Operations Manager

ACWA; As Sudiyah; On-site; OMR 31,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

ACWA operates a major energy and water production plant, seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the plant’s operations and laboratory functions. You will drive production planning, safety, and continuous improvement while coordinating with maintenance and external contractors.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic budgeting, and a deep understanding of power and desalination plant dynamics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering is required.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Experience in power generation and water desalination is essential.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operation department and manage all plant operations and lab activities in line with contractual, quality, cost and HSSE standards.
• Report to Plant General Manager on activities, challenges and mitigations.
• Develop and manage the operations budget and monitor financial performance.
• Plan and schedule production blocks and daily shift operations to meet targets.
• Oversee safety compliance, test and maintain critical protection devices.
• Coordinate maintenance planning with the maintenance team to minimize downtime.
• Oversee laboratory activities, testing to regulatory and quality standards.
• Lead operational meetings and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage contracts and supplier performance for operations-related services.
• Ensure effective integration of IMS and department workflows.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Analytical thinking

Desalination Ops

Communication

Mentoring

Teamwork

Emergency mgmt

Contracts

ACWA knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

At Acwa Operations, we make essential services dependable and efficient for the millions of people who rely on them every day. Formerly NOMAC (The First National Operations & Maintenance Company), we are the operations and maintenance arm of Acwa, focused on keeping power generation and water desalination assets running safely, reliably and cost-effectively across their full lifecycle. Since 2005, we have partnered with clients across the Middle East, Africa and Asia to support complex infrastructure that powers communities and sustains economies.

The Qurrayah IPP Expansion is a significant project by ACWA Power in Saudi Arabia, aimed at enhancing energy security and efficiency. The project includes a 3,010 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine plant, developed in partnership with the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co. Ltd. It is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, focusing on improving electricity generation efficiency and reducing reliance on liquid fuels.

REPORTS TO:

JOB PURPOSE:

To lead the operation department of the plant and manage all operations and laboratory related activities in accordance with contractual requirements and defined quality, quantity, cost & HSE standards, to ensure effective achievement of production targets, whilst ensuring operational efficiency.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Develop the Operations-departmental strategy in line with the overall Plant’s strategy to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing departmental strategies across.
• Regularly report to the Plant General Manager / Country Manager on the operational activities of department, challenges and issues faced, mitigations taken, etc. as required, to keep them informed and updated on the division’s activities.

Budget Management:

• Contribute to the preparation of the operation department’s budget and manage and monitor the financial performance against the budget so that areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified, rectified promptly and potential performance improvement opportunities are capitalized upon.
• Participate actively in the monthly budget variance analysis and discussions to ensure the gaps are reviewed and analysed and appropriate and timely actions are taken to reduce the gaps.

Operations Planning:

• Cascade of the Plant’s operational strategy to develop production plans and lead the effective monthly and daily scheduling of plant shift operations in line with the approved strategies and business demands to ensure the production targets are met.

Operations Management:

• Lead and effectively manage all aspects of power generation and / or water production within ACWA operational plant to ensure efficient operations, whilst maintaining a critical focus on safety and quality.
• Work with all related parties to troubleshoot and resolve escalated/critical operational issues to facilitate timely achievement of production objectives whilst ensuring minimal liquidity damages.
• Review the daily operations reports and submit periodic reports to the management, keeping them informed of all technical problems, if any, as well as on recent changes or modifications on existing work plan or schedule.
• Lead the Operational management meetings so that the entire team is clear on the production standards required and the operations programs that are underway.
• Review the long-term equipment and operating performance characteristics and provide technical recommendations to improve the reliability of the equipment and overall efficiency of the operations processes.
• Ensure all safety protective device tests on critical equipment are carried out successfully on regular basis, to ensure protective continuity testing in Compliance with International Safety Standards.

Maintenance and Outage Support:

• Together with Maintenance department, plan and facilitate the implementation of planned preventative and corrective maintenance programmes, ensuring timely repair of critical equipment so as to minimize downtime and forced outages.
• Work with the Maintenance team, for the safe execution of the planned outages for the major operating facilities/equipment on site and provide support during the shutdown and re-starting of equipment, as needed, to ensure the EHS, scope, cost, and timeline objectives are met.

Plant Chemistry and Laboratory Management:

• Oversee and monitor the setting of production parameters and adjust production conditions during operation to ensure quality and efficiency.
• Oversee the laboratory activities and ensure the testing is in accordance with regulatory requirements, procedures, schedules, budgeted costs and quality standards.

Health, Safety, Security & Environment:

• Ensure compliance to all relevant health, safety, security and environmental management policies, procedures and controls across the department to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance and a responsible environmental attitude.
• Report and respond to HSSE incidents using the established emergency communication channels and protocols, to minimize the impact of the hazard.
• Together with HSE department, ensure that safety rules and regulations are fully explained to plant employees / contractor staff and appropriate safety and protective equipment are worn; safety notices are prominently displayed in all work areas and that all accidents and incidents are efficiently investigated and analysed whilst ensuring that measures are implemented to avoid any recurrence.
• Monitor and ensure that ERT teams are readily available and evaluate their performance at regular intervals especially during the drills, to ensure they are complying with the HSSE practices and procedures.

Inventory and Services Management:

• Oversee the performance of all contracts and contractor arrangements that impact plant operations to ensure quality and cost-effective service delivery.
• Lead the effective inventory management of operations related consumables, chemicals, and equipment and ensure raising of requisitions and purchase orders for the timely replenishment of stock to fulfil plant operational requirements.

Integrated Management System Implementation:

• Implement IMS objectives and programs in the department and provide assistance during the IMS audits to effectively implement corrective actions and update relevant Operation’s policies and procedures, based on the recommendations.
• Develop and ensure the implementation of Operation’s department work instructions, policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of department activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.
• Identify opportunities of improvement and contribute to Operational change initiatives, programmes and projects considering best practice and standards in the business environment.

People Management:

• Manage the effective achievement of the team’s objectives through setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing the team and providing formal and informal feedback to maximize overall performance, engagement and motivation.

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal:

• Needs to work closely with Senior Management, Maintenance Manager and Maintenance team, Procurement Officer, HSSE Officer, P&C team, Finance Team and Storekeeper, etc.

External:

• Needs to build a rapport with PC, off taker and relevant contractors, OEMs, etc.

REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
• Minimum 12-15 years of experience in progressively complex production plants with strong experience in the power and water desalination sector.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Strong leadership skills and excellent planning and organizational ability
• Strong experience and know-how of conceptual and analytical thinking
• Strong knowledge of the operations in water desalination and power generation plants and of ACWA operations
• Excellent communication, influencing and motivating skills
• Mentoring, coaching and people management skills
• Strong planning, organizing, and integration skills
• Teamwork and effective collaboration skills
• Ability to manage emergency situations
• Thorough understanding of PPP, contractual obligations etc.