Wind Energy Development Managers
Management
The work is to evaluate wind energy opportunities and then run the project through studies, permits, and proposals. Typical days cover writing project plans, setting scopes for design, site assessment, and environmental studies, and directing engineering or construction so objectives are met. Negotiations may involve land use, interconnection, tax agreements, or power purchase terms; subcontractors and consultants are supervised so the work matches specifications and stays within budget. Schedules, estimates, and forecasts are kept current, and progress is reported to owners, customers, and the project team. Suits people who like coordinating specialists, negotiating agreements, and tracking plans against numbers.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$141'900
Median Wage Market Position
$141'900
What you might do
- Direct development and construction of wind projects
- Draft project plans with scope, costs, and schedules
- Keep wind project spending within budget limits
- Negotiate land, tax, and power-purchase agreements
- Oversee subcontractors to meet specs and budgets
- Brief owners and teams on project progress
Skills that matter
- Weighing project scope against the budget
- Reviewing energy assessments and permit files
- Writing plans and project status reports
- Negotiating land, tax, and power agreements
- Keeping engineers and builders aligned
- Updating costs, schedules, and forecasts
AI & the future of this role
Site screening models and document drafting tools might speed early feasibility and permitting paperwork. Negotiating with landowners and agencies, navigating local opposition, and steering construction through delays still lean on relationships and on-the-ground judgment.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details