Plant Manager

NAES•Rensselaer, NY

10d

About The Position

The Plant Manager provides overall leadership for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the Empire Generating Facility, a 635-megawatt combined-cycle power plant configured with two GE Frame 7FA.03 gas turbines and a GE D11 extraction-point steam turbine. The role oversees operations, maintenance, safety, environmental programs, staffing, and financial performance while ensuring compliance with regulatory, contractual, and company requirements. The Plant Manager is the primary liaison with the Owner, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders, and advances operational excellence, workforce development, plant reliability, cost control, and continuous improvement. The role integrates core plant programs—including operations, maintenance, safety, chemistry, training, administration, NERC compliance, and environmental QA/QC—and supports plant personnel with complex troubleshooting and specialized technical resources. The Plant Manager plans and executes scheduled and forced outages, manages commercial agreements and vendor relationships, and oversees operating and capital budgets. The position reports to the Operations Director and supervises managers, technicians, and the Plant Administrator. The position follows a standard Monday-to-Friday day-shift schedule, with extended hours, flexible shifts, weekends, holidays, and callout availability as needed. Some travel may be required for offsite meetings. Work takes place in a power plant environment and may involve confined spaces, narrow areas, hazardous materials, fumes, extreme temperatures, noise, high heat, and variable outdoor weather. Physical demands include prolonged standing, climbing stairs and ladders, working at heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Protective equipment may be required, and respirator fit testing may apply. Employment includes participation in a Fitness for Duty Program, including a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and random post-employment drug screening.

Requirements

Extensive leadership experience in natural gas-fired combined-cycle power generation, including leading multidisciplinary plant organizations.
Demonstrated success leading operations, maintenance, engineering, and technical personnel within a combined-cycle power plant.
Strong knowledge of independent power producer operations, plant performance, commercial business practices, and power market operations.
Advanced technical knowledge of combined-cycle plant systems and maintenance practices, with ability to support complex troubleshooting and operational decisions.
Demonstrated safety leadership and commitment to accountability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
Experience managing environmental compliance programs, regulatory reporting, permit compliance, and audit preparedness.
Strong financial and business management skills, including operating and capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and capital planning.
Experience administering commercial agreements, major service contracts, procurement, and vendor relationships while ensuring compliance and performance.
Demonstrated success leading operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, workforce effectiveness, and financial performance.
Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills; experience working with Owners, regulatory agencies, contractors, OEMs, and plant personnel.
Valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license maintained in good standing.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands and work safely in the described power plant environment.
Participation in the Fitness for Duty Program, including a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and random post-employment drug screening.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent power generation, industrial, or military experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
Prior Plant Manager experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide overall site leadership and governance, setting expectations and ensuring policies and procedures align with operational objectives, regulations, and industry standards.
Promote safe work practices and a proactive safety culture to protect employees, contractors, visitors, and the public.
Ensure compliance with environmental permits, regulatory requirements, and Management of Change processes, including timely reporting.
Direct and integrate operations, maintenance, safety, chemistry, training, administration, NERC compliance, and environmental QA/QC programs.
Develop staffing, qualification, and employee development strategies; maintain certifications, identify skill gaps, coach employees, and strengthen organizational capability, engagement, and retention.
Support Operations and Maintenance personnel, assist with complex combined-cycle troubleshooting, and coordinate specialized technical resources.
Plan and execute scheduled and forced outages, optimizing scope, schedules, resources, and costs.
Serve as the primary liaison with the Owner, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders.
Administer commercial agreements, procurement, and vendor relationships, including O&M, fuel supply, power sales, interconnection, and major service contracts.
Develop operating and capital budgets, monitor expenditures, forecast costs, and implement cost-control practices.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve plant performance, operational efficiency, workforce effectiveness, and business results.
Complete additional special projects and tasks as needed.
Supervise managers, technicians, and the Plant Administrator; act as the single point of contact between NAES and the Owner on plant operations, maintenance, and commercial management.