Remote Operations Center Operator

Southern Power; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Power in Birmingham, AL, seeks a Remote Operations Center Operator to monitor and operate its renewable fleet from the ROC. You will manage site events, logs, and dispatches while coordinating with site personnel and asset management across multiple facilities.

The role requires SCADA/PLC experience, data historian familiarity, and knowledge of electrical theory. This position includes 24x7 shift work in a remote operations setting supporting wind, solar, and BESS assets.

Qualifications

• 2-year AS Technical Degree preferred.
• Military experience in technical field desired.
• Knowledge/experience in wind and/or solar power plant operations preferred.
• Experience with plant data historians (AspenTech or PI) preferred.
• Basic understanding of electrical theory and data analysis for plant performance.

Responsibilities

• Controlling and operating sites as dictated by dispatch orders and procedures.
• Managing remote resets of equipment.
• Managing curtailment directives.
• Interacting with Transmission Provider & Customer.
• Logging of all site events, alarms, resets, and dispatches and completing shift reports.
• Troubleshooting in conjunction with site personnel.
• Coordinating activities with site personnel, system operations, and asset management.
• Managing facility forecasts.
• Providing plant performance & output reporting.
• Managing NERC reporting in conjunction with site personnel.
• Establishing ongoing relationships with plant and corporate teams; mentoring new staff.
• Perform 24/7 Real-time QSE operations.

Skills

Electrical theory

SCADA

PLC

Data analysis

Excel

Communication

NERC/CIP awareness

Education

AS Technical Degree

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

SCADA systems

AspenTech/PI historian

Excel

Job description

SPC Remote Operations Center (ROC) Operator

This position will function as part of the Southern Power Remote Operations Center, a 24x7 operation, which provides remote monitoring and operational support to the SPC renewable fleet of wind, solar, and BESS generating assets across the country. This position is primarily responsible for the monitoring and operation of multiple renewable sites across the U.S. from the ROC in Birmingham, AL.

This Position Is Responsible For The Following

• Controlling and operating sites as dictated by dispatch orders and procedures.
• Managing remote resets of equipment.
• Managing curtailment directives.
• Interacting with Transmission Provider & Customer
• Logging of all site events, alarms, resets, and dispatches and completing shift reports.
• Troubleshooting in conjunction with site personnel.
• Coordinating activities with site personnel, system operations, and asset management.
• Managing facility forecasts.
• Providing plant performance & output reporting
• Managing NERC reporting in conjunction with site personnel
• Maintain QSE qualifications.

This position will closely support and interface with System Operations, Plant Operations, and Asset Managers in these activities.

This position will be located at the Southern Power Remote Operations Center in Birmingham, AL and will be filled at a level and job classification commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Experience

• 2-year AS Technical Degree – preferred
• Military experience in technical field – desired
• Knowledge and experience in the areas of wind and/or solar power plant Operations is preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in Plant Performance, and/or Engineering is desired.
• Basic Understanding of electrical theory
• Experience with plant control systems such as Allen Bradley PLC and/or SCADA systems is desired.
• Hands-on experience with plant data historian (AspenTech or PI) – building trends and analyzing data - preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience with different power generation technologies including solar, wind, and battery storage is preferred.
• Experience with data management techniques to access, integrate, and present data from multiple sources is desired (Excel, Access, etc).
• Experience in organizing and managing multiple projects at the same time. Proven ability to plan and ability to discern problems that need immediate attention versus those that allow more time to resolve.
• Proved ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Knowledge & Skills Requirements

• Basic Understanding of Electrical Theory
• Ability to use multiple data sources such as SCADA, plant controls, and data historians to troubleshoot problems with sites and site equipment
• Proficiency in the use of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and other applications.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills.
• Awareness of and compliance with NERC/CIP requirements applicable to facility and ROC operations

BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES

• Must be able to make timely decisions, apply seasoned judgment, and display personal responsibility.
• Display unquestionable trust, superior performance, and total commitment.
• Be a team player - able to quickly build good working relationships.
• Results oriented self-starter that can work independently.
• Promote Safety and DE&I

Job Responsibilities

• Controlling and operating sites as dictated by dispatch orders and procedures.
• Managing remote resets of equipment.
• Managing curtailment directives.
• Interacting with Transmission Provider & Customer
• Logging of all site events, alarms, resets, and dispatches and completing shift reports.
• Troubleshooting in conjunction with site personnel.
• Coordinating activities with site personnel, system operations, and asset management.
• Managing facility forecasts.
• Providing plant performance & output reporting
• Managing NERC reporting in conjunction with site personnel
• Establishing ongoing relationships and effectively communicating with all levels of plant and corporate employees and management.
• Taking an active role in the development of new employees.
• Perform 24/7 Realtime QSE operations.

Total travel time will be no more than 10%.

This position will require shift work in a 24x7 operational facility.

Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider meeting the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and other energy customers. Southern Power and its subsidiaries own 55 facilities operating or under construction in 14 states with more than 12,500 MW of generating capacity in Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Washington.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Identification: 18858

Job Category: Power Plant Operations & Maintenance

Job Schedule: Full time

Company: Southern Power