maintenance of equipment and structures, such as towers, roadways, and transformers.
• Supervise employees and subcontracts. Make sure all work conforms to safety regulations and policies.
• Develop and maintain relationships with customers, vendors, land owners, local residents, and site managers.
• Establish goals and priorities for operations.
• Prepare budgets. Estimate costs for repairs and maintenance.
• Coordinate the training of employees.
• Review and negotiate contracts.
• Recruit and hire employees and contractors.
• Provide technical support to customers and employees.
• May order parts, tools, and equipment needed for operations.

Common work activities

Wind energy operations managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Evaluate information against standards
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Use computers
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Develop and build teams
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Schedule work and activities
• Analyze data or information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Process information
• Document and record information
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop goals and strategies
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Monitor and control resources
• Coach others
• Think creatively
• Perform administrative tasks
• Control machines and processes
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Repair and maintain electronic equipment
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Perform activities that use the whole body

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, wind energy operations managers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They communicate by phone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis.
• Work as part of a team.
• Are substantially responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Are substantially responsible for the work done by other managers and technicians.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.

Physical work conditions

• Work mostly indoors, but sometimes outside, such as when examining turbines. Indoor locations are usually temperature-controlled.
• Often travel to work sites in a truck, van, or car.
• Are occasionally exposed to loud sounds or distracting noise levels.
• May be exposed to very hot or cold temperatures when working outdoors.
• Sometimes work in very bright lighting conditions.
• Are sometimes exposed to high places on the job.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous conditions and equipment that may result in minor cuts or burns. Injuries are slight.
• Regularly wear safety gear, such as hard hats and safety glasses. They may wear specialized safety equipment on occasion.

Work performance

• Must be exact and accurate when performing the job. Errors impact the supply of energy to customers.
• Regularly make decisions that impact coworkers, customers, and the company's reputation.
• Make decisions without consulting others first.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Set their daily tasks and goals without consulting another first.

Hours/travel

• Usually work a set schedule.
• Often work over 40 hours per week.

Physical demands

Wind energy operations managers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for wind energy operations managers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for wind energy operations managers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.

Skills and abilities

Wind energy operations managers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.

Use math and science

• Use math skills to solve problems.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Mechanical Engineering
• Operations Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Business Management and Administration

Training

To work as a wind energy operations manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree in a related field; and
• have several years of experience in the wind energy industry.

Education after high school

There are a variety of ways to train for this occupation. Most students prepare for this field by earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or business. Because this job combines both technical and planning skills, taking courses outside your major to round out your training is important. This means that if you major in engineering, you should also consider a minor in business. Earning a bachelor's degree in engineering and then a master of business administration (MBA) is great training for this occupation.

Consider participating in an internship with a wind power engineering firm while you are in college. An internship offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

On-the-job training

Operations managers typically have several years experience in the wind energy field, so they do not receive much formal training once hired.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Algebra
• Computer Science
• Business
• Introduction to Mechanics
• Physical Science

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for candidates with at least a bachelor's degree and several years of experience working in the wind energy field.

Costs to workers

Some workers may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues.

Wages

#Currently, there is no specific statewide wage information available for wind energy operations managers. However, this occupation is part of the larger group called "all other managers."

#Added these statements 11/1/16 cj.

Wages vary widely by employer and area of the country. Wages may also vary depending on the difficulty of projects and level of responsibility.

Benefits also vary by employer. Most wind energy operations managers receive typical benefits. These include vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. 

National wage information is not available specifically for wind energy operations managers. However, they are part of the larger group of "all other managers."

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

#Currently, there is no specific statewide outlook information available for wind energy operations managers. However, this occupation is part of the larger group called "all other managers."

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Engineering firms
• Utility companies

National outlook

Growth is expected to continue in the wind-power industry. This is due to the trend in government incentives and increased consumer interest. These incentives make wind power more affordable for individuals and businesses.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for wind energy operations managers. However, they are part of the larger group of "all other managers."

Other resources

American Public Power Association 
2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000
Arlington, VA 22202
202.467.2900

American Wind Energy Association 
1501 M Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202.383.2500

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
901 D Street SW, Suite 930
Washington, DC 20024
202.488.2200

Technology Student Association 
1904 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1540
888.860.9010

US Department of Energy 
(Renewable energy information - wind energy)

US Department of Energy: Clean Energy Training Programs 

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

Wind Solar Alliance 

References

Career cluster

• Business Management and Administration

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Wind Energy Operations Managers (11-9199.09) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Production Engineer (012.167-046) 
• Superintendent of Generation (184.167-138) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Realistic

COPSystem

• Business Professional