Director of Wind

Zelestra; United States; Remote; USD 189,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

EAP

FSA

Life insurance

Paid holidays and PTO

Retirement savings

Job summary

Zelestra is seeking a Director of Wind to lead the U.S. wind development program, build a high-performing team, and drive projects from development to construction readiness. The role emphasizes wind-plus-storage familiarity and strong stakeholder engagement across utilities, regulators, and landowners.

Reporting to the Head of Project Development, you will shape the U.S. wind strategy, manage budgets and schedules, and collaborate with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and Origination to align

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, environmental studies or related field.
• 8+ years in renewable energy project development, including utility-scale wind.
• Strong leadership and team-building experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing development team.
• Set strategy, milestones, and priorities for the U.S. wind portfolio.
• Provide executive updates on progress, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Lead utility-scale wind and hybrid wind-plus-storage projects from site control through construction readiness.
• Oversee wind resource assessment, turbine siting, land, permitting, environmental studies, and interconnection.
• Manage relationships with utilities, transmission providers, landowners, communities, and regulators.
• Track market, policy, tax credit, queue reform, and transmission developments to guide strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Wind development

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Financial acumen

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/business/environmental studies

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Help Build Zelestra's Wind Projects

At Zelestra, we're building more than a wind project - we're helping shape the future of renewable energy in the United States.

Position Summary

Industry: Renewable Energy - Wind, Solar, and Battery Storage

Location: U.S.

Type: Full-Time | Permanent I Remote (preference for candidates within core wind markets - ERCOT, SPP, MISO)

Role Reports To: Head of Project Development

Position Overview The Director of Wind will play a critical leadership role in advancing our Wind Projects. This role will shape our U.S. strategy, build a high-performing team, and advance utility-scale wind projects from early development through construction readiness. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced wind development leader to build Zelestra’s onshore wind platform, solve complex development challenges, and influence the future of the company’s U.S. renewable energy portfolio. Experience with hybrid wind-plus-storage projects and co-located solar configurations would be a strong advantage. This is a unique opportunity to join the project during a pivotal phase and help shape its successful execution from development through construction readiness.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, environmental studies, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of renewable energy project development experience, including significant utility-scale wind development, with a proven track record advancing multiple projects to NTP or COD.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, with success mentoring and growing development teams.
• Deep familiarity with wind development, including wind resource assessment, siting/setbacks, avian and environmental permitting, FAA and radar coordination, interconnection, real estate, and mineral/title complexities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience managing community relations and addressing permitting challenges.
• Financial acumen, with ability to structure and evaluate project economics and risks.
• Highly organized, adaptive, and effective in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Willingness to travel 30% as needed.

Position Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Build and lead a high-performing development team.
• Set strategy, milestones, and priorities for the U.S. wind portfolio.
• Provide executive updates on progress, risks, and mitigation plans.

Project Development

• Lead utility-scale wind and hybrid wind-plus-storage projects from site control through construction readiness.
• Oversee wind resource assessment, turbine siting, land, permitting, environmental studies, and interconnection.
• Manage relationships with utilities, transmission providers, landowners, communities, and regulators.
• Resolve complex siting, title, setback, wildlife, FAA, and stakeholder challenges.

Commercial & Strategic Alignment

• Partner with Finance, Legal, Engineering, and Origination to align project design and commercial strategy.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and portfolio performance.
• Track market, policy, tax credit, queue reform, and transmission developments to guide strategy.

Compensation And Benefits

The anticipated starting salary for this role is $210,000 annual plus a competitive bonus structure. Actual pay will vary depending on job-related factors, such as the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Zelestra offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life insurance
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• Retirement savings benefits

Zelestra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

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Let's co-build a carbon-free tomorrow!

Visit us at zelestra.energy