Project Executive (m/w/d)

LRE (Leeward Renewable Energy) is forging an American energy future with integrity, innovation, and positive impact. Born in Texas in 2003, we own and operate over 30 utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects in local communities across the United States, totaling 4 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity.

LRE continues to help meet increased U.S. energy demand through our robust pipeline of new projects every year. Domestic jobs and manufacturing are fundamental to our full-lifecycle approach to projects, along with a long-term ownership model and a company culture dedicated to our community partners and protecting the natural environment.

The Project Executive (M5) provides strategic leadership, oversight, risk-mitigation, and accountability for a portfolio of utility-scale energy infrastructure projects. This role is also people manager role and will be responsible for building and managing a team of project managers (in compliance with company policies) while ensuring communication and collaboration across project or risk-specific stakeholder groups to achieve company objectives. A Project Executive must have the experience and ability to directly manage a project while maintaining oversight of the portfolio as projects enter and exit the construction phases or as needed to ensure continuity of project oversight.

The Project Executive serves as a key leader and decision-maker, ensuring the portfolio of projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with company objectives. The position collaborates closely with Development, Engineering, Procurement, Commercial Operations, Asset Management, Finance, Legal, and external suppliers, consultants, and EPC contractors to maximize project performance and value creation.

The role requires exceptional and strategic leadership capabilities, commercial acumen, construction expertise, and the ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Project Leadership

• Provide executive oversight for a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects from preconstruction through commercial operations.
• Establish and oversee project and risk management execution strategies, governance structures, and performance expectations.
• Lead project teams in achieving safety, schedule, budget, quality, and operational readiness objectives.
• Ensure alignment between project execution activities and corporate strategic goals.

Construction Management

• Oversee all phases of project construction, commissioning, and turnover.
• Monitor contractor performance and hold EPCs, subcontractors, and suppliers accountable for contractual obligations.
• Review and approve major project decisions affecting cost, schedule, scope, and risk
• Lead resolution of critical project issues and escalation items.

Financial and Commercial Oversight

• Maintain executive responsibility for project budgets, forecasts, commitments, and contingency management.
• Act as the commercial lead on contract negotiations in compliance with company governance while ensuring the necessary engagement of project management, engineering, legal, real estate, and other stakeholders to achieve project and company objectives.
• Ensure the timely and accurate reporting, forecasting, and close-out of project financials.
• Ensure project execution strategy aligns with and project-related deliverables are completed to achieve finance related milestones and closings.
• Support investment committee, executive leadership, and board reporting requirements.

Safety Leadership

• Champion a culture of safety and environmental stewardship across all project sites.
• Ensure compliance with company safety standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Monitor leading and lagging safety indicators and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in major incident reviews and corrective action implementation.

Risk Management

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate project execution risks.
• Lead strategic risk reviews related to procurement, labor availability, permitting, weather, transmission interconnection, and stakeholder impacts.
• Develop contingency plans and mitigation strategies to protect project outcomes.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as primary executive interface with contractors, key suppliers, owner representatives, and strategic partners.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide executive-level presentations and updates to senior leadership and governing bodies.
• Support community, landowner, regulatory, and customer engagement efforts as required.

Team Leadership and Development

• Hire, train, mentor, develop, and lead project managers.
• Foster a high-performance cross-functional culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, process improvement, innovation, and talent development initiatives.

Operational Readiness

• Coordinate with operations and asset management teams to ensure successful project turnover.
• Oversee commissioning, performance testing, and commercial operation milestone achievement.
• Ensure completion of project closeout activities and lessons learned processes.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale industrial, power generation, renewable energy, or infrastructure construction.
• 6+ years of leadership experience managing complex construction organizations and project teams.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing a portfolio (500MW+) of utility-scale renewable energy projects (preconstruction through commercial operation) - previous IPP experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success delivering utility-scale renewable energy, power generation, transmission, or heavy civil projects exceeding $100 million in project value.
• Experience negotiating and managing EPC contracts, Turbine Supply agreements, BESS Supply agreements, preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive knowledge of construction management principles and practices.
• Extensive knowledge of utility-scale renewable energy project permitting, design, construction, commissioning, and financing activities.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, project controls, and risk management.
• Expertise in contract negotiation, claims management, and commercial strategy.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive results in a matrixed and dynamic environment.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities

Key Performance Indicators

• Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
• Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR)
• Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• Budget Variance
• Commercial Operation Date Achievement
• Market Readiness and Integration
• Contractor Performance Metrics
• Change Order, Claims Management, and Contingency Use Effectiveness
• Risk Identification and Mitigation Performance
• Quality and Commissioning Performance
• Team Engagement and Development

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 50% as required.
• Ability to visit and traverse active construction sites.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to comply with PPE and site safety requirements.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Executive Presence
• Accountability
• Commercial Acumen
• Risk-Based Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management
• Team Development
• Operational Excellence
• Problem Solving
• Change Leadership
• This position is responsible for leading the successful execution of a portfolio of construction projects and ensuring delivery of safe, reliable, and financially successful assets that support the organization's long-term growth objectives.

Role Distinction

The Project Executive operates at a high-level strategic capacity, overseeing multiple projects and ensuring alignment with company objectives, while Project and Construction Managers focus on day-to-day project execution and operational details. This role bridges the gap between field operations, clients, and executive leadership, ensuring accurate reporting, project success, and organizational growth.

Applicants must have current authorization to work for any employer in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for an employment visa now or in the future. Employer visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Leeward Management Services, LLC is committed to employing a diverse workforce and provides equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Recruiters and Staffing Agencies: Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting vendors or employment agencies. Only recruiting vendors with a current, signed agreement in place with LRE are authorized to submit resumes for specific, requested positions. All unsolicited resumes and candidate profiles submitted to LRE, or any LRE employee, without an active agreement or written request from LRE's HR Department, will be considered property of LRE. LRE will not be responsible for any fees or expenses associated with unsolicited resumes or candidates submitted in this manner.