Operations Manager, Site Development

~ Makani is developing energy kites - a new way to produce electricity from the wind that we believe can significantly expand where wind can be economically sited. We are pushing the boundaries of avionics, energy, and materials technology to provide clean and efficient power. ~

Position Overview

We are looking for high-performing, entrepreneurial candidates who are passionate about technology and helping businesses adapt to the ever-changing energy landscape. You are a self-starter, comfortable with ambiguity, and can provide problem-solving leadership. You're highly collaborative, open-minded, persistent and strategic – all vital attributes in order to interact successfully with internal and external partners. Using your analytical and market expertise, you will conduct market analysis and collaboratively develop Makani sites.

You will also work closely with internal stakeholders to negotiate and execute contracts, develop and implement operational plans, and follow through on rapidly evolving operational objectives. You will also be part of a team that charts a course forward on regulatory matters. You anticipate how decisions are made, work with a team to develop relationships with private and public sector partners, and understand how the Makani technology can enter the market. You have a background in forging strategic relationships, negotiating deals, and have an innate ability to communicate and collaborate with a broad range of constituents both internally and externally, in both private and public institutions.

This role will require extensive work with internal Makani teams spanning several functions (e.g., operations, engineering, legal, communications, policy, finance and strategy). You will participate in exploratory discussions with stakeholders such as major wind turbine OEMs, wind energy developers, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies, oil and gas companies and other players in the energy ecosystem. You will need to immerse yourself in the energy space along with having a deep understanding of Makani’s technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of Makani’s technology, strategy and values and how it best fits into the global energy ecosystem.
• Work with a team to produce market analysis and insights that support strategy development.
• Execute contracts across a variety of functions that support Makani’s business needs. Present recommendations and key deal issues to the Makani management team.
• Collaborate on a cross-functional team to develop future Makani sites.
• Advocate on key policy and regulatory issues with key constituencies globally, including representing Makani in a range of public and private settings.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years experience analyzing and quantifying complex market dynamics.
• Must have experience in establishing sites for renewable energy.
• Must have prior experience contracting and negotiating with International contacts.
• In-depth experience operating within cross-functional teams (e.g., product management, legal, policy, finance, marketing).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to formulate and articulate contractual, technical, and financial content with partners and internal Makani stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity in core technical areas of Makani, such as wind energy/renewable energy, aviation, autonomous drone technology and marine systems.
• Familiarity with the legal and regulatory framework surrounding the wind energy industry at a global level.
• Familiarity with doing business in Asia.
• Attention to detail, highly entrepreneurial, creative, open-minded, persistent, and highly collaborative.
• Distinctive problem solving abilities, analytical skills, and impeccable business judgment.
• Strategic thinker, who can zoom in and out to determine an effective path forward for an emerging business area.
• Exceptional communication; confident presenter who is comfortable interacting with customers and engaging with all levels of an organization.

Additional Information

Makani is developing energy kites that use a wing tethered to a ground station to efficiently harness energy from the wind, generating electricity at utility-scale. As the kite flies autonomously in loops, rotors on the wing spin as the wind moves through them, generating electricity that is sent down the tether to the grid. 

The Makani energy kite system integrates advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and autonomous controls to create a lightweight design that is easy to transport and install.

To Apply

• Please email a resume and a brief description of the work that best meets your interests.