Plant Manager

NAES•Hubbard, TX

5h•$190,100 - $221,800•Onsite

About The Position

The APEX Power Co. Project in Hubbard, TX, under construction in Phase 1, will deliver up to 654 MW upon completion, with expansion potential to 3.5 GW. It features a diverse mix of generation technologies, including six LM6000 simple cycle turbines, two GE Vernova 7EA simple cycle units, five 18V51/60G gas engines, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), enabling flexible and reliable power output. Expansion of the site could include additional GE Aero units (LM2500), GE large frame units (7FA/7FB/7H) configured in simple or combine cycle. This combination allows the plant to efficiently meet varying energy demands while supporting data center grid reliability and stability. Opportunity Summary The Plant Manager at the APEX Power Co Project oversees commissioning, operations, maintenance, safety, compliance, and administrative programs, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable performance of this multi-technology facility. Responsibilities include managing initial staffing, training, qualifications, morale, and providing hands-on support during commissioning and early operations. As the primary interface with the Owner, NAES as the Operator, regulatory agencies, and the community, the Plant Manager manages project and commercial agreements—including O&M, fuel, service, power sales, dedicated power delivery contracts, and facility power interface agreements—oversees budgets, ensures compliance with safety, environmental, and contractual requirements, and enhances the facility’s and Owner’s reputation. Your scope of responsibility as Plant Manager during the Commissioning Phase includes the following functions: Recruit, onboard, and train initial operations staff, establishing qualification and certification standards for multi-technology operations. Develop and implement comprehensive staffing and training programs to ensure personnel can safely operate and maintain LM6000 and 7EA turbines, gas reciprocating engines, and BESS systems. Promote a safety-first culture, proactively identifying hazards and enforcing industry best practices. Coordinate and support EPC in the commissioning of LM6000 turbines, GE Vernova 7EA units, 18V51/60G engines, and BESS, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant startup. Support lead engineers, contractors, and internal teams to resolve commissioning challenges and ensure operational readiness. Make ready all commissioning and early operational activities to satisfy safety, environmental, and critical load interface requirements, ensuring complete, audit-ready documentation to support a seamless CCC transition from EPC to Operations. Develop, review, and approve operating procedures, emergency response plans, and maintenance strategies for commercial operations. Monitor budgets, manage vendor contracts, allocate resources efficiently, and mitigate commissioning and operational risks. Prepare reports documenting commissioning milestones, operational readiness, and performance metrics for owners, regulators, and leadership. Serve as primary liaison with NAES, the Owner, EPC, OEMs, and regulatory agencies. Your scope of responsibility as Plant Manager Post-Commissioning Phase includes the following primary functions: Manage project and power contracts to ensure compliance and operational alignment. Lead plant-level commercial activities, including budgeting, procurement, contract administration, and vendor management, to maintain reliable and cost-effective operations. Control plant expenditures and financial performance, using disciplined budgeting, forecasting, and cost management practices while preparing and administering operating and capital budgets with accurate reporting. Provide leadership to all plant personnel by reviewing and updating policies and procedures to align with facility objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, while maintaining consistent on-site presence. Identify training objectives and employee development needs, providing coaching and professional development opportunities to sustain morale, technical proficiency, and operational readiness. Foster a strong safety culture across a fast-start, multi-unit generation facility, promoting hazard awareness, personal accountability, and adherence to safety standards for all personnel and contractors. Ensure environmental and regulatory compliance, including adherence to permits, air quality requirements, and reporting obligations, while serving as the primary contact for regulatory agencies and stakeholders. Manage plant operations and performance programs, including Safety, Maintenance, NERC Compliance, Administrative, Training, Chemistry, and Environmental QA/QC programs, to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation while applying best practices to support dispatch flexibility and profitability. Lead all aspects of planned and forced outages, including planning, procurement, execution, contractor coordination, and performance review to maximize reliability and minimize downtime. Support troubleshooting and performance improvements for turbines, engines, and auxiliary systems, leveraging OEM guidance and third-party expertise as needed. Direct functional and performance testing of all generation assets to verify reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Administer the Management of Change (MOC) program to ensure modifications to combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, balance-of-plant systems, and procedures are properly reviewed, approved, documented, and communicated to maintain safety, compliance, and operational reliability. Carry out additional special projects and assignments as required. NAES Safe Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. All NAES managers and supervisors have a direct and important role in ensuring that all work is performed in a healthy and safe manner. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each Supervisor’s performance. Working Relationships The Plant Manager reports to the Operations Director and provides direct oversight of the Administrative Manager, Operations Manager, Maintenance Manager, EH&S Manager, and Plant Engineer. The position may also, as needed, provide guidance and direction to all plant personnel to ensure safe, efficient, and coordinated facility operations. The Plant Manager serves as the primary point of contact between NAES and the Owner on all matters related to plant operations, maintenance, and commercial management. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions. Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility. Fitness for Duty All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening. Work Schedule The Plant Manager works a standard Monday to Friday day shift schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours. This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status may also be required. Some travel may be involved to participate in Manager, Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

Requirements

Extensive experience in the operations and maintenance of power generating facilities
A strong history of career growth and a track record of excellence in achieving results
Prior supervisory experience overseeing technical, supervisory, and hourly personnel required
Proven leadership, team building, and communication skills, including managing training, qualification programs, and employee development to sustain morale, operational readiness, and technical proficiency
Strong proficiency in plant operations and maintenance, including hands-on support, troubleshooting, and directing planned and forced outages
Extensive understanding of business and operational practices within power generation facilities—particularly independent power producers—combined with strong financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and contract administration
Thorough understanding of safety regulations, with a consistent focus on fostering a culture of safety and accountability, including oversight of Management of Change (MOC) programs
Expertise in environmental compliance, regulatory reporting, and serving as a liaison to regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and the local community
Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times

Nice To Haves

Experience as a Plant Manager at a natural gas-fired, multi-unit or multi-technology generation facility is strongly preferred
Experienced in managing multi-technology operations, including LM6000 and 7EA turbines and gas reciprocating engines
Driven problem solver with a track record of leading initiatives to improve technical, human resource, operational, and financial outcomes
A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or equivalent is preferred, but not required. Relevant industry or military experience may also be considered in lieu of education

Responsibilities

Oversees commissioning, operations, maintenance, safety, compliance, and administrative programs
Managing initial staffing, training, qualifications, morale
Provide hands-on support during commissioning and early operations
Manages project and commercial agreements
Oversees budgets
Ensures compliance with safety, environmental, and contractual requirements
Enhances the facility’s and Owner’s reputation
Recruit, onboard, and train initial operations staff, establishing qualification and certification standards for multi-technology operations
Develop and implement comprehensive staffing and training programs to ensure personnel can safely operate and maintain LM6000 and 7EA turbines, gas reciprocating engines, and BESS systems
Promote a safety-first culture, proactively identifying hazards and enforcing industry best practices
Coordinate and support EPC in the commissioning of LM6000 turbines, GE Vernova 7EA units, 18V51/60G engines, and BESS, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant startup
Support lead engineers, contractors, and internal teams to resolve commissioning challenges and ensure operational readiness
Make ready all commissioning and early operational activities to satisfy safety, environmental, and critical load interface requirements, ensuring complete, audit-ready documentation to support a seamless CCC transition from EPC to Operations
Develop, review, and approve operating procedures, emergency response plans, and maintenance strategies for commercial operations
Monitor budgets, manage vendor contracts, allocate resources efficiently, and mitigate commissioning and operational risks
Prepare reports documenting commissioning milestones, operational readiness, and performance metrics for owners, regulators, and leadership
Serve as primary liaison with NAES, the Owner, EPC, OEMs, and regulatory agencies
Manage project and power contracts to ensure compliance and operational alignment
Lead plant-level commercial activities, including budgeting, procurement, contract administration, and vendor management, to maintain reliable and cost-effective operations
Control plant expenditures and financial performance, using disciplined budgeting, forecasting, and cost management practices while preparing and administering operating and capital budgets with accurate reporting
Provide leadership to all plant personnel by reviewing and updating policies and procedures to align with facility objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, while maintaining consistent on-site presence
Identify training objectives and employee development needs, providing coaching and professional development opportunities to sustain morale, technical proficiency, and operational readiness
Foster a strong safety culture across a fast-start, multi-unit generation facility, promoting hazard awareness, personal accountability, and adherence to safety standards for all personnel and contractors
Ensure environmental and regulatory compliance, including adherence to permits, air quality requirements, and reporting obligations, while serving as the primary contact for regulatory agencies and stakeholders
Manage plant operations and performance programs, including Safety, Maintenance, NERC Compliance, Administrative, Training, Chemistry, and Environmental QA/QC programs, to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation while applying best practices to support dispatch flexibility and profitability
Lead all aspects of planned and forced outages, including planning, procurement, execution, contractor coordination, and performance review to maximize reliability and minimize downtime
Support troubleshooting and performance improvements for turbines, engines, and auxiliary systems, leveraging OEM guidance and third-party expertise as needed
Direct functional and performance testing of all generation assets to verify reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance
Administer the Management of Change (MOC) program to ensure modifications to combustion turbines, reciprocating engines, balance-of-plant systems, and procedures are properly reviewed, approved, documented, and communicated to maintain safety, compliance, and operational reliability
Carry out additional special projects and assignments as required