Operations Manager, Power Plant

Jobtailor; Hobbs (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a seasoned Plant Operations Leader for our New Mexico facility. You will guide an Operations team to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant plant performance, monitor and optimize thermal and electrical outputs, and respond to all operating conditions.

You will collaborate with Maintenance, EH&S, and HR to drive continuous improvements, training, and contractor oversight. The role requires leadership experience in power generation, ability to manage on-call rotations, and

Qualifications

• Technical undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience in power plant operations, including supervising Operations employees
• Experience leading teams and driving safe, reliable plant operations
• Ability to travel occasionally and participate in on-call rotations
• Ability to work outside normal hours and on weekends/holidays
• Ability to access an operating power plant and wear PPE

Responsibilities

• Lead the Operations team to maintain safe, reliable, compliant, and efficient plant operations
• Monitor plant conditions and maintain thermal and electrical output at appropriate levels
• Respond to normal, abnormal, and emergency operating conditions
• Coordinate with the Plant Manager on significant risks and corrective actions
• Oversee contractor scopes of work and performance
• Develop and implement improvements for safety, reliability, productivity and costs
• Drive root cause analyses and Five Whys initiatives
• Oversee plant training, onboarding, and continuing operations training

Skills

Power Plant Operations

Leadership

Emergency Response

Continuous Improvement

Environmental Compliance

Education

Technical undergraduate degree

Military technical training

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Computerized Plant Management Systems

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the Operations team in maintaining safe, reliable, compliant, and efficient plant operations
• Monitor plant conditions and maintain thermal and electrical output at appropriate operating levels and efficiencies
• Respond to normal, abnormal, and emergency operating conditions
• Keep the Plant Manager informed of significant operating conditions, risks, and corrective actions
• Partner with the Maintenance Manager on equipment conditions, maintenance priorities, and equipment reliability
• Analyze operating results, equipment performance, and failures to identify improvements
• Develop and implement solutions improving safety, reliability, productivity, efficiency, and operating costs
• Lead or support failure analysis and root cause reviews using the Five Whys methodology
• Oversee the plant water chemistry program, testing, inspections, documentation, and treatment activities
• Maintain the Environmental Quality Assurance and Quality Control Manual and support environmental permit and regulatory compliance
• Coordinate environmental activities and train Operations employees to respond to environmental events
• Ensure compliance with ContourGlobal policies and local, state, and federal requirements
• Maintain and revise plant operations manuals, policies, and procedures
• Ensure plant logs, operating records, and reports are accurate and maintained
• Develop contractor scopes of work and oversee contractor performance
• Establish objectives, expectations, and accountabilities for Operations team members
• Provide coaching, feedback, performance reviews, and professional development
• Oversee onboarding, technical qualification, and continuing operations training
• Maintain the plant training program and staffing of qualified employees for continuous safe operations
• Build succession plans and prepare employees for expanded responsibilities
• Create an accountable, collaborative, high-performing team environment
• Address employee relations matters with Human Resources as appropriate
• Participate in recruitment, selection, and onboarding of Operations employees
• Support the plant Management System and its integration into daily business processes
• Complete other responsibilities assigned by the Plant Manager

Requirements

• Technical undergraduate degree, military technical training, apprenticeship training, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• Demonstrated experience in power plant operations, including supervising Operations employees
• Experience assigning work, managing performance, developing employees, and supporting safe and reliable plant operations
• Ability to complete occasional business travel
• Ability to participate in the plant’s management on-call rotation and work outside normal business hours when required
• Ability to work occasional weekends, holidays, and extended hours
• Ability to access and work throughout an operating power plant
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, climb stairs and ladders, work around operating equipment, wear required PPE, and work where hazardous materials may be present
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Strong knowledge of power plant operations, safety practices, operating procedures, emergency response, and environmental compliance
• Leadership and motivational skills
• Sound judgment and timely decision-making during normal, abnormal, and emergency operating conditions
• Ability to evaluate operating data, equipment performance, plant conditions, and equipment failures
• Strong written communication skills and experience preparing operating procedures, reports, and work requests
• Strong verbal communication, coaching, and training skills
• Ability to collaborate across Operations, Maintenance, Environmental, Health and Safety, Human Resources, and other plant functions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized plant management systems
• Combined cycle or gas turbine power plant experience
• SAP experience
• Experience supporting major outages, plant commissioning, or significant maintenance activities
• Experience leading continuous improvement, failure analysis, or root cause analysis initiatives
• Demonstrated record of increasing responsibility and achievement within power generation operations

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in power plant operations, including safety practices, emergency response, and environmental compliance. Proven ability to lead teams, develop employees, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Power Plant Operations
• Leadership and Motivational Skills
• Emergency Response
• Continuous Improvement
• Environmental Compliance

Hard Skills

• Power Plant Operations
• Failure Analysis
• Root Cause Analysis
• Operating Procedures
• Performance Management
• Data Evaluation
• Safety Practices
• Emergency Response Procedures
• Technical Training
• Plant Management Systems

Soft Skills

• Coaching Skills
• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Collaboration
• Sound Judgment

Industry Keywords

• Environmental Quality Assurance
• Quality Control Manual
• Combined Cycle Power Plant
• Gas Turbine Power Plant
• Regulatory Compliance

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office
• SAP
• Computerized Plant Management Systems