How to hire a renewable energy consultant

How to hire a renewable energy consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step renewable energy consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a renewable energy consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new renewable energy consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a renewable energy consultant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a renewable energy consultant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a renewable energy consultant that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of renewable energy consultants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Renewable Energy Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   Renewable Energy Consultant		$29-69
   Energy Efficiency Engineer	Energy Efficiency Engineer conducts audits to inspect, survey, model, and analyze the energy flows in existing buildings, whether commercial, residential, or industrial. These engineers apply engineering principles to develop energy distribution systems that operate efficiently... Show more	$29-59
   Energy Engineer	An energy engineer is a professional who is involved with the production of energy using natural resources as well as renewable or sustainable sources of energy. Energy engineers are required to research new methods and techniques to extract energy from scarce natural resources... Show more	$29-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Renewable Energy
   • Solar PV
   • Regulatory Filings
   • Solar Power
   • PPA
   • Sales Plan
   • ROI
   • Venture Capital
   • Sales Revenue

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage contractor RFP document preparation including technical write-up, minimum standards and specification, commissioning and testing procedures.
   • Draft AutoCAD plots and one-line diagrams of the PV systems.
   • Supervise engineering team and review PV system designs for compliance with codes.
   • Consult on HVAC systems, energy audits, and equipment installations for reducing energy consumption / costs.
   • Offer energy audits, performance testing, product and method recommendations, energy savings, ROI and incentive processing.
   • Document customer interactions utilizing Salesforce.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your renewable energy consultant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A renewable energy consultant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, renewable energy consultants' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level renewable energy consultants earn 58% less than senior-level renewable energy consultants.
   • Certifications. A renewable energy consultant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a renewable energy consultant's salary.

   Average renewable energy consultant salary

   $94,129yearly

   $45.25 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level renewable energy consultant salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a renewable energy consultant job description

   A job description for a renewable energy consultant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a renewable energy consultant job description:

   Renewable energy consultant job description example

   The Renewable Energy Consultant will support a broad range of studies, engineering, and other consulting services to support the development, analysis, design, and construction of renewable energy projects, such as site selection and feasibility studies, Owner's Engineer support, and independent engineering assessments\. The consultant will be required to work with numerous entities in the industry from investor\-owned electric utilities to independent power producers\. This consultant will be a lead contributor to the execution of technical studies, analysis, and engineering, and work with project managers to lead the technical execution for projects\. The consultant will spend time directly engaged with clients to establish project objectives, formulate project approaches, and manage/oversee a team of consultants/engineers to meet the project objectives and provide the client with useful and actionable deliverables\.
   Responsibilities
   
   The consultant will assist the project managers and lead aspects of project execution including staffing plan development, analysis and engineering, schedule and deliverables, and quality management\. The consultant will assist the project manager in business development activities\. The consultant will support and lead both on\-the\-job and classroom training efforts for less experienced team members\.
   
   + Project execution: Assist project managers in the execution of projects\. Lead aspects of project execution including data collection, engineering, financial, and technical analysis; maintain project schedule; develop key project deliverables including analysis, reports, and presentations; support the project manager in quality control of deliverables; analyze and communicate project status, risks, schedule, and costs to project managers; assist in leading multi\-discipline teams of engineers and analysts; plan, organize, and communicate project personnel needs to project and department management\.
   
   + Leadership: Mentor and train less experienced staff on technical aspects of projects and the industry; serve as a recognized in\-house leader in renewable generation planning and engineering; support company initiatives\.
   
   + Business development: Assist project managers in business development activities; assist in managing existing client relationships through client marketing and project interactions; identify new sales opportunities with clients; assist within aspects of proposal development and submission including project planning, budgeting, and scheduling; assist in the establishment of critical project objectives and performances with client; manage relationships with existing and potential key clients, customers, software providers, and contractors\.
   
   + Other duties as assigned\.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   + Bachelor of Science in engineering or related degree from an accredited program\.
   
   + Minimum 3 years, or Master's in Engineering with 2 years, of related experience with renewable operations, planning, design, or consulting\.
   
   + Knowledge regarding development, design, and construction of renewable generation facilities, specifically focusing on wind and/or solar generation, and of electric utility systems and their operation\.
   
   + Experience with the development, design, and construction of wind/solar generation projects\.
   
   + Professional Engineering License \(PE\) preferred\.
   
   + Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem\-solving skills\.
   
   + Ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem\-solving environment\.
   
   + Demonstrated leadership skills\.
   
   + Proven ability to lead, educate, and train a team of engineers and analysts in regards to renewable generation studies and design efforts\.
   
   + Ability to independently solve difficult problems that require adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria\.
   
   + Excellent written and oral communication skills\.
   
   + Demonstrated critical thinking skills\.
   
   + Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines and to be effective in on\-site work environments\.
   
   + Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, including identification of critical path items to ensure deliverable deadlines are met\.
   
   + Ability to focus on the big picture to effectively and efficiently provide services that meet client needs, while also having the ability to identify and analyze details that are critical to project outcomes\.
   
   + Willingness to learn new service offerings as client needs and the market requires changes to the service offerings provided by our group\.
   
   + Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite \(Word, Excel, PPT\)\.
   
   + Ability to travel\.
   
   EEO/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans
   
   **Job** Engineering
   
   **Primary Location** US\-CA\-Brea
   
   **Other Locations** US\-CA\-San Diego
   
   **Schedule:** Full\-time
   
   **Travel:** Yes, 25 % of the Time
   
   **About 1898 & Co\.**
   
   1898 & Co\. is a business, technology and security solutions consultancy where experience and foresight come together to unlock lasting advancements\. We innovate today to fuel our clients' future growth, catalyzing insights that drive smarter decisions, improve performance and maximize value\. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we draw on more than 120 years of deep and broad experience in complex industries as we envision and enable the future for our clients\.
   
   **Burns & McDonnell is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans**
   
   
   \#LI\-MG \#E98 N/A

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right renewable energy consultant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with renewable energy consultants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit renewable energy consultants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your renewable energy consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit renewable energy consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit renewable energy consultants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new renewable energy consultant

   Once you've found the renewable energy consultant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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