Assistant Plant Manager

Orion Talent; Village of Dresden (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Talent seeks a Head of Power Plant Operations and Pipeline in Dresden, NY to lead the safe, efficient day-to-day operation of a 106 MW natural gas-fired steam unit and its pipeline. Reporting to the Plant Manager, you will own the operating floor and guide the operations team to reliable, cost-effective power production.

This role emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance, optimized availability, and coordination with maintenance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in power plant operations, ideally at a Rankine-cycle facility.
• Experience leading and supervising unionized operations teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Experience managing operating costs and staffing within a plant budget.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the unionized O&M team — staffing, training, qualification, and performance.
• Direct real-time operation of the 106 MW natural gas-fired steam unit to meet targets.
• Oversee day-to-day operation of the natural gas pipeline, fuel supply, and regulatory compliance.
• Own operating discipline: SOPs, startup/shutdown sequences, and abnormal procedures.
• Implement floor safety programs (LOTO, permit-to-work, emergency response).

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Steam cycle systems

Operational command of steam units

Natural gas pipeline knowledge

Written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Position Description: The primary purpose of the Head of Power Plant Operations and Pipeline is to lead the safe, efficient, and environmentally compliant day-to-day operation of the facility's 106 MW natural gas-fired steam (Rankine-cycle) generating unit and its natural gas supply pipeline in Dresden, New York. Reporting to the Plant Manager, this role owns the operating floor — leading the operations team, directing real-time operation of the unit, and translating plant capability into reliable, cost-effective power production — while also overseeing reliable and compliant operation of the natural gas pipeline serving the facility. This role is accountable for shift coverage, operating discipline, and the procedures, schedules, and records that keep operations running consistently, and works closely with the Head of Maintenance and other site functions to execute the Plant Manager's priorities.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

• Safe, reliable day-to-day operation of the unit, with a strong operating-floor safety culture and full adherence to environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Consistent achievement of operational targets— availability, heat rate, start reliability, and load following — in support of facility objectives.
• Reliable and compliant operation of the natural gas pipeline serving the facility with fuel supply maintained and integrity and regulatory requirements met.
• A well-organized, fully staffed, and cross-trained operations team with clear shift structures, current operating procedures, and disciplined execution.
• Reduced operational forced outages and derates through vigilant monitoring, early fault detection, and prompt corrective action.
• Smooth coordination between operations and maintenance so that work windows, outages, and returns to service are executed efficiently.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage the unionized operations team — O&M Technicians – Operations (Operator Trainee through O&M Tech 4 / Senior Operator) — including scheduling, staffing, training, qualification, and performance.
• Direct real-time operation of the 106 MW natural gas-fired steam unit — boiler, steam turbine, generator, condenser, feedwater, and auxiliary systems — to meet dispatch, efficiency, and emissions targets.
• Oversee day-to-day operation of the natural gas supply pipeline in the facility, including reliable fuel supply, pipeline monitoring and integrity, and regulatory compliance.
• Own operating discipline: develop, maintain, and enforce standard operating procedures, startup and shutdown sequences, and abnormal/emergency operating procedures.
• Execute operations safety programs on the floor— lockout/tagout (LOTO),permit-to-work, and emergency response — in support of the EHS Leader's site-wide programs.

Monitor operational performance using performance software and control systems; conduct root cause analysis on operational events and drive corrective actions.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 8 years of experience in power plant operations, - Ideally with direct experience at a Rankine-cycle (steam) generating facility.
• Proven experience leading and supervising operations teams, preferably in a unionized environment.
• Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field preferred; equivalent operational experience will be considered.
• Experience managing operating costs and staffing within a plant budget.
• Familiarity with natural gas pipeline operation and compliance is a plus.
• Proven problem-solving abilities and hands-on root cause analysis experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong organizational skills—able to structure shift coverage, balance competing operational priorities, and keep procedures, schedules, and records disciplined and current.
• In-depth knowledge of steam cycle systems—boilers, steam turbines, generators, condensers, feedwater and condensate systems, and balance-of-plant auxiliaries.
• Operational command of steam units— expert understanding of startup, shutdown, and load-following operation.
• Natural gas pipeline knowledge— familiarity with natural gas pipeline operation, fuel supply, monitoring, integrity, and compliance requirements.