Plant Manager

Job Description

The Plant Manager joins Enel Green Power's (EGP's) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) and Asset Management's Solar Division and will be in charge of the Tom Burke Solar PV Plant. The incumbent will directly report to the O&M Head and report on operational responsibilities to the Solar Operations Manager. With a Government Certificate of Competency, he/she will ensure compliance with laws like the OHS Act 85 of 1993. Combining delivery, innovation, and results-driven focus, he/she will coordinate daily plant activities with service providers and site staff, emphasizing timely, accurate resolution of maintenance issues and project improvements. Responsible for plant maintenance, the incumbent will ensure quality aligns with company standards. They will drive maintenance and spare parts management using best practices, following plans, manuals, and specifications within budget. A positive attitude is essential for handling work pressures with the team.

What you will do

Safety

• Be the custodian of occupational health, safety and environment for the plant(s), supported by Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) department. Carrying out all legal aspects for plant equipment.
• Coordinate plant activities following EGP Safety, Environment and Quality rules and procedures, aiming to ensure zero accidents in our duties.
• Carry out all legal aspects for plant equipment and perform supervisory duties of machinery as the GMR 2(1) appointee.

General management

• Perform O&M leadership of solar PV plant and be accountable for plant uptime, production, availability and performance.
• Provide communication platforms to support departments such as the Local Control Room (LCR), Technical Support, performance improvement teams, auditors, Human Resources, and HSEQ.
• Manage relationships of local stakeholders, landowners, and community consortium, including coordinating job creation and preferential expenditures with the Community Liaison Officer (CLO).
• Utilise the EGP functional support teams to address technical problems and provide solutions.
• Provide innovative interactions and implement strategies to improve safety, productivity, reliability and local service providers' performance.
• Coordinate plant activities to maintain contractual equipment availability and consistently ensure optimal performance.
• Liaising with Eskom, the local municipality, the CLO, Technical Services support engineers, and the local control room (LCR) regarding plant uptime and ongoing activities at the plant.
• Manage plant personnel to foster their development by using talent management, formal training, and practical plant training to encourage their best effort.
• Overseeing personnel and technological services to support and respond to plant operations at all times.
• Manage all issued contracts and other services to ensure the best results.
• Manage prudent budget and cost controls, including ensuring monthly reporting.
• Prepare plant reports to keep O&M fully informed about plant performance, results, and critical issues, as well as other information necessary to operate the plant more effectively.

Technical

• Be proactive and motivate the plant team to identify and propose innovative solutions and procedures for O&M.
• Coordinate, supervise and report on site contractors' daily activities.
• Coordinate with your plant subordinates to plan and carry out scheduled and corrective maintenance activities.
• Developing maintenance schedules in accordance with O&M specifications.
• Make available traceable maintenance and inspection progress statistics and reports.
• Coordinate technical and/or operational meetings with the O&M contractors.
• Responsible for managing an adequate stock of plant spare parts, logistics process, SAP records, and audits.
• Perform preventative/corrective and breakdown maintenance.
• To support plant performance and production management responsibilities, technical skills are required in analysing, diagnosing, and troubleshooting solar equipment and SCADA system challenges.
• Perform quality inspections and checks and conduct strict oversight and approval of service provider activities and performance.
• Utilise the provided Plant Management Software Tools to the benefit of productivity and efficiency improvement.
• Perform regular traceable inspections of the quality and safety of the plant equipment/assets and maintain document management systems.
• Certain technological equipment is automated to guarantee the proper functioning of plant and substation communications, including spare parts, and to collect and quantify data from various systems.
• Ensure all incidents are properly reported, investigated, and the root causes analysed, including the production of flash reports.
• Authorise, permit and supervise MV/HV switching operations for maintenance and inspection purposes.
• Manage the permit to work system, on-field application, and maintenance schedules, including delivering on the relevant KPIs to custodians.

Who you are

• A results-oriented, proactive, and entrepreneurial individual who excels as an effective communicator and collaborator.
• Takes accountability for staff, plant assets, and completing tasks on time.
• Focused on health, safety, and environmental considerations and behaviours related to site requirements.
• Trustworthy and dependable, while supporting and enabling staff and colleagues.
• Reliable in enhancing the performance of plant and staff.
• Conversant with the renewable energy sector, power plant management, O&M management, and environmental and safety requirements.
• Experienced in solar PV technology, HV/MV equipment & systems, and grid code compliance of South Africa.
• Prudent budget and cost management.
• Effectively supervises contractors' performance according to relevant contracts and maintenance schedules.
• Manages stakeholder relationships and expectations effectively with Eskom, government institutions and the local community, including EGP's global and local referents.

• Proficiency in the Microsoft suite, including Teams for online team meetings.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational abilities to manage and track plant documentation, coordinate events, and conduct performance analysis.
• Demonstrates good personal work ethics with respect for office protocols and expectations.

What we search for in you

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or similar accredited engineering qualification.
• Relevant Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) accreditation will be an advantage.
• Government Certificate of Competency for Factories (GCC (Factories)) is compulsory.
• Previously appointed as a GMR 2(1).
• At least 5 years of experience in the renewable energy sector or a related technical role in O&M.
• Excellent verbal, written, and analytical skills in English.

What we offer

Permanent employment based at the Tom Burke Solar PV plant, Limpopo.