Plant General Manager

Acwa; Bishah; On-site; SAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Acwa Operations is seeking a Senior Plant Leader to direct all plant activities, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations. You will optimize resources, meet contractual obligations and maximize revenue across the Bisha Solar PV project assets in Asir Province.

With 15+ years in production plants, you will mentor teams, manage budgets, and coordinate with the Project Company and authorities to sustain high performance and compliance in a dynamic energy environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience managing a production plant in power/water sectors.
• Extensive knowledge of desalination and power generation operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop plant strategy aligned with NOMAC’s O&M plans and drive execution.
• Report on operations, maintenance, challenges and mitigations to leadership.
• Prepare board presentations with financials and asset status.
• Lead budgeting, workforce planning and performance management.
• Manage relationships with Project Company, vendors and authorities.
• Ensure safety, HSSE, compliance and continuous improvement.

Skills

techno-commercial know-how

Leadership

Project Management

Contract management

Planning & budgeting

Critical thinking

Mentoring & coaching

Communication & stakeholders

Root cause analysis

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP

MS Excel

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 Bisha Solar PV Project is a significant renewable energy initiative in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the development of a 3,000 MW solar PV plant in Bisha, Asir Province, Saudi Arabi. This project is part of a broader national wave of gigawatt-scale solar procurement and buildout, with fast capacity additions and large power purchase agreements (PPAs) being key factors in its credibility. The project is developed under the IPP model with a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with SPPC as the offtaker, and financial close was achieved in October 2025, with completion scheduled for December 2027.

REPORTS TO:

VP Cluster Head of Assets - South Region / Country Manager

JOB PURPOSE:

To provide overall direction to the plant teams and lead all the activities within the plant to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient operations of the plant, optimum utilization of resources and delivery of uninterrupted supply of Power / Water in accordance with the defined standards, whilst fulfilling all contractual obligations in order to maximize revenue.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Develop the plant strategy in line with NOMAC’s Operations and Maintenance strategy to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing departmental strategies across.
• Regularly report to the Manager on the operational and maintenance activities of the plant, challenges and issues faced, mitigations taken, etc. as required, to keep them informed and updated on the plant’s activities.
• Prepare board presentations that include financial figures, plant warranty issue and operational and manpower issues etc., in order to keep them up to date of all statistics and records relevant to the plant.

People Management:

• Manage and monitor the performance of direct and indirect reports, defining workforce requirements and recruiting, in conjunction with the Human Resources function, to ensure competent, qualified and highly motivated employees are available to enable the achievement of the plant objectives.
• Manage the effective achievement of the team’s objectives through setting individual objectives, developing the team and providing formal and informal feedback to maximise overall performance, engagement and motivation.
• Manage and provide overall direction and guidance on talent development initiatives to mentor, coach and challenge subordinates providing opportunities for growth and development to ensure continuous progression and a high level of competence within the team.
• Develop the Plant’s Operating budget and manage and monitor the financial performance against the budget on a regular basis, so that areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified, rectified promptly and potential performance improvement opportunities are capitalised upon.
• Understand the financial metrics /costs/ contractual obligations of the project, to ensure the achievement of the revenue, costs, profitability and productivity targets.

Production Planning:

• Lead and ensure the effective cascading of the operational strategy and plans into mid to short terms production plans and monitor their performance against the target to ensure optimization of resource utilization, plant availability and operating efficiency of the plant, whilst achieving the defined production targets.

Operations and Maintenance:

• Provide overall direction to plant operations and maintenance teams to meet approved production objectives while providing technical guidance and expertise to ensure timely resolution of issues and recommend changes to approved procedures considering technological developments and changing business conditions.
• Plan and direct for minor and major changes within the plant and its respective processes to ensure a safe working environment while also maintaining plant efficiency levels, as per the approved procedures.
• Have a thorough understanding of the contractual obligations and clauses with the Project Company and ensure that they are continuously met at all times.

Technical Guidance:

• Direct the teams on operations and maintenance strategies and oversee the root cause analysis and investigations in order to correct any abnormal conditions and resolve performance deficiencies.
• Provide guidance to direct subordinates on potential risk areas in order to improve the long-term reliability of the plant.

Supply Chain:

• Oversee and manage the identification process of required inventory and approve all purchase requisitions / purchase orders for material / spare parts, services, chemicals, equipment and required manpower; as per the authority matrix in order to ensure timely availability of stock to fulfil plant requirements.
• Oversee the work executed by the contractors to ensure timely completion of work whilst complying to scope, materials specification, method of application, HSSE and documentation guidelines.

SAP Implementation:

• Provide overall guidance and ensure the effective implementation of SAP processes within the plants and adherence to SAP guidelines in all aspects of production planning, scheduling, order processing, material movement etc. in order to ensure system/data integrity in line with defined standards.

Integrated Management System Implementation:

• Identify, establish and monitor IMS objectives, targets and programs in the plant, through the adaptation and implementation of the policies and procedures and preparation and readiness for appropriate IMS Certifications, in order to ensure compliance to applicable Standards, existing policies and procedures of the company.
• Oversee and provide all possible assistance during the IMS audits (conducted internally or by external agencies) and work on the recommendations provided by them in order to effectively implement corrective actions.

Health, Safety, Security & Environment:

• Ensure compliance to all relevant health, safety, security and environmental management policies, procedures and controls across the plant to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance and a responsible environmental attitude.

Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain effective business relationships with all relevant internal & external entities (such as Project Company, Board, shareholders, OEM contractors, local authorities etc.) with the highest standards of business ethics, whilst promptly attending to all critical issues in-order to ensure seamless business operations.

Reporting:

• Ensure that all plant reports are prepared in a comprehensive, accurate and timely manner, and delivered to the Project Company as per contractual obligations.
• Direct and provide guidance on the preparation of periodical statements and progress reports to keep the senior management informed about the progress of various initiatives and to facilitate decision making.
• 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.
• Oversee the implementation of effective and economical methods and techniques in order to identify improvements and/or new technological changes to advance operating methods within the plant.
• Identify opportunities of improvement and contribute to organisational and departmental change initiatives, programmes and projects taking into account best practice and standards in the business environment.

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.
• Needs to work closely with all Corporate / Country teams, Board, Plant employees, internal Auditors.

External:

• Needs to build a rapport with relevant contractors and vendors, Project Company, Local Authorities, External Auditors, Shareholders

REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in managing a production plant, with operational experience in the power and water desalination sector.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Techno-commercial know-how with extensive knowledge of contracts and agreements
• Extensive leadership skills and excellent planning ability
• Extensive experience and know-how of conceptual and analytical thinking and excellent presentation skills
• Extensive knowledge of the operations in water desalination and power generation plants and of NOMAC operations
• Excellent communication, influencing and motivating skills
• Project Management
• Mentoring, coaching and people management skills
• Strong planning, organizing, and integration skills