Superintendent South Dakota Power Generation

Northwestern Energy • Aberdeen, SD

17d • Onsite

About The Position

The Superintendent, South Dakota Power Generation directs all operation and maintenance activities and capital upgrades for NorthWestern Energy’s wholly owned generation assets in South Dakota, including future additions. The role ensures safe, efficient, reliable, and compliant plant operations and maintains the manpower, tools, equipment, consumables, and spare parts needed to operate the plants.

The Superintendent oversees South Dakota thermal and wind assets, including personnel, budgets, training and qualification programs, maintenance, outages, long-range planning, and regulatory and environmental compliance. The position also manages fuel supply contracts, coordinates outages with Market Operations, supports integration with the Southwest Power Pool ISO-RTO, and represents the company in operating committees and stakeholder communications. Responsibilities include supporting energy supply tracker and rate case filings, preparing and giving testimony, developing contracts and generation facilities, and directing the sourcing and hiring of personnel.

The position is based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It may require extended working hours, weekend and holiday work, and travel of up to 25% to other plant locations and company meetings. Telecommuting is part-time negotiable within NorthWestern Energy’s service territory.

Requirements

• High school degree or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree or 8–10 years of equivalent experience, including 5 years of plant experience.
• Demonstrated and maintained good safety record.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to testify and meet challenging deadlines.
• Proven strong leadership and motivational skills with supervisory, technical, and administrative personnel.
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including regular sitting and standing, some stair and ladder climbing, and working at heights.
• Ability to work outside in a variety of extreme weather conditions and travel to remote plant locations.
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends or holidays as required by schedules, workload, and plant conditions, and to be available as needed to resolve problems or provide input.
• Ability to travel up to 25% to other plant locations and company meetings.
• Adherence to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.

Nice To Haves

• 10 years of power generation experience.
• At least 5 years of experience supervising technical, professional, and administrative personnel.
• Get Into Energy – Energy Industry Fundamental 2.0 certification.

Responsibilities

• Direct operation, maintenance, and capital upgrades for NorthWestern Energy’s wholly owned South Dakota generation assets.
• Ensure safe, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective operation in compliance with safety, environmental, regulatory, FERC, and NERC requirements and company procedures.
• Manage personnel, employee engagement, productivity, training, and qualification programs.
• Develop and monitor capital and expense budgets, control expenditures, and manage department goals aligned with company strategy.
• Lead special projects and apply change and project management practices.
• Oversee environmental and compliance reporting and ensure plant personnel comply with permits and applicable standards.
• Plan and manage long-range development of South Dakota generation assets, including new concepts and future facilities.
• Maintain certification status for affected operations and maintenance personnel.
• Manage planned and unplanned plant outages, coordinating with Market Operations to minimize impacts on capacity requirements and optimize generation.
• Manage natural gas and liquid fuel supply contracts.
• Review maintenance schedules and practices and conduct periodic reviews of plant policies and procedures.
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including executives, board members, regulators, and federal and state agency personnel; provide written and oral testimony.
• Direct sourcing, screening, and hiring of new or replacement personnel as needed.
• Support development of long-term service agreements and evaluate machinery supply and repair companies for value.
• Assist with integrating South Dakota generation assets into the Southwest Power Pool ISO-RTO.
• Represent NorthWestern Energy on operating committees for South Dakota power purchase providers and negotiate contracts as needed.
• Assist other departments with energy supply tracker and rate case filings, respond to inquiries and data requests, and testify in rate case proceedings.
• Follow company safety standards, including personal protective equipment requirements, and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.
• Travel to plant locations and company meetings as needed and maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%.
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Health Savings Account and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Employee Assistance Programs, including up to six free counseling sessions per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses, and dependents.
• Company-paid basic employee life insurance; spouse and dependent insurance also available.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Competitive pay with scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.
• Paid company-endorsed volunteer opportunities.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid bereavement leave.
• Paid training opportunities.
• Paid time off starting on the first day and 11 paid holidays.
• Negotiable relocation benefit.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager