Plant Manager

The New Castle Generating Station, situated on a 270-acre site along the Beaver River, has undergone a significant transformation from a coal plant to a natural gas facility in 2016, breathing new life into its operations and contributing to the region's energy landscape. Equipped with three natural gas-fired steam boilers, the plant boasts a total potential MW output of 328. The plant is notable for its utilization of B&W Boilers and Westinghouse Steam Turbine Generators, controlled by an ABB DCS system.

Opportunity Summary

The Plant Manager provides overall leadership and direction for all aspects of plant operations, maintenance, safety, compliance, and administrative programs, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of New Castle Generating Station. The position oversees staffing, training, personnel development, employee engagement, and provides leadership and operational support to the Niles Generating Station as needed. As the primary liaison to the Owner, regulatory agencies, and the local community, the Plant Manager manages commercial agreements, financial performance, regulatory compliance, and the facility's reputation.

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

• Provide overall site leadership by establishing clear expectations, reinforcing accountability, and ensuring policies and procedures support operational objectives, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices.
• Champion a proactive safety culture by promoting safe work practices, reinforcing safety expectations, and ensuring personnel remain vigilant in protecting themselves, coworkers, contractors, and the public.
• Ensure compliance with environmental permits, regulatory requirements, operating licenses, and other applicable governmental requirements, including the timely preparation and submission of required reports.
• Direct and integrate core plant programs—including operations, maintenance, safety, chemistry, training, environmental compliance, and administrative functions—to sustain safe, efficient, and reliable generation.
• Administer the Management of Change (MOC) program to ensure modifications to equipment, processes, and procedures are properly reviewed, approved, documented, and communicated before implementation.
• Develop workforce staffing, qualification, and development programs by identifying skill gaps, providing coaching and career development, and ensuring personnel maintain the knowledge, certifications, and competencies required to safely operate and maintain the facility while supporting employee engagement, morale, and retention.
• Oversee plant reliability and performance by supporting Operations and Maintenance personnel, assisting with equipment troubleshooting, and coordinating technical resources to resolve operational issues.
• Plan and execute scheduled and forced outages, optimizing schedules, resources, and work scope to improve equipment reliability, control costs, and maximize plant availability.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Owner, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, and local organizations, fostering positive relationships and promoting the station as a responsible community partner.
• Administer and ensure compliance with commercial and contractual obligations, including the O&M agreement, fuel supply contracts, major service agreements, and other vendor and customer commitments.
• Oversee procurement activities and vendor performance to ensure materials, equipment, and contracted services effectively support safe and reliable plant operations.
• Manage plant financial performance by developing operating and capital budgets, monitoring expenditures, forecasting costs, and applying sound cost-control practices while maintaining safe and reliable operations.
• Travel to and support the Niles Generating Station as needed, providing leadership and oversight for operations, maintenance, outages, troubleshooting, and other site requirements.
• Carry out and complete additional special projects and assignments as required.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain 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.

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 standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds.

Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions.

Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Plant Manager works a standard Monday to Friday day shift schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours. This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status may also be required.

Travel may be required to support the Niles Generating Station, as well as to participate in Manager, Owner, User Group, and other off-site meetings.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $170,000 to $210,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Professional Expertise & Qualifications

We are seeking an accomplished leader with extensive experience in the operations and maintenance of power generating facilities, paired with a strong history of career growth and a track record of excellence in achieving results.

• Extensive leadership experience in natural gas-fired steam or fossil-fueled power generation, ideally with prior service as a Plant Manager.
• Prior experience supervising and managing technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel within a steam electric generating facility is required. Experience at a natural gas-fired plant is strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of power plant operations, maintenance, and commercial practices, with particular insight into independent power producer (IPP) operations.
• Advanced technical knowledge of steam generation, boiler, steam turbine, balance-of-plant, and plant control systems, with the ability to provide hands-on support and lead complex troubleshooting efforts.
• Strong expertise in safety leadership, consistently promoting a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in environmental compliance, including air permitting, regulatory reporting, inspections, and preparation for agency audits.
• Solid financial management skills, encompassing budgeting, forecasting, and application of cost-control methods to optimize plant expenditures.
• Experience administering commercial contracts, major service agreements, fuel supply agreements, and vendor relationships to ensure compliance and high performance.
• Proven ability to lead organizational improvement initiatives, manage change, and enhance plant reliability, workforce effectiveness, and financial performance.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with experience collaborating effectively with Owners, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, contractors, and personnel at all organizational levels.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

About NAES

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

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, 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 form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.

Qualifications Skills Preferred Management Advanced Power Plant Operations Advanced Power Plant Fundamentals Advanced Power Generation Advanced Budgeting Advanced Environmental Awareness and Stewardship Advanced Key Performance Indicators Advanced Microsoft Office Suite Intermediate Motivating Others Advanced O&M - Operations & Maintenance Advanced Verbal and Written Communications Advanced Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Intermediate Leadership Advanced Safety Program Development and Maintenance Advanced Safety Policies and Procedures Management Advanced Safety & Compliance Standards (OSHA/NFPA/EPA) Advanced Combined Cycle O&M Intermediate Simple Cycle Advanced Gas Turbine O&M Advanced BESS - Battery Energy Storage Systems Some Knowledge Behaviors Preferred 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 Education Preferred Bachelors or better. Experience Preferred We are seeking an accomplished leader with extensive experience in the operations and maintenance of power generating facilities, paired with a strong history of career growth and a track record of excellence in achieving results. Extensive leadership experience in natural gas-fired steam or fossil-fueled power generation, ideally with prior service as a Plant Manager. Prior experience supervising and managing technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel within a steam electric generating facility is required. Experience at a natural gas-fired plant is strongly preferred. Deep understanding of power plant operations, maintenance, and commercial practices, with particular insight into independent power producer (IPP) operations. Advanced technical knowledge of steam generation, boiler, steam turbine, balance-of-plant, and plant control systems, with the ability to provide hands-on support and lead complex troubleshooting efforts. Strong expertise in safety leadership, consistently promoting a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and proactive risk mitigation. Demonstrated proficiency in environmental compliance, including air permitting, regulatory reporting, inspections, and preparation for agency audits. Solid financial management skills, encompassing budgeting, forecasting, and application of cost-control methods to optimize plant expenditures. Experience administering commercial contracts, major service agreements, fuel supply agreements, and vendor relationships to ensure compliance and high performance. Proven ability to lead organizational improvement initiatives, manage change, and enhance plant reliability, workforce effectiveness, and financial performance. Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with experience collaborating effectively with Owners, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, contractors, and personnel at all organizational levels. Equal Opportunity Employer
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