Maintenance Manager

Bernard Nickels & Associates; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Bernard Nickels & Associates seeks a Site Operations Manager to own the BESS assets in NYC, building the field team, safety programs, and QA framework. You will be the primary hands-on technical authority for site operations and strive for operational readiness across multiple locations.

This full-time role requires strong leadership, deep electrical O&M experience, and coordination with utility partners (Con Edison) and FDNY regulations. Based in NYC with on-site presence and on-call rotation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; Journeyman/Master Electrician preferred.
• 7+ years in power/energy ops; 3+ years leading field teams or plant operations.
• Strong vendor management and CMMS experience.
• OSHA 30 certification; NFPA 70E/70B knowledge.
• Valid driver's license with clean safety record.

Responsibilities

• Act as on-site Owner's Rep and QA authority for PM/CMMS.
• Lead 24/7 on-call rotation for critical faults.
• Perform on-site diagnostics and in-house repairs; manage subcontractors.
• Witness critical PM steps; conduct vendor/OEM workmanship spot-checks.
• Coordinate OEM warranty and LTSA activities; track defects.

Skills

Vendor management

CMMS maintenance

Team leadership

Safety compliance

Emergency response

Operations planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Journeyman or Master Electrician license

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Compensation: $150,000 – $170,000 Base Salary (Negotiable) + Annual Performance Bonus

Position Overview

• Title: Site Operations Manager / Manager, Operations & Maintenance
• Role Summary: Own the physical fleet, safety, integrity, and operational readiness of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets across New York City. Build the field team, emergency response programs, and vendor QA framework from the ground up while serving as the primary hands‑on technical authority for all site operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Operations & Quality Assurance:
• Act as the on‑site Owner's Representative and QA authority for all Preventative Maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance executed through the CMMS.
• Serve as the primary, hands‑on response lead for critical faults and manage a 24/7/365 on‑call rotation program.
• Perform advanced on‑site diagnostics and physical repairs in‑house; manage specialized outsourced subcontractors under strict quality authority.
• Witness critical PM steps and perform random spot‑checks on vendor and OEM workmanship.
• Provide definitive technical approval on all third‑party maintenance invoices prior to payment processing.
• Maintain overall site integrity, physical security (fencing, access control, lighting), and general upkeep (vegetation, signage, housekeeping).
• Regulatory & Utility Coordination:
• Lead the FDNY program, including B-28 Certificate of Fitness coverage, site emergency plans, annual inspections, and fire battalion relationships.
• Manage high‑voltage (HV) and medium‑voltage (MV) maintenance vendors to ensure strict adherence to engineered scopes of work.
• Direct all field‑level utility interactions (Con Edison), including switching, planned outages, and utility inspections.
• Coordinate OEM warranty and Long‑Term Service Agreement (LTSA) execution, tracking defect documentation and field visits.
• Team Building & Scaling:
• Build, train, and certify an internal field technician team to perform recurring maintenance in‑house over time.
• Scale operations from an initial site footprint to dozens of locations across the five boroughs.
• Cross‑functionally align with Central Operations (alarm dispatch/work orders), Engineering (SOPs, standards, safety programs), and Commercial Asset Management (invoices, quality data, field intelligence).
• Commissioning, Safety & Asset Handover:
• Support commissioning and operational readiness for new sites; own operational acceptance during construction‑to‑operations handovers.
• Enforce site safety standards including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Job Hazard Analyses (JHA), safety drills, and incident reporting.
• Maintain spare parts inventory discipline and contribute operational metrics to monthly reporting packs.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education & Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or equivalent trade licensure (Journeyman or Master Electrician).
• 7+ years in power/energy operations, with at least 3+ years directly leading field teams or plant operations.
• Deep, hands‑on electrical O&M experience with substations or power generation facilities.
• Technical Skills & Certifications:
• Proven track record in vendor/subcontractor management, including enforcing SLAs and quality holdbacks.
• Proficient in CMMS‑driven maintenance management (work orders, PM compliance, failure codes).
• OSHA 30 certification (or OSHA 10 with commitment to upgrade prior to start).
• Working knowledge of NFPA 70E and NFPA 70B standards.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean safety record.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Direct O&M experience with BESS, inverters, or energy storage technologies.
• NYC operational experience, including direct exposure to FDNY regulations, Con Edison protocols, DOB requirements, and local contractor/union environments.
• Active Master Electrician License, CMRP certification, or OEM battery/inverter certifications.
• Working knowledge of NFPA 855.
• Active FDNY B-28 or related Certificates of Fitness.
• Experience scaling early‑stage teams or operational functions from scratch.

Core Competencies & Attributes

• Uncompromising Safety Mindset: Enforces safety standards under schedule pressure and stops work when necessary.
• Decisive Field Leadership: Makes timely, well‑reasoned operational decisions during site emergencies.
• Structured & Process‑Oriented: Manages multiple sites, crews, and complex vendor scopes simultaneously with strong CMMS documentation discipline.
• Effective Communicator: Communicates clearly with technicians, utility crews, fire battalion chiefs, and executive leadership.
• Collaborative Partner: Builds strong working relationships with external stakeholders (FDNY, utility partners, OEMs) while advocating for company interests.
• Environment: Full‑time role based in Brooklyn, NY, requiring regular presence at active field sites across the five NYC boroughs and participation in an on‑call rotation.