Plant Manager-Wind Farms

SET Recruitment Consultants; Noupoort; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Plant Manager-Windfarm in Noupoort, South Africa, is a senior site leadership role overseeing Balance of Plant O&M across multiple wind assets. You will lead safety, reliability, and performance, directing large teams and contractors to meet contractual, HSE and regulatory requirements.

The role requires extensive experience in power plant O&M, electrical infrastructure, and stakeholder management, with a strong track record of delivering high availability and cost-effective maintenance

Qualifications

• ND or equivalent in Electrical Engineering; degree preferred.
• 10+ years in energy/power generation.
• 5+ years renewable energy O&M experience beneficial.
• Experience with electrical infrastructure, substations and overhead lines.
• Wind energy O&M experience advantageous.
• Experience managing large site-based teams.
• Experience with subcontractors, OEMs and specialists.

Responsibilities

• Lead BOP O&M teams for multiple wind projects.
• Ensure equipment operated per contracts and OEM requirements.
• Develop long-term plant health and maintenance strategies.
• Plan annual O&M plans including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
• Align maintenance with OEM requirements and best practices.
• Oversee daily operations, outages, maintenance and capital projects.
• Ensure HSE, environmental and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor a diverse site-based team and subcontractors.

Skills

Technical leadership

O&M planning

Budget management

Contractor management

Stakeholder management

Wind energy

MS 365

English fluency

Team leadership

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Diploma in Electrical

Tools

CMMS experience

Job description

Plant Manager-Windfarm

Noupoort, South Africa

Market-related Package

The Opportunity

Our client, a leading international renewable energy developer and operator, is expanding its operations across Southern Africa and is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead the Balance of Plant (BOP) Operations & Maintenance function across a portfolio of large-scale wind projects.

This is a senior site-based leadership opportunity for an experienced energy professional with a strong background in power plant O&M, electrical infrastructure, team leadership and contractor management.The successful candidate will take overall responsibility for plant availability, operational performance, HSE, maintenance strategy and stakeholder management across multiple wind assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the BOP O&M team and take overall responsibility for the safe, reliable and efficient operation of multiple wind projects.

• Ensure BOP equipment is operated and maintained in accordance with contractual, PPA, O&M and project requirements.

• Develop and implement long-term plant health and asset maintenance strategies.

• Develop annual O&M plans covering both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

• Ensure maintenance activities are aligned with OEM requirements and industry best practice.

• Lead daily operations, planned and unplanned outages, maintenance activities and ad-hoc capital projects.

• Ensure compliance with HSE, environmental, operational and regulatory requirements, including the OHS Act, GMR and applicable grid/network codes.

• Manage, develop and mentor a large, diverse site-based team and subcontractor workforce.

• Establish a high-performance culture focused on safety, reliability, accountability and operational excellence.

• Develop and maintain SOPs, quality-control processes and operational procedures.

• Manage operational budgets and ensure effective cost control.

• Oversee BOP spare parts and inventory management to ensure critical spares are available when required.

• Ensure effective utilisation of the CMMS and oversee work permit processes.

• Source, evaluate and manage specialist contractors across electrical and civil BOP, environmental and other outsourced services.

• Manage equipment warranties and ensure warranty claims are effectively administered.

• Monitor and report on key O&M KPIs including availability, MTTR, MTBF, failure response and MTTD.

• Manage site access, security and contractor coordination.

• Maintain effective relationships with landowners, contractors, OEMs and internal and external stakeholders.

• Liaise closely with onsite turbine OEM contractors.

• Witness commissioning and performance testing where required.

• Provide operational and technical input into projects during construction handover, asset management and O&M phases.

• Support technical, HSEQ, engineering, commercial and asset management workstreams as required.

Qualifications and Experience:

• National Diploma or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline will be advantageous.

• Minimum 10 years' relevant industry experience, ideally within the energy or power generation sector.

• Minimum 5 years' experience in renewable energy power plant O&M is highly advantageous.

• Strong experience in electrical infrastructure, substations and overhead lines.

• Wind energy operations and maintenance experience will be a significant advantage.

• Proven experience managing large, diverse site-based teams.

• Experience managing subcontractors, OEMs and specialist service providers.

• Strong exposure to maintenance planning, operational budgets, contracts and compliance.

• Experience working across complex, geographically dispersed or rural project environments.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical and commercial acumen.

• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making ability.

• Strong people and performance management skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong contractor and stakeholder management capabilities.

• Budget management and commercial negotiation skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure operational environment.

• Strong understanding of O&M best practices and asset performance management.

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint.

• Strong written and spoken English; additional local language capability is advantageous.

• High level of autonomy, accountability and adaptability.

• Strong intercultural awareness and conflict-management skills.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's licence.

• Willingness to travel regularly and work in rural project environments.

• Willingness to accept the relevant legal appointment under the SHEQ management plan and General Machinery Regulations.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing junior team members.

• Experience developing competency frameworks and career paths for technical teams.