Plant Manager

Opportunity Summary

Saddle Butte West is a greenfield natural gas-fired reciprocating engine power plant under development near Kirtland, New Mexico, in San Juan County. The facility will be constructed in three phases, with commercial operation targeted for December 2026, late 2027, and mid-2028, increasing generating capacity to approximately 60 MW. Upon completion, the plant will include sixteen Jenbacher J620 and J624 engine-generator units, providing reliable, flexible generation to enhance regional grid reliability.

Scope of Responsibility - Commissioning Phase

• Recruit, onboard, and develop the initial operations and maintenance organization while implementing qualification, certification, and training programs to support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.
• Lead operational readiness by implementing plant procedures, maintenance and environmental programs, CMMS, spare parts inventory, and administrative systems to support the transition from EPC to commercial operations.
• Champion a safety-first culture by proactively identifying and mitigating hazards while ensuring compliance with NAES safety policies, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, and industry best practices throughout commissioning and startup.
• Capture commissioning, startup, testing, and turnover activities with the EPC contractor, OEM representatives, contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure each project phase achieves safe, efficient, and compliant commercial operation.
• Provide technical and operational leadership during commissioning by resolving startup challenges, supporting system troubleshooting, mitigating project risks, and ensuring operational readiness for commercial operation.
• Manage commissioning resources and project performance, including startup budgets, vendor contracts, contractor support, resource allocation, and schedule execution to achieve project objectives safely and efficiently.
• Monitor and communicate commissioning progress by preparing reports on startup milestones, operational readiness, performance metrics, and project status for the Owner, NAES leadership, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the Owner, NAES, the EPC contractor, OEM representatives, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, fostering effective communication and collaboration throughout commissioning and startup.

Scope of Responsibility - Commercial Operations

• Manage plant operations to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient production of electricity while meeting contractual obligations, operational objectives, and performance targets.
• Administer commercial agreements and vendor contracts while leading budgeting, procurement, and cost management activities to achieve operational and financial objectives.
• Provide leadership and direction to all plant personnel by establishing performance expectations, maintaining effective policies and procedures, fostering employee engagement, and maintaining a visible on-site leadership presence.
• Develop and maintain workforce capability by implementing employee training, qualification, succession planning, and professional development programs that promote operational excellence and long-term organizational success.
• Champion a safety-first culture by promoting hazard recognition, personal accountability, and compliance with NAES safety policies, OSHA regulations, and industry best practices.
• Ensure environmental and regulatory compliance by maintaining all environmental permits, air quality requirements, operating permits, and applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements while serving as the primary regulatory liaison.
• Manage plant programs including Safety, Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Environmental, Training, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, and Administrative functions to maximize plant availability, reliability, and overall performance.
• Lead outage planning and execution by directing scheduled and forced outages, coordinating contractors and vendors, managing procurement activities, and conducting post-outage performance evaluations to improve reliability and equipment performance.
• Drive equipment reliability and continuous improvement by leading troubleshooting, root cause analysis, performance testing, and operational optimization efforts for reciprocating engines, auxiliaries, and balance-of-plant systems, including after treatment.
• Administer the Management of Change (MOC) program to ensure modifications to plant equipment, control systems, balance-of-plant assets, and operating procedures are properly managed while maintaining safety, compliance, and operational reliability.
• Perform additional duties and special assignments as required to support the successful operation and continued growth.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Standing for extended periods of time.
• Climbing stairs and ladders.
• Working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights.
• 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.
• Varying outdoor weather conditions.
• 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.
• Fitness for Duty Program.
• Periodic callouts or "On call" status.
• Some travel to participate in Manager, Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

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.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $160,000 to $185,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is a leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have built a reputation as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Our growing family of companies allows us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants. NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.