The Richland-Stryker Generation project comprises two peaking power plants. The Richland Peaking Plant, situated in Defiance, OH, features a robust power generation infrastructure with six units powered by natural gas as the primary fuel and distillate fuel oil (DFO) as a secondary option, collectively generating an impressive 450MW. The Stryker Peaking Plant in Stryker, OH, operates a single unit exclusively firing with distillate fuel oil, contributing 19MW to the energy landscape.

Opportunity Summary

The Plant Manager’s responsibilities encompass overseeing the safety, operations, maintenance, administrative, training, chemistry, environmental compliance, and QA/QC programs to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations at both the Richland and Stryker facilities. This role involves managing plant outages, budgeting, and cost control while leading a motivated team and fostering continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant performance across both plants.

Additionally, the Plant Manager will collaborate with key stakeholders, ensure regulatory compliance, and serve as the primary liaison with the community, all while maintaining high standards for operational excellence and profitability.

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

Administer the plant’s safety, operations, maintenance, administrative, training, chemistry, environmental compliance, and QA/QC programs, fostering a culture of safety and ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable operations. Manage the planning, budgeting, contracting, and performance of both planned and unplanned plant outages, optimizing schedules to minimize downtime, increase production efficiency, and enhance profitability. Provide hands-on support to Operations and Maintenance personnel, assisting with equipment problem evaluation and utilizing outside resources as necessary. Employ sound business principles, best practices, and prudent utility techniques to enhance plant profitability. Control and manage plant expenditures through budgeting, forecasting, and cost accounting, establishing annual budgets in accordance with the O&M Agreement. Collaborate with key stakeholders to implement continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing plant performance and efficiency. Provide leadership to all plant personnel, aligning objectives with client requirements and ensuring the highest standards for safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. Foster high morale and motivation among plant personnel, cultivating a positive and engaging work environment. Develop and implement staffing, training, and qualification plans for all O&M phases, aligning personnel goals with facility and Owner objectives. Facilitate effective communication between plant personnel, management, external stakeholders, and regulatory agencies, ensuring transparency, promoting the plant’s image as a good neighbor, and encouraging staff involvement in community activities. Ensure compliance with environmental permits, regulations, and agreements with neighboring landowners, overseeing the preparation and submission of required environmental, regulatory, and production reports, as well as budgets, to maintain transparency and regulatory adherence. Administer project agreements, including the O&M, energy supply, service, and interconnection agreements, ensuring facility compliance. Maintain dependable, reliable attendance. Complete special projects as assigned by senior management.

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 and support regular safety meetings (at least monthly). Address safety in all group meetings. Conduct inspections and observations: establish a regular inspection process for the work area and a safety observation process for ongoing work. Lead these activities in accordance with any rules, requirements, or guidance established within your business unit, group, or division. Involve all NAES teammates in these activities. Analyze results, write work orders, and provide training and education to eliminate hazards, address at-risk behavior, and meet company regulatory requirements. Conduct at least two safety observation tours of high-risk activities (e.g., confined space) to verify that employees are following safe practices, company procedures, and OSHA regulations. Hold one-on-one sessions with workers to discuss safety issues, communicate expectations, and coach safe behaviors (e.g., ensuring employees are wearing all required personal protective equipment). Respond to all safety-related incidents, including injuries, incidents, and near misses; write a report explaining what happened, identify the cause, and recommend corrective actions based on established business unit or division practices. Follow up as necessary to ensure corrective actions are 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 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, chemical suits, hot gloves, and high voltage protective equipment, 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

The starting compensation for this position will range from $140,000 to $175,000, with the addition of an annual performance bonus.

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's degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline is highly desired. Prior experience as a Plant Manager at a combustion turbine power facility, with strong technical proficiency in simple-cycle combustion turbine operations and maintenance, is strongly preferred. Experience at a peaking plant using natural gas and distillate fuel oil, along with hands-on support and problem-solving ability, is a plus. Extensive leadership or supervisory experience in power generation business practices, with a focus on independent power producers and peaking operations, is required. The ability to supervise technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel in a fast-paced, on-demand environment is essential. Expertise in environmental compliance, emissions management, budgeting, organizational development, and contract administration. Strong financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, and cost control, particularly in peaking plant operations. Thorough knowledge of safety regulations and best practices, with experience fostering a strong safety culture in natural gas and distillate fuel systems. Results-driven problem solver and team builder with a record of leading change to improve operations, personnel, and financial performance. Strong community relations skills, including serving as a liaison to regulatory agencies and engaging with local stakeholders. Must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's 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.