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Business Development Manager, Wind Energy

A business development manager in wind energy leads the growth of wind power as a sustainable energy source. They find project locations, manage design and construction, and oversee market introduction. This role combines technical knowledge of wind energy with negotiation skills to secure land agreements and connect with suppliers and buyers. They also develop innovative solutions to fulfill energy needs sustainably. At the core of their job is the skill to integrate technical know-how with strategic business planning, promoting the expansion of wind energy projects towards a greener future.

At a Glance

Imagine working as a renewable energy business development executive at an investment firm specializing in green technologies and renewable energy projects. Your current assignment involves preparing an investment proposal for a wind energy project intended for a group of investors interested in sustainable ventures. This project is in a region known for its strong winds, making it a strong candidate for wind power generation.

Your week starts with conducting a market analysis to understand the demand for renewable energy, identifying competitors, and evaluating the growth potential of the wind energy sector. The data collected serves as the foundation for the financial modelling phase, where you calculate the project's expected costs, revenues, and profitability to ensure it meets your firm's investment criteria.

Collaboration with the finance team is crucial as you refine the economic model, ensuring all financial projections are accurate and supported by current market data. The main challenge is to secure the necessary funding while achieving the project's environmental and financial objectives. The investment proposal you draft is a comprehensive document that outlines the project's benefits, risks, and potential returns. It is designed to inform and persuade investors of the project's viability and alignment with their interest in sustainable investments.

By the end of the week, you have scheduled presentations with potential investors, where you will use the proposal to demonstrate the project's merits. Your role is pivotal in bridging the gap between innovative wind energy solutions and practical investment opportunities, emphasizing the importance of renewable energy development in achieving a sustainable future.

Job Duties

Job duties vary from one position to the next, but in general, business development managers in wind energy are involved in the following activities:

  • Identify and analyze potential wind energy projects and competitors through market research.
  • Scout and assess sites for wind farm development, focusing on wind patterns, land availability, and environmental considerations.
  • Negotiate with landowners and government agencies to obtain land leases and the required permits for development.
  • Work with engineers and project managers on the design and planning of wind energy installations.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and contractors to ensure timely and cost-effective equipment procurement.
  • Collaborate with finance teams to forecast project economics, secure funding, and oversee budget management.
  • Develop and implement marketing strategies for wind-generated power to attract investors and buyers.
  • Comply with all applicable regulations, environmental standards, and safety protocols during project development and operation.
  • Stay informed on industry trends, technological developments, and policy shifts to adjust strategies and retain a competitive edge.
  • Lead project teams, promoting a culture of innovation and ensuring success from start to finish and beyond.

Work Environment

Education

If you are a high school student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, you should have a keen interest in:

  • Earth Sciences
  • Mathematics and Physics
  • Environmental Protection
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Sustainability and Resource Management

If you are a post-secondary student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, the following programs are most applicable.

  • Geophysics
  • Environmental Geoscience
  • Geological Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Science and Policy

In most cases, the minimum education requirement to work as an environmental geophysicist is a graduate degree. Pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in fields related to environmental geophysics can enhance your expertise, career prospects, and ability to contribute to the field. These advanced degrees offer specialized knowledge and skills highly valued in both the professional and academic worlds.

In many provinces, geophysicists must obtain registration and licensure with their provincial association as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). The certification process for geophysicists is similar to that of engineering professions and is typically overseen by the same regulatory body.

Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.

Skills

Technical Skills

  • Seismic data interpretation
  • Geophysical survey techniques
  • Geographic information systems
  • Data analysis and modelling
  • Remote sensing
  • Hydrogeology
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Sample collection and analysis
  • Software proficiency, geophysical and modelling
  • Regulatory knowledge

Personal and Professional Skills

  • Analytical thinking
  • Attention to detail
  • Communication skills.
  • Critical thinking
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Adaptability
  • Project management
  • Leadership
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Creativity and innovation

Environmental employers look for professionals who can combine technical knowledge with soft skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or  take our Essential Skills courses.

Where to Work

As key executive leaders who shape their company’s sustainability policy, CSOs work in many different types of organizations. Common employers of CSOs include:

  • Municipal, regional, provincial or federal governments
  • First Nations, Métis and Inuit community organizations
  • Environmental professional or advocacy organizations
  • Large corporations that have incorporated sustainability into their core business activities
  • Utility companies
  • Natural resource extraction corporations, such as those in oil & gas, mining, and forestry


Search for jobs on the ECO Canada Job Board.

Education and Skills

Education

If you are a post-secondary student seeking a CSO role in the future, consider pursuing a university degree related to:

  • Business administration or management
  • Public administration
  • Organizational management
  • Social sciences
  • Law
  • Green business administration
  • Environmental studies

In addition to the educational fields mentioned above, you will also need extensive management experience to become a CSO, with well-developed human resources management and leadership skills. Consider educational seminars or post-graduate studies that will hone your analytical thinking, such as:

 

  • Organizational or administrative management
  • Environmental law
  • Public speaking
  • Finance or Accounting

Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.

Skills

Technical Skills

  • Environmental Law
  • Green business administration
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Human Resources Management
  • Public Administration
  • Public Speaking
  • Finance and Budgeting

Personal and Professional Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Superlative and creative problem-solving
  • Analytical skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Attention to detail.
  • Presentation skills

Environmental employers seek professionals who combine technical knowledge with personal and professional skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.

Role Models

Your Impact

A business development manager in the wind energy sector plays a crucial environmental role by driving the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This occupation directly impacts the environment by promoting the development and implementation of wind energy projects, which generate clean, sustainable power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By identifying potential sites for wind farms, negotiating deals, and managing project implementation, they facilitate the growth of an industry that is pivotal to combating climate change.

This role embodies environmental stewardship through its focus on sustainable energy solutions. By leveraging wind energy, which is abundant and renewable, Business Development Managers help decrease reliance on non-renewable, pollution-intensive energy sources. Economically, they create jobs in the green economy and stimulate technological innovation. Socially, their work supports communities by providing cleaner air and contributing to a healthier environment while promoting energy independence and security.

The sustainability aspect of this occupation is evident in its goal to ensure long-term energy solutions that are environmentally benign, economically feasible, and socially responsible. By fostering the expansion of wind energy, Business Development Managers play a pivotal part in steering society towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Occupational Classification

Marine geologists are classified into the following occupational grouping:

NOC Code: 21102 – Geoscientists and oceanographers

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) provides a standardized language for describing the work performed by Canadians in the labour market. It gives statisticians, labour market analysts, career counsellors, employers, and individual job seekers a consistent way to collect data and describe and understand the nature of work within different occupations.

See ECO’s Blue National Occupational Standard for a career competency profile for a marine geologist that outlines the specific skills, knowledge, and behaviours required for individuals to perform effectively in this particular role. This profile is a benchmark for training and development, ensuring consistency and quality across professions within the blue economy.

Reconnaissance des terres

Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.

Land Acknowledgment

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.

This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.

We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.

As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.

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