Plant Manager

NAES•Bennett, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Manager at Canyon Peak Power plays a critical role in supporting grid reliability and meeting peak demand through the safe, reliable operation of a 162 MW simple-cycle gas turbine peaking facility. The role includes full accountability for managing the operation and maintenance of the plant in accordance with the O&M Agreement, along with regulatory, safety, and commercial oversight within a lean organization focused on flexibility, rapid response, and performance. This position offers broad plant ownership and direct impact in a dynamic, on-demand generation environment that supports regional energy needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related field or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in power plant engineering, operations, and/or maintenance at an electric generating facility of 10 MW or greater, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in maintenance and personnel management within the utility or energy industry, including operations oversight, performance reporting, and planned and unplanned outage management.
Demonstrated working knowledge of power plant operations and maintenance, environmental, health and safety (EH&S) compliance, budgeting, personnel management, and operational performance management.
Proven experience managing operations and maintenance activities in accordance with an O&M Agreement, including contractor oversight, compliance tracking, and performance accountability.
Experience working in or supporting simple-cycle gas turbine or peaking generation facilities with fast-start or on-demand operating profiles.
Strong self-motivation with an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to operate effectively in a lean, performance-driven organization.
Excellent communication, leadership, teamwork, and presentation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with plant personnel, owners, contractors, regulators, and external stakeholders.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and make sound operational and commercial decisions.
Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership for a simple-cycle, fast-start peaking facility, ensuring policies, procedures, and site practices align with facility objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, with consistent on-site leadership.
Maintain a strong safety culture suited to intermittent and rapid-response operations, ensuring safe execution of starts, shutdowns, maintenance activities, and contractor work.
Administer the Management of Change (MOC) program to ensure modifications to equipment, controls, and operating procedures are properly reviewed, approved, documented, and communicated to maintain safety and operational readiness.
Direct Operations and Maintenance activities to support high dispatch availability, start reliability, and operational flexibility, utilizing OEM and third-party resources as needed.
Manage site programs including Safety, Environmental, Training, Administrative, and NERC Compliance (as applicable), applying sound utility and business practices appropriate for a peaking asset.
Ensure compliance with environmental permits and regulatory obligations for simple-cycle gas turbine operation, including preparation and submittal of required reports.
Serve as the primary interface with regulatory agencies, local stakeholders, and the community, leading community relations efforts and maintaining the facility’s reputation as a responsible grid resource.
Develop and maintain staffing, training, and qualification plans aligned with a rapid-start peaking plant, ensuring personnel certifications and qualifications remain current.
Lead workforce development through coaching and professional development to maintain technical competency and engagement within a lean O&M organization.
Plan and execute maintenance outages and respond to unplanned outages to minimize impacts to dispatch capability while controlling costs and supporting reliable performance.
Oversee compliance with commercial and service agreements, including O&M, fuel supply, service contracts, and interconnection agreements.
Lead plant-level commercial and financial activities, including budgeting, forecasting, procurement, and cost control, ensuring accurate financial reporting and adherence to owner requirements.
Complete special projects and additional assignments as required to support plant performance, compliance, and owner objectives.