Manager – Operations

NorthStar Clean Energy decarbonizes the economy by providing clean energy and carbon management solutions to utility, municipal, commercial, and industrial customers enabling them to meet their sustainability and business goals. Additionally, we own and operate natural gas assets throughout the United States. To learn more about NorthStar Clean Energy, please visit www.northstarcleanenergy.com.

This position is with NorthStar Clean Energy, a CMS Energy company, and is not a position of employment with Consumers Energy.   

The Grayling Generating Station plant is a 38 MW biomass-fueled renewable energy power plant that produces electricity. The fuel consists primarily of bark and sawdust from local lumber mills and the non-marketable biomass from lumbering operations.  The power produced supports the health of the forests, mitigates greenhouse gases (is “carbon neutral”), conserves landfill space and supports the electric grid in northern Michigan.  The electric output is sold pursuant to a long-term power purchase agreement with Consumers Energy Company. This facility can produce enough electricity to power approximately 38,000 homes. Commercial operation began in 1992. 

The Manager of Operations works with the Operations team and leadership in directing facility operations. Manages the day-to-day activities of personnel, customer service, and office financials. Facilitates process improvement activities, participates in strategic planning, improves operations, and communicates business goals with employees. Ensures personnel staff is trained, productive, and working within safety and compliance laws and regulations. They oversee site activities to assure safe and efficient operations. The Manger of Operations may act as owner's representative and provide oversight on work performed by turbine maintenance provider, and Balance of Plant (BOP) contractors.

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Monitors operations staff and fuel yard operators, implements procedures and sets standards to ensure safe and reliable operations for Grayling Generating Station
• Supervises the daily operations of control room, plant, and fuel supply operators. Monitors activities of staff and field employees to ensure compliance with rules
• Reviews financial statements and performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement
• Manages contractors as needed to facilitate repairs and improvements for the site
• Provides technical assistance and support in reporting, troubleshooting and resolving problems
• Monitors the condition of all electrical, mechanical, and instrument and control equipment. Interface with regulatory officials, landowners, community leaders and other project stakeholders
• Ensures compliance with all contractual requirements. Assist in developing and defining plant policies and procedures as needed
• Ensures safe, timely, accurate completion of all work orders, Planned Maintenance (PM) work orders, predictive maintenance, and outage work. Coordinate with corporate compliance department to maintain up-to-date standards of operations
• May serve as primary liaison between project owner, turbine maintenance, and BOP maintenance staff. Oversee work done by contract maintenance crews. Provide regular status reports to NorthStar organization both written and verbal at weekly meetings
• May oversee and manage the Balance of Plant (BOP) and turbine maintenance schedule; coordinate activities and personnel in accordance with approved schedule
• Other non-essential duties as assigned or may be necessary

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong computer skills, Excel, Word, Web based applications organization skills
• Excellent leadership skills and presence and strong team building
• Ability to coordinate the work of others not under direct supervision
• Knowledge of budget control methods, policies, and procedures
• Demonstrates the ability to make competent decisions in emergency situations
• Demonstrates the ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical one-lines, logic drawings, and technical manuals
• Ability to solve practical problems, clearly communicate tasks and needs, and training of other personnel. Analyzes and interprets data to make sound professional judgments and recommendations
• Understand budgets, bid proposals, contract evaluation, basic accounting principles
• Understand electric power markets including system dynamics due to system conditions, customer load and weather conditions
• Leadership or supervisory experience on a Steam Turbine Maintenance or BOP Maintenance Team
• Experience planning and executing maintenance at a biomass site
• Knowledge of all biomass steam generation, balance of plant and substation systems, support equipment, theory of operation, and proper care and maintenance of same

Position Requirements: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Management, or related discipline required with a minimum of seven (7) years of applicable experience
  
  • [OR] Associate degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or related discipline with a minimum of nine (9) years of applicable experience
  • [OR] High School Diploma with a minimum of eleven (11) years of applicable experience
• 7+ year's experience in power plant operations and/or maintenance required

Working Conditions: 

• Indoor and outdoor work including in hazardous power plant environments and computer work
• Onsite in a power plant.  Able to work hours necessary to support the operating plant requirements including overtime when needed
• Occasional local and out of town travel for business and partnership meetings and other plant and fleet objectives

Why should you join our team?

At NorthStar Clean Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

We, at NorthStar Clean Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women’s Advisory Panel (WAP), Women’s in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.