Senior Program Director LATAM (Santiago)

Location

Santiago, Chile

Mission

The Senior Program Director will be the strategic leader of the Project Direction unit at the LATAM level, reporting to the CEO of the Business Unit and joining the Executive Committee. This will be a key role in positioning Zelestra in the region. This position is responsible for leading the execution and management of the construction contract for the Company's renewable energy projects and leading the team of Program Directors in Latin America. Additionally, they will be responsible for taking on the Program Direction of the most critical projects in the Business Unit, articulating the various strategic pillars required for their execution through relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring that multi-technology renewable energy projects are delivered from the advanced development stage to the commercial operation of assets.

All of the above, ensuring that projects are completed according to the agreements with clients under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and guaranteeing management aligned with the Company’s strategic vision, planning, and the corporation’s interests, maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for people and assets, sustainability, Compliance Policy, internal guidelines, and current regulations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the strategy for the Program Direction unit, aligning key projects with long-term corporate objectives and optimizing shareholder value.
• Lead the Program Directors team, fostering a culture of high performance, professional development, and collaboration across the region.
• Ensure that projects in the region (either directly or indirectly supervised) are executed efficiently, meeting the company’s defined quality, safety, and sustainability standards.
• Act as a liaison between the company and external stakeholders, including public institutions, communities, owners, financial entities, and others, in coordination with internal responsible areas.
• Oversee the allocation of strategic resources for the most critical projects, maximizing their positive impact on the business.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), taking necessary actions to ensure projects meet financial, time, quality, and safety objectives.
• Supervise the execution of construction contracts for strategic renewable energy projects, ensuring that deadlines, budgets, and quality objectives are met.
• Ensure that projects are managed in accordance with the contractual agreements defined in PPAs and regulatory requirements in each country.
• Define and control risk mitigation plans, overseeing the progress of projects and taking corrective actions when necessary to ensure they stay within defined parameters.
• Guide the involved work teams (formal or informal reporting) to ensure they are structured and aligned, promoting effective communication and clarity in goal setting.
• Report to the Executive Committee on the progress of key projects, including financial status, achieved milestones, identified risks, and actions implemented to mitigate deviations.
• Guide the preparation of management reports and presentations related to project progress, participating in high-level discussions and negotiations, making presentations to the LATAM Executive Committee, Corporate Executive Committee, and Shareholders when required.
• Supervise and guide the negotiation of key contracts, including EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts, supply agreements, operation and maintenance (O&M) agreements, asset management services (AMS), financial agreements, and development agreements.
• Collaborate with planning teams to develop and track project timelines, manage float schedules, and ensure timely project completion.

Job Requirements

• Academic degree in fields such as Business Administration, Civil Engineering (any specialty) or similar.
• Postgraduate studies in areas like Project Management, MBA, or PMI certification would be a plus.
• At least 15 years of professional experience in coordinating power electrical projects (preferably generation).
• At least 10 years of experience leading large-scale renewable energy generation projects.
• Proven experience in executive leadership or strategic management roles, preferably in the renewable energy sector.
• Experience in managing and structuring project financing, ensuring project viability and success during construction.
• Solid experience leading multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to influence and coordinate different functional areas.
• Experience in multinational environments, preferably leading areas at the LATAM level.
• Extensive experience in planning, developing, and managing strategic initiatives at the corporate and regional levels.
• Proven experience in business development, EPC contracts, large project construction, and financing complex projects.
• Solid experience in managing budgets, financial planning, and cost control for highly complex projects.
• Proven track record of success in coordinating and executing strategic high-impact projects, leading teams throughout the project life cycle.
• Advanced proficiency in both English and Spanish, spoken and written, with the ability to communicate effectively in international and high-complexity environments.

What we offer

• Health Insurance.
• Hybrid work.
• Benefits according to market standards.

Zelestra celebrates the diversity of thought and experience that comes from a variety of backgrounds including, but not limited to, gender, age and ethnicity. Our mission is to contribute to a more just and equitable society.

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