Director of Blade Services

auduboncorporatecareers; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Audubon Companies is seeking a Director of Wind Turbine Blade Services to lead blade inspection, repair, and field-service operations across multiple projects and regions. You will shape safety culture, drive profitability, and ensure high-quality outcomes for clients and stakeholders.

The role requires extensive leadership across operations, technical teams, and commercial delivery, with a strong focus on safety, risk management, and continuous improvement in a high-risk environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 10+ years in wind turbine blade services or related field.
• 5+ years progressive leadership across multi-project field ops.
• Experience with blade inspection and repair and safety.
• Ability to travel extensively to project sites.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, staffing, and performance.
• Strong safety knowledge for high-risk field work.

Responsibilities

• Direct all blade services operations from inspection to completion.
• Establish operating plans, KPIs, and staffing.
• Oversee field supervisors, project managers, technical leads, and blade technicians.
• Coordinate resources across projects for efficiency.
• Support planning, constructability reviews, and execution strategies.
• Identify operational risks and mitigation plans.
• Maintain client relationships and support business development.
• Ensure safety culture and compliance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder communication

Safety leadership

Travel willingness

Budget & forecasting

Contract & client management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, construction management, safety, operations, or a related field

Tools

ERP software

Project management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

As part of the Renewables Services Line The Director of Wind Turbine Blade Services is responsible for leading the company's blade inspection, repair, maintenance, and related field-service operations. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple projects, clients, and geographic regions while ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, profitably, and to the highest standards of quality.

The Director will oversee field execution, workforce planning, client relationships, technical development, financial performance, safety performance, and continuous improvement for the blade services business. This position requires a strong understanding of wind turbine blade inspection and repair, field-service operations, project management, and the demands of working in a high-risk, production-focused environment.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership

• Direct all blade services operations, including inspection, repair, maintenance, leading-edge protection, composite repair, lightning protection, and related scopes of work.
• Establish operating plans, performance expectations, procedures, and key performance indicators for the blade services organization.
• Ensure projects are properly staffed, scheduled, equipped, and supported from mobilization through completion.
• Provide oversight of field supervisors, project managers, technical leads, and blade technicians.
• Coordinate resources across multiple projects to maximize workforce utilization and operational efficiency.
• Support project planning, constructability reviews, work packaging, means and methods, and execution strategies.
• Identify operational risks and develop effective mitigation plans.

Safety and Risk Management

• Champion a strong safety culture throughout the blade services organization.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, client requirements, OSHA regulations, and applicable industry standards.
• Provide leadership for high-risk work activities, including work at height, rope access, suspended work platforms, lifting operations, confined spaces, electrical hazards, chemical exposure, and adverse weather conditions.
• Partner with the safety team to conduct risk assessments, pre-job planning, incident investigations, audits, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Ensure lessons learned are communicated and incorporated into procedures and training.
• Hold leaders and field personnel accountable for safe work execution and stop-work responsibilities.

Client and Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with wind farm owners, operators, original equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, and service partners.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients and strategically important projects.
• Support proposals, estimating, scope development, contract reviews, and business development efforts.
• Identify opportunities to expand blade services offerings and improve client value.
• Ensure client expectations are clearly understood, communicated, and consistently met.
• Resolve escalated operational, quality, schedule, and commercial issues.

Financial and Commercial Management

• Maintain accountability for revenue, gross margin, labor productivity, project costs, and overall business performance.
• Review project budgets, forecasts, change orders, invoices, and financial reports.
• Ensure work is performed within contract requirements and approved budgets.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety, quality, or schedule.
• Support pricing strategies and resource planning for new and existing work.
• Monitor labor, equipment, travel, subcontractor, and material costs.

Quality and Technical Excellence

• Establish and maintain quality standards for blade inspection, repair, documentation, and final acceptance.
• Ensure technicians and supervisors are properly trained and qualified for assigned work.
• Promote the use of consistent repair methods, inspection criteria, technical documentation, and closeout practices.
• Partner with engineering and technical teams to resolve complex blade conditions and repair challenges.
• Review quality trends, rework, warranty issues, and client feedback.
• Drive continuous improvement in tools, equipment, materials, repair techniques, and field execution.

Workforce Development

• Recruit, develop, and retain qualified blade-service personnel.
• Establish career paths and development plans for technicians, leads, supervisors, and project managers.
• Support training programs involving composites, blade inspection, rope access, rescue, fall protection, lifting, and other required qualifications.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, reporting relationships, and performance expectations.
• Promote employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and professional growth.
• Develop succession plans for key leadership and technical positions.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Establish regular reporting for safety, quality, schedule, productivity, utilization, financial performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Review performance data and take timely corrective action when results do not meet expectations.
• Lead after-action reviews and lessons-learned processes.
• Standardize best practices across projects and regions.
• Provide regular updates to executive leadership regarding business performance, risks, staffing, and strategic priorities.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Technical Skills

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, construction management, safety, operations, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Typically 10 or more years of experience in wind turbine blade services, wind energy, composite repair, industrial field services, construction, or a related industry.
• At least 5 years of progressive leadership experience managing multi-project field operations.
• Demonstrated experience with wind turbine blade inspection, repair, maintenance, or composite structures.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, forecasts, staffing, and operational performance.
• Strong understanding of safety requirements for work at height, rope access, suspended work, lifting, and field-service operations.
• Experience managing client relationships and supporting proposals or business development.
• Ability to travel extensively to project sites as needed.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet company and client site-access requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with wind turbine manufacturers, independent service providers, or major wind asset owners.
• Experience with composite materials, structural repair, coatings, lightning protection, and leading-edge systems.
• IRATA, SPRAT, GWO, NDT, or other relevant industry certifications.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning, project management, and field-service software.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams.
• Knowledge of OSHA, ANSI, GWO, ISO, and applicable wind-industry requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong operational judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead through changing priorities, tight schedules, and challenging field conditions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to interpret technical documents, inspection reports, contracts, schedules, and financial information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build trust and accountability across field, corporate, client, and subcontractor teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project-management or field-service systems.
• Ability to analyze performance data and translate findings into practical actions.
• Commitment to safety, quality, employee development, and customer satisfaction.

Working Conditions

• Frequent travel to wind farms, project sites, client locations, and company offices.
• Work may occur in remote locations and in varying weather conditions.
• Regular interaction with field personnel, clients, subcontractors, vendors, and senior leadership.
• Occasional work near operating wind turbines and other industrial equipment.
• Ability to access project sites and safely navigate uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, and industrial work areas.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Audubon Companies is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled