Plant Manager

The Altavista Biomass Power Station is a renewable energy facility located within the Lynchburg, Virginia metro region, in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The facility has a capacity of 51 MW and is equipped with two B&W boilers, a Mitsubishi steam turbine, and an Alstom generator working in synergy to generate electricity from biomass feedstocks. NAES has a long standing operating history with the regulated electric utility that owns the station. The plant’s electrical generation is included as a valuable resource in the utility’s long-range plans.

Opportunity Summary

The Plant Manager is pivotal in ensuring the facility's safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation, in accordance with all agreements, regulations, and owner directives. They provide leadership to all plant personnel, overseeing employee selection, training, and qualification maintenance, while also ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and contractual requirements.

Additionally, the Plant Manager serves as a key liaison between the facility, the community, and the industry, nurturing positive relationships to enhance the plant's reputation and profitability. With direct responsibility for maximizing plant profitability, they implement strategic measures to optimize operational efficiency and financial performance, ensuring sustained success within the organization and broader community.

Your scope of responsibility as Plant Manager includes the following primary functions:

• Responsible for ensuring that all plant personnel and plant objectives are in alignment with client requirements.
• Administer the plant's Safety, Operations, NERC Compliance, Maintenance, Administrative, Training, Chemistry and Environmental QA/QC programs to assure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the plant.
• Employ sound business principles, best in class techniques and prudent utility practices to enhance plant profitability.
• Responsible for directing or performing all commercial activities including budgeting, procurement administration of major plant contracts (such as power sales, fuel purchase and long-term service agreements) and plant level financial reporting.
• Primary contact with permitting regulatory agencies and the local community including leading community relations activities.
• Manage and oversee the planning, budgeting, contracting and performance of planned and unplanned plant outages and optimize outage schedules to optimize production, minimize cost and enhance plant profitability.
• Control and maintain plant expenditures utilizing budgeting, forecasting, and cost accounting methods. Establish annual budgets for the facility in accordance with the O&M Agreement.
• Continue to enhance image of plant as a good neighbor to the community and the environment. Encourage involvement and participation of plant staff in community activities.
• Administer the major plant contracts, including the power sales agreements, fuel purchase agreements, and long-term service agreements. Prepare and administer operating and capital budgets.
• Implement training and qualification programs to assure that plant procedures are understood and properly followed by all plant personnel.
• Conduct periodic reviews of plant policies and procedures to ensure that they reflect current plant operating requirements.
• Work with HR in the administration, negotiation, and communication on the union collective bargaining agreement
• Direct the sourcing, screening, and hiring of new or replacement personnel as needed.
• Determine plant training objectives, employee development needs, and work with plant management team to provide coaching, career counseling and development opportunities.
• Verify that the certification status of affected operation and maintenance personnel is maintained current.
• Ensure that the morale and motivation of plant personnel is always maintained at a high level.
• Oversee the preparation of required client and utility reports, budgets, environmental compliance reports, etc.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. All NAES managers and supervisors have a direct and important role in ensuring that all work is performed in a healthy and safe manner. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each Supervisor’s performance. This includes, but is not limited to, the following functions:

• Conduct/Support Regular Safety Meetings (at least monthly).
• Address Safety at all Group Meetings.
• Conduct Inspections and Observations: establish within the department a regular inspection of the work area and a safety observation process of work being performed.
• Establish and lead these activities following any rules, requirements or guidance established in your business unit, group, or division.
• Involve all NAES teammates in the activities.
• Analyze result, write work orders, train, and educate to eliminate hazards, at-risk behavior and meet company regulatory requirements.
• Conduct Regular Observation Tours: Conduct no less than two safety observation tours of high-risk activities e.g., confined space to verify that employees are performing the work in accordance with safe practices, company procedures and OSHA regulations.
• Regular and Frequent Contacts: conduct one-on-one contact sessions with workers to discuss safety issues, communicate expectations and coach safe behaviors, e.g., whether the employee is wearing all required personal protective equipment.
• Respond to Incidents: respond to all safety-related incidents including, but not limited to injuries, incidents and near misses; write a report that explains what happened, identify the cause, and recommend corrective action following any established business unit or division practice. Follow up as necessary to ensure that corrective action is taken.

Working Relationships

The Plant Manager reports to the Operations Director and supervises the Managers, Technicians, and Plant Administrator. The Plant Manager is the single point of contact between NAES and the Owner on all matters pertaining to the operation, maintenance, and commercial management of the plant.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include the possibility of standing for extended periods of time, stair and ladder climbing and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Protective equipment must be worn in the performance of some duties (e.g., hard hats, safety glasses, air masks, ear protection, etc.). There are extensive smoking restrictions in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

This position offers a Monday to Friday work schedule, during regular dayshift hours. Position requires extended working hours and varied shifts with the possibility of weekend and holiday work, as required by schedules, workload, and plant conditions. "On call" status will periodically be required. Some travel may be involved to participate in Manager, Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

Compensation

Initial compensation will range from $149,400 to $209,000 annually, with a bonus potential up to 20%.

Job Qualifications

We are seeking a candidate who has extensive technical power plant and leadership experience with a work history that demonstrates a pattern of accomplishments and advancement.

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or equivalent desired.
• Previous experience as a Plant Manager within the power generation sector is required, specifically emphasizing backgrounds in biomass, bioenergy, or solid fuel operations is preferred.
• Experience supervising technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel is desired.
• Significant experience relating to the business principles and practices of power generating facilities, specifically regulated utilities.
• Demonstrated skills in environmental management, budget development and control, organizational development, and contract administration.
• Must have strong leadership, motivational, and communication (oral and written) skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Results-oriented problem solver, motivator, and team builder with a successful track record in managing change initiatives for improving the technical, human resources, business, and financial performance of the plant.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Drivers License at all times.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is the leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have established ourselves as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, our growing family of companies enables us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.

Experience

Preferred

• We are seeking a candidate who has extensive technical power plant and leadership experience with a work history that demonstrates a pattern of accomplishments and advancement.
• Previous experience as a Plant Manager within the power generation sector is required, specifically emphasizing backgrounds in biomass, bioenergy, or solid fuel operations is preferred.
• Experience supervising technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel is desired.
• Significant experience relating to the business principles and practices of power generating facilities, specifically regulated utilities.
• Demonstrated skills in environmental management, budget development and control, organizational development, and contract administration.
• Must have strong leadership, motivational, and communication (oral and written) skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Results-oriented problem solver, motivator, and team builder with a successful track record in managing change initiatives for improving the technical, human resources, business, and financial performance of the plant.

Education

Required

• High School or better

Preferred

• Bachelors or better in Engineering or related field

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Driver's License

Skills

Preferred

• Management
• Leadership
• Budgeting
• Environmental Compliance
• Interpersonal Skills
• Key Performance Indicators
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Motivating Others
• O&M - Operations & Maintenance
• Outage Management
• Power Plant Operations
• Safety Policies and Procedures
• Team Leadership
• Verbal and Written Communications

Behaviors

Preferred

• Thought Provoking: Capable of making others think deeply on a subject
• Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group

Motivations

Preferred

• Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization