Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Turbine Program Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Wind Turbine Program Officer is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing wind energy programs and projects across their full lifecycle. This role ensures the successful deployment, operation, and optimization of wind turbine initiatives by coordinating technical, financial, regulatory, and stakeholder activities. The position plays a critical role in advancing renewable energy targets, improving wind farm performance, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and government policies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Renewable Energy Project Coordinator
Wind Energy Analyst
Junior Program Officer (Energy or Infrastructure)

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Energy Program Manager
Renewable Energy Portfolio Manager
Director of Wind Energy Programs

Lateral Moves:

Solar or Hybrid Energy Program Officer
Energy Policy or Sustainability Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, coordinate, and manage wind turbine programs from feasibility through commissioning and operational phases.
Oversee the development and execution of wind energy projects, ensuring alignment with organizational and regulatory objectives.
Monitor wind turbine performance metrics, availability, and capacity factors to optimize energy production.
Coordinate with engineers, EPC contractors, turbine manufacturers, and operations teams to ensure technical compliance.
Manage program budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting for wind energy initiatives.
Ensure compliance with local, national, and international wind energy regulations, grid codes, and safety standards.
Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, and risk management plans.
Lead procurement activities related to wind turbines, balance-of-plant components, and service agreements.
Evaluate site assessments, wind resource studies, and environmental impact analyses.
Prepare technical and program documentation, including progress reports, proposals, and funding applications.
Act as the primary liaison with government agencies, utilities, investors, and community stakeholders.
Support permitting and interconnection processes for onshore and offshore wind projects.
Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost, schedule, safety, and energy output.
Identify opportunities for program improvement, repowering, and life-extension of existing wind assets.
Ensure health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards are implemented across all program activities.
Manage external consultants and advisory services supporting wind energy programs.
Support grid integration studies and energy storage or hybridization initiatives linked to wind projects.
Contribute to long-term wind energy strategy, portfolio planning, and decarbonization goals.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and best-practice adoption across wind energy projects.
Stay informed on emerging wind turbine technologies, market trends, and policy developments.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wind turbine technology and wind farm operations knowledge
Renewable energy project and program management
Budgeting, financial modeling, and cost control for energy projects
Understanding of grid interconnection and power systems
Regulatory compliance and permitting in the wind energy sector
Performance monitoring and data analysis for wind assets
Contract management and procurement processes
Risk assessment and mitigation for infrastructure projects
Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, or similar)
Technical documentation and reporting for renewable energy programs

Soft Skills

Strong stakeholder and partner management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Strategic thinking and problem-solving mindset
Cross-functional collaboration and team leadership
Attention to detail and high level of accountability
Ability to manage multiple projects in fast-paced environments
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, Environmental Science, or a related discipline

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Renewable Energy, Energy Management, Engineering, or Public Policy

Relevant Fields of Study:

Renewable Energy Engineering
Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
5–10 years of experience in wind energy, renewable energy programs, or infrastructure project management

Preferred:
Demonstrated experience managing utility-scale or commercial wind turbine projects, including interaction with regulators, utilities, and technology providers