Head of Renewable Energy Business Job Description

A Head of Renewable Energy Business leads the profit and loss for a company's solar and wind portfolio. They set strategy, win projects, oversee execution and operations, and answer to leadership for growth, returns and safety. Project and plant heads report to them. The role reports to the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director. A good head builds a healthy pipeline, closes projects that generate reliably and safely, keeps the business profitable, and grows the renewable portfolio in a competitive market.

Detail	For this role
Department	Energy and Solar
Level	Senior management
Reports to	Chief Executive Officer
Direct reports	Head of Solar Projects, Solar Plant Manager, Head of Sales
Experience	15+ years in energy with senior leadership in renewables

Head of Renewable Energy Business job description template

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Job title: Head of Renewable Energy Business

Department: Energy and Solar

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

Key responsibilities

Set the renewable business strategy across solar and wind for growth and returns.
Build the pipeline of projects and win work through bids, tenders and partnerships.
Own the profit and loss for the renewable portfolio and meet the annual targets.
Oversee project execution and plant operations through the heads who report to you.
Approve major investments, budgets and commercial terms within the board's authority.
Build relationships with developers, off takers, lenders and government bodies.
Ensure safety, quality and compliance across all projects and operating plants.
Track portfolio performance on generation, availability, cost and returns.
Build and lead the senior team and develop capability across the business.
Report business performance, risks and plans to company leadership and the board.

Requirements

Engineering degree in electrical or mechanical
MBA is common for the role
Deep experience in renewable energy
15+ years in energy with senior leadership in renewables

KRAs and KPIs for a Head of Renewable Energy Business

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result area	How to measure it
Business growth	New capacity won or added meeting the annual portfolio growth target
Profitability	Renewable business profit and loss meeting the approved annual target
Portfolio generation	Operating plants meeting the fleet generation and availability target
Safety	Zero fatality and lost time incidents within the safety target across sites
Pipeline	Qualified project pipeline kept above the level needed for next year's target
Team	Senior positions filled and leadership retention above the annual target

Skills and tools

Renewable strategyProfit and loss ownershipBusiness developmentProject and plant oversightFinancial modellingStakeholder managementSafety leadershipTeam leadership

Tools used day to day: Financial models, Project pipeline trackers, Generation dashboards, MS PowerPoint, Bid and tender platforms.

Reporting line and career path

Moves up from: Head of Solar Projects, Head of Operations, Business Head
Next roles: Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director

Interview questions for a Head of Renewable Energy Business

How do you build a profitable renewable portfolio in a market with falling tariffs?
How do you decide which projects and tenders to pursue?
How do you balance growth with safety and quality across sites?
How do you manage lenders and off takers on a large project?
How do you turn around an operating plant that is underperforming?
Describe a renewable business you grew and the decisions behind it.

Managing a Head of Renewable Energy Business in ZeniaHR

AttendanceThe business head works the general shift from the corporate office and punches by web from the allowed office network. Site and client visits are filed as on duty, so travel days are recorded rather than counted as absence.LeavePlan leave around board reviews, bid deadlines and major commissioning milestones. Name an officiating head for extended leave so approvals do not stall, and track balances in the leave ledger.Performance and KRAsThe chief executive sets business growth, profitability and safety as weighted goals in an annual review cycle with a rating scale. Review portfolio performance each quarter against the plan and pipeline.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a head of renewable energy business do?

A head of renewable energy business leads the profit and loss for a company's solar and wind portfolio. They set strategy, win projects, oversee execution and operations, and answer to leadership for growth, returns and safety. They build the pipeline, keep plants generating reliably, and grow the renewable portfolio profitably in a competitive market.

What qualifications does a head of renewable energy business need?

Most heads of renewable energy business hold an engineering degree in electrical or mechanical, often with an MBA. Employers look for deep experience in the renewable sector, a track record of winning and delivering projects, strong commercial and financial judgement, safety leadership, and the ability to build and lead a senior team.

What is the difference between this role and a solar project head?

A head of renewable energy business owns the whole business, including strategy, sales, execution, operations and the profit and loss. A head of solar projects focuses on delivering solar projects on time, cost and quality. The business head sets direction and owns returns, while the project head executes the build.