Assistant Operations Manager

Supervisory Position For Power-Generating Units

This is a highly technical and management-level supervisory position. This position schedules and directs the operations, maintenance, and environmental activities of multi-fueled, high-pressure steam, combined-cycle, and reciprocating internal combustion engine power-generating units at multiple plant site locations. An employee in this classification is responsible for coordinating the activities of the rotating operating shifts, providing 24/7 coverage at all three plant facilities, and working under the direction of the Operations Manager at Lakeland Electric's Production Division. Work is reviewed through work orders, written reports, conferences and meetings, and the overall availability and reliability of the generating units.

Essential Functions

• Manages the safe and reliable operation of modern gas, oil, and reciprocating engine electric power-generating units at three separate plant sites.
• Ensures environmental compliance related to operational performance and work activities.
• Enforces employee compliance with the City of Lakeland's and Lakeland Electric's Energy Production department rules and policies.
• Resolves conflicts within Operations' workgroups and assists in resolving conflicts between subordinate workgroups and other peer workgroups.
• Reviews and reports on system malfunctions and unit trips, ensuring actions are taken and conclusions are documented.
• Oversees water chemistry and verifies we operate within specified limits.
• Maintains sufficient chemical inventory to ensure Operational continuity.
• Supervises and manages Operations personnel, including the selection, training, and development, assigning and monitoring work, and individual performance, including recognition and issue resolution within Production, all in accordance with established operating procedures, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversees the scheduling of five rotating shifts to ensure proper coverage is maintained for safe operational continuity.
• Directs and reviews operational work performed by skilled and semi-skilled workers engaged in keeping plants and equipment operating safely and with good physical appearance.
• Coordinates work between shifts and provides continuity through effective communications regarding equipment status and operational changes.
• Provides guidance and performance reviews to direct reports and subordinates.
• Plans and/or coordinates the schedules of unit maintenance and operational testing with Engineering, Maintenance, Environmental, outside contractors, and Florida Municipal Power Pool (FMPP) Dispatch.
• Manages assigned contracts (Everllence Long Term Maintenance, Siemens Training, etc.).
• Manages divisions of responsibility by coordinating vendor support and directing internal resources.
• Identifies training and qualification requirements of direct reports and subordinates, and identifies required training in the production annual training budget.
• Reviews water chemistry and oil analysis data, as well as a variety of inspection reports on plant equipment.
• Ensures follow-up actions or work orders are written, prioritized, and scheduled accordingly.
• Manages preventative maintenance (PM) requirements for each generating facility and provides guidance and follow-up review for assigned tasks.
• Manages all operating procedures and reviews updates as needed.
• May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
• May be required to work overtime and/or alternate hours, as necessary to manage a 24/7 operating schedule for the efficient operation of the department.
• May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
• Position is designated as Mission Critical.

Additional Functions

• Ensures a safe work environment and compliance with process and procedural requirements, such as Lock Out Tag Out.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), regarding operational communications, testing, reports, and responses.
• Develops and presents information to City Management, City Commissions, and FMPP members.
• Interfaces with our Projects Coordinator for Operator work order planning, assignment, implementation, and compliance.
• Provides input to our Projects Coordinator for outage scope development, planning, prioritization, and duration/critical path.
• Coordinates and tracks monthly test run results for all peaking units, focusing on quick-start capability/compliance.
• Interface with Operations Shift Foreman for understanding and compliance with unit performance measurements and goals.
• Ensures direct reports' and subordinates' attendance and participation in assigned Safety meetings, environmental audits, technical training, etc.
• Conducts performance reviews, establishing clear expectations, goals, and performance standards.
• Recognizes and rewards good performance and addresses poor performance and safety issues through coaching and by proper use of disciplinary action.
• Makes regular inspections of our generating units, buildings, machinery, and equipment related to plant operation. Also ensures clean, organized, and sanitary control room and office locations are maintained.
• Instructs subordinate work groups on occupational hazards and inspects work activities and plant site conditions to ensure appropriate safety practices and precautions.
• Establishes and reviews management reports regarding effective employee work process qualification and performance.
• Ensures records are maintained, including retainable confined space, hot work, and equipment clearance permits.
• Ensures operator logs are accurate and comprehensive.
• Helps prepare and recommend annual budgets for operating and maintaining the units.
• Stays informed and current with plant operating and maintenance practices.
• Participates in Production's processes to plan, develop, and establish effective standards, processes, goals, and performance measures related to power generation work.
• Leads and drives toward the root cause of significant events.

Qualifications (Education, Training and Experience)

• High school diploma from an accredited school or a GED.
• Ten years of experience in operation, maintenance, support services, and budgeting for an electric / water utility and/or industrial manufacturing plant, including at least five years of experience in operation, maintenance, and construction of electric generating units (gas turbine, steam turbine, RICE).
• Seven years of experience in a supervisory role, power plant control room operations, project management, incident response, or a combination of these areas totaling seven years.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position may be considered.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
• Two years of college-level courses or a technical degree from an accredited college is preferred.
• Satisfactory completion of required training and knowledge/skills testing.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours to meet the needs of this position and specific job functions.
• Must be available to take calls 24/7 from Operations personnel to ensure the safe, continuous, reliable operation of our generating units.
• Emergency response Incident Command Structure training, including ICS-100, 200, 300, and 700, within one year of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Generation dispatch and marketing processes and how generation unit availability, reliability, and efficiency affect dispatch and operation within the connected transmission system.
• Regulatory requirements, including environmental (EPA, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), etc.), safety (Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)), and security (NERC and DHS).
• Personal computers, including the following computer applications: Maximo, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Operation and maintenance processes associated with multi-fueled power generators, including high-pressure steam units, combined cycle units, combustion turbine peaking units, diesel peaking units, reciprocating engines, and associated supporting and environmental systems.
• Power generation policies and procedures, safety regulations, chemical hazards, and other precautions as required to promote an effective and safe workplace.
• Equipment, process specifications, and operating functions required to safely and efficiently operate and maintain equipment and systems that are an integral part of the generating units.
• Locations, operating and maintenance characteristics, and requirements of the various parts of the power plant system, such as controls, lube oil system, seal oil system, etc.
• Electric generating unit designs