Operations Manager

NAES•Hubbard, TX

38d•$190,000 - $221,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager at the APEX Power Co. Project will lead the development of the operations organization during the pre-commissioning phase, building staff, training programs, procedures, and operational readiness for a multi-technology facility. You will oversee 24/7 shift coverage, operator qualifications, system validation, and commissioning activities while establishing compliance, safety, and reporting frameworks to support a seamless transition from EPC to Operations. Once commercial operation begins, you will provide ongoing leadership of plant operations, ensuring safe, reliable, efficient, and compliant performance across all generation and balance-of-plant systems. As Operations Manager, your responsibilities specific to the Pre-Commissioning Phase include the following functions: Assist the Plant Manager in recruiting, onboarding, and qualifying initial Operations personnel. Develop shift schedules, 24/7 coverage models, and on-call frameworks to support commissioning and early operational readiness. Establish qualification standards and initial training programs for aero-derivative CTs, frame CTs, reciprocating engines, BESS systems, and balance-of-plant equipment. Create first-issue controlled operating procedures, emergency response protocols, alarm response instructions, and switching orders aligned with OEM and EPC recommendations. Validate, finalize, and bring draft Operating Procedures to Rev 0 by reviewing step sequences, adding site-specific details, and confirming operational accuracy during commissioning and startup activities. Participate in system walkdowns, Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), first-fire, synchronization, and performance testing, supporting safe and compliant startup activities. Develop readiness checklists, ensure audit-ready documentation, and validate CCC transition deliverables for seamless handover from EPC to Operations. Oversee DCS/HMI validation, alarm rationalization, and control logic verification to ensure operability and dispatch readiness. Stand up initial NERC compliance, environmental reporting, event logging, water chemistry, and safety program frameworks. Establish operational logs, reporting templates, and shift turnover protocols to support accurate, timely, and compliant plant recordkeeping. Your scope of responsibility as Operations Manager includes the following primary functions: Direct and supervise Operations personnel to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance; provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development to sustain technical proficiency and morale. Oversee shift assignments and on-call rotations to ensure continuous 24/7 coverage across all plant systems, maintaining operational readiness and timely response to abnormal conditions or emergencies. Promote a strong safety-first culture, ensuring all operations staff follow established safety standards, environmental regulations, and company policies. Monitor key plant performance indicators (heat rate, start reliability, availability, ramp response, dispatch adherence) to identify opportunities for operational improvement, efficiency, and reliability. Assist in managing operational spending, tracking consumables, vendor contracts, and resource allocation to maintain cost-effective and reliable plant operations. Work closely with Maintenance, Engineering, and other departments to communicate equipment status, coordinate outage activities, support troubleshooting, and prioritize corrective actions. Maintain accurate plant logs, operating procedures, reports, and controlled documents; ensure data capture and documentation supports regulatory, safety, commercial, and environmental requirements. Oversee and coordinate contractor activities impacting plant operations, ensuring adherence to safety, operational, and environmental standards. Maintain and implement ongoing operator training programs, simulator sessions, emergency drills, OEM updates, and water chemistry programs to sustain operational readiness and technical proficiency. Ensure day-to-day operations comply with NERC standards, permit conditions, environmental regulations, and other applicable regulatory requirements. Lead operational response to alarms, abnormal conditions, or grid events; support problem-solving and post-event analysis to maintain reliability and continuous improvement. Provide timely operational reports, performance summaries, and event documentation to the Plant Manager, NAES , and Owner representatives. Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, reliable, and compliant plant operations.

Requirements

Extensive experience leading and managing operations in multi-technology power plants, including aero-derivative and frame combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, and/or BESS systems, along with balance-of-plant equipment, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operations while mentoring and supervising a diverse operations team.
Proven experience analyzing operational results and equipment performance to identify improvements, implement efficiency initiatives, and optimize costs.
Demonstrated track record in safety and environmental leadership, with experience ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, NERC requirements, and company policies.
Experience managing contractor activities and vendor relationships to optimize plant performance and ensure adherence to operational, safety, and environmental standards.
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and experienced with CMMS or similar operational management systems for tracking maintenance, performance, and compliance data.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and make sound decisions under pressure.
Excellent communication skills, capable of reporting plant conditions, coordinating with EPCs, OEMs, NAES, Owner representatives, and regulatory agencies, and effectively interacting with operations personnel.
Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or equivalent is desired, providing a strong foundation for understanding the technical aspects of power plant operations and management.
Relevant industry or military experience may be considered in lieu of education on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

Assist the Plant Manager in recruiting, onboarding, and qualifying initial Operations personnel.
Develop shift schedules, 24/7 coverage models, and on-call frameworks to support commissioning and early operational readiness.
Establish qualification standards and initial training programs for aero-derivative CTs, frame CTs, reciprocating engines, BESS systems, and balance-of-plant equipment.
Create first-issue controlled operating procedures, emergency response protocols, alarm response instructions, and switching orders aligned with OEM and EPC recommendations.
Validate, finalize, and bring draft Operating Procedures to Rev 0 by reviewing step sequences, adding site-specific details, and confirming operational accuracy during commissioning and startup activities.
Participate in system walkdowns, Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), first-fire, synchronization, and performance testing, supporting safe and compliant startup activities.
Develop readiness checklists, ensure audit-ready documentation, and validate CCC transition deliverables for seamless handover from EPC to Operations.
Oversee DCS/HMI validation, alarm rationalization, and control logic verification to ensure operability and dispatch readiness.
Stand up initial NERC compliance, environmental reporting, event logging, water chemistry, and safety program frameworks.
Establish operational logs, reporting templates, and shift turnover protocols to support accurate, timely, and compliant plant recordkeeping.
Direct and supervise Operations personnel to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance; provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development to sustain technical proficiency and morale.
Oversee shift assignments and on-call rotations to ensure continuous 24/7 coverage across all plant systems, maintaining operational readiness and timely response to abnormal conditions or emergencies.
Promote a strong safety-first culture, ensuring all operations staff follow established safety standards, environmental regulations, and company policies.
Monitor key plant performance indicators (heat rate, start reliability, availability, ramp response, dispatch adherence) to identify opportunities for operational improvement, efficiency, and reliability.
Assist in managing operational spending, tracking consumables, vendor contracts, and resource allocation to maintain cost-effective and reliable plant operations.
Work closely with Maintenance, Engineering, and other departments to communicate equipment status, coordinate outage activities, support troubleshooting, and prioritize corrective actions.
Maintain accurate plant logs, operating procedures, reports, and controlled documents; ensure data capture and documentation supports regulatory, safety, commercial, and environmental requirements.
Oversee and coordinate contractor activities impacting plant operations, ensuring adherence to safety, operational, and environmental standards.
Maintain and implement ongoing operator training programs, simulator sessions, emergency drills, OEM updates, and water chemistry programs to sustain operational readiness and technical proficiency.
Ensure day-to-day operations comply with NERC standards, permit conditions, environmental regulations, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Lead operational response to alarms, abnormal conditions, or grid events; support problem-solving and post-event analysis to maintain reliability and continuous improvement.
Provide timely operational reports, performance summaries, and event documentation to the Plant Manager, NAES , and Owner representatives.
Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, reliable, and compliant plant operations.