Program Director

Zelestra; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

AI-native culture

Competitive salary and incentive

Job summary

Zelestra is seeking a Program Manager to own renewable energy projects across its German portfolio—PV, BESS, wind, and hybrids—from mid-stage development to commercial operation. You will lead cross-functional teams, build the business case, and drive projects through COD while coordinating with M&A and project finance.

This hands-on role requires a growth mindset and fluency in German and English. You will report to the Head of Project Delivery Germany and collaborate with commercial,

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering utility-scale renewable projects through COD.
• End-to-end ownership of complex, multi-party projects.
• Solid understanding of project economics and contracts (offtake, grid, EPC).
• Experience managing internal and external stakeholders and negotiations.
• Hands-on experience applying AI tools in a professional context.
• Ownership mindset and growth mindset: take ownership of projects and seek improvements.
• Fluent German (C1+) and business English.

Responsibilities

• Taking accountability for health and safety on every project, with zero accidents through COD.
• Owning the delivery of multiple projects across the German portfolio, from mid-stage development through COD, on time, on budget and to quality targets.
• For M&A projects, owning the asset assessment during due diligence (technical, permitting, schedule, risks and business case), then taking over execution after closing.
• Owning the business case, project schedule, and risks and opportunities.
• Leading the cross-functional project team (development, commercial, engineering, procurement, legal and finance) as the single point of accountability.
• Driving each project through its key milestones: securing offtake and financing, issuing NTP and achieving COD.
• Preparing and securing investment decisions, including all internal approvals and governance required to progress each project.
• Representing the project to all external stakeholders and managing interfaces.
• Reporting on project status, financials and risks to management.
• Handing over the project to Asset Management at COD.

Skills

End-to-end ownership

Cross-functional leadership

Renewable project delivery

AI tools usage

German & English fluency

M&A/due diligence exposure

Job description

Location

Düsseldorf (preferred), Berlin or Hamburg, with travel to project sites across Germany from time to time.

Mission

The earth needs to get back to zero. At Zelestra, we make your decarbonization a reality! By working hard and working smart. We do all we can to meet our clients’ goals and get results that matter. Zelestra is a purpose driven global multi-technology company, we provide value across the entire chain to enhance competitiveness and mitigate execution risk in large-scale renewable energy projects with a robust project portfolio and vertical integration to deliver renewable solutions efficiently. Our beliefs are the cornerstone of our culture and guide our actions every day: We work tirelessly to do things right, we take ownership of everything we do, we push ourselves and our clients further, we get results that matter, we work together to achieve great. We are looking for a Program Manager to own renewable energy projects across Zelestra's German portfolio – PV, BESS, Wind, and hybrids – from mid-stage development through to commercial operation. As project owner, you lead cross-functional teams, build the business case, and are accountable for each project's success. You partner with Commercial to optimise projects for our customers, work with our project finance experts to secure suitable financing, and execute all agreements needed for construction and realisation. As the project nears its Commercial Operation Date (COD), you hand it over to Asset Management for a smooth transition into long-term operations. The role also covers acquisitions: for projects entering the portfolio through M&A, you own the due diligence – project evaluation, risk assessment, planning, and the business case – and execute once ownership transfers to Zelestra. You work closely with the M&A team, who lead origination, transaction coordination, and negotiations. You know the German renewable energy market and bring the mindset we value at Zelestra. You take ownership of your projects, deliver on your commitments and act with integrity, raising risks early and doing things right. You build trust through collaboration across functions, and you approach every challenge with a growth mindset, including using modern tools such as AI to work smarter. This is a hands-on delivery role, not an advisory one.

Responsibilities

• Taking accountability for health and safety on every project, with zero accidents through COD
• Owning the delivery of multiple projects across the German portfolio, from mid-stage development through COD, on time, on budget and to quality targets
• For M&A projects, owning the asset assessment during due diligence (technical, permitting, schedule, risks and business case), then taking over execution after closing
• Owning the business case, project schedule, and risks and opportunities
• Leading the cross-functional project team (development, commercial, engineering, procurement, legal and finance) as the single point of accountability
• Driving each project through its key milestones: securing offtake and financing, issuing NTP and achieving COD
• Preparing and securing investment decisions, including all internal approvals and governance required to progress each project
• Representing the project to all external stakeholders and managing interfaces
• Reporting on project status, financials and risks to management
• Handing over the project to Asset Management at COD

Job Requirements

Must-haves

• Proven track record in delivering utility-scale renewable projects (PV, BESS and/or wind), with at least one project taken through to COD.
• Proven end-to-end ownership of complex, multi-party projects, including leading cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Solid understanding of project economics and of commercial and construction contracts (e.g. offtake, grid connection, EPC).
• Experience managing internal and external stakeholders, service providers and negotiations.
• Hands-on experience applying AI tools in a professional context.
• Ownership and growth mindset: you treat each project as your own, embrace challenges and look for opportunities to grow and improve.
• Fluent German (C1+) and business-fluent English.

Additionally, you ideally bring

• Established relationships with German grid operators (DSOs/TSOs), municipalities, or co-developers.
• Experience working in a developer or IPP (independent power producer) environment.
• Exposure to M&A or transaction processes for energy assets.

What We Offer

• Reporting to the Head of Project Delivery Germany.
• End-to-end ownership of renewable energy projects across Zelestra's German portfolio, from mid-stage development to commercial operation.
• A lean team with a short path from decision to execution – you own decisions directly.
• An active, multi-technology development pipeline (PV, BESS, and Wind) ready to be built out.
• AI-native company culture.
• Competitive salary in the range of EUR 120,000 - 150,000 and performance-based incentive.

Zelestra celebrates the diversity of thought and experience that comes from a variety of background including, but not limited to, gender, age, ethnicity... Our mission is to celebrate to a more just and equitable society.