Lead Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Technician

Overview Located 30 miles south of Albany, New Athens Generating stands as a formidable energy hub in the town of Athens, NY. Boasting a capacity of 1,080 megawatts, it operates three Siemens 501G combustion turbine generators fueled by natural gas combined-cycle technology, ensuring efficient and reliable power generation for the region. This facility serves as a vital contributor to the area's electricity grid, meeting modern energy demands with cutting-edge technology. Opportunity Summary The Lead Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Technician at New Athens Generating provides oversight and functional direction to plant personnel, ensuring safe and efficient operation of all plant systems, including startup and shutdown of main equipment and auxiliaries. This role is responsible for performing preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance, conducting inspections and operational tests, managing consumables, maintaining logs, and ensuring procedural compliance across all operations. The Lead O&M Technician also supports training and development of O&M staff, communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders, serves as site representative after hours, and performs additional duties to maintain operational excellence. Responsibilities Oversight, supervision, and safety: Oversees and provides functional direction to plant O&M personnel regarding plant operations, including the startup and shutdown of main plant equipment and auxiliaries. Serves as the lead system representative on assigned systems. Operates under general direction and minimal supervision, following established procedures. Decisions are made within prescribed operating guidelines. Work involves recurring high-complexity situations, with occasional variations from the norm. Has the authority to control plant operations safely, ensuring no accidents occur and maintaining compliance with all environmental permits. Conducts routine tours of the plant to inspect equipment, provides direction and feedback to team members, and ensures site safety requirements and procedures are consistently observed. Identifies safety hazards and takes corrective action as necessary. Ensures all plant switching and tagging of equipment is conducted in accordance with approved lock-out/tag-out procedures and prudent operations and maintenance practices. Operations, Maintenance, and Procedures Plans and performs routine preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on all systems and equipment. Performs electrical and mechanical inspections, troubleshooting, and operational tests on all power plant systems and components. Performs routine cycle chemistry and makes necessary adjustments to optimize efficiency. Monitors daily consumption rates of chemicals, gases, fuels, water, and other consumables; tracks inventories and initiates action to replenish them. Investigates plant problems, incidents, accidents, and unusual events, providing analyses, recommendations, reports, and appropriate follow-up plans. Maintains accurate shift operating logs, records, time sheets, material requisitions, work reports of downtime, outages, repair requirements, and production indices. Interprets operating and maintenance data based on established standards and sound plant practices. Develops, reviews, and revises operating and related procedures, ensuring procedural compliance in all plant operations and maintenance activities. Plans and performs housekeeping duties, maintaining housekeeping standards or initiating corrective action as needed. Develops and monitors the planned daily operations schedule. Training, Communication, and Additional Duties Assists in the orientation, training, and development of new O&M Technicians. Designs, develops, and evaluates on-the-job and classroom training in operations and maintenance subjects. Prepares and administers lesson plans, visual aids, examinations, qualification standards, and other materials related to employee training and development. Communicates with personnel on-site and at other locations. Represents the company when dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, regulators, and other non-company personnel. Serves as the site representative after normal hours. Effectively communicates plant equipment condition and performance to supervision and fellow personnel, providing suggestions for plant improvements. Conducts bulk offloads of plant chemicals as required. Ensures work is performed correctly the first time to meet customer needs and maintain operational excellence. Performs other duties necessary to fulfill plant requirements and support all other plant departments. Safety and Working Environment Safety is a core value at NAES. All employees are expected to work safely at all times and adhere to safety warnings, posted signs, and NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to safety responsibilities is a key factor in performance evaluation. Working Relationships The Lead O&M Technician reports to the Operations and Maintenance Manager, with general direction from other plant management. This position provides guidance to maintenance personnel on plant operations and directs O&M Technicians as needed. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Physical requirements include standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Work may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Some duties require protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, eye protection, respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing, hot gloves, high-voltage gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Smoking is restricted on and around the facility. Fitness for Duty All personnel participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, including a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening. Work Schedule The Lead O&M Technician follows DuPont’s rotating 12-hour shift schedule, providing 24/7 coverage through a structured rotation of day and night shifts. Extended hours and flexible shifts, including weekends and holidays, may be required. Periodic on-call status is also required. Compensation This position offers a base pay rate ranging from $55 to $61 per hour, along with eligibility for an annual performance bonus. Core Qualifications and Skills Four years of high school with a preference for an Associate degree in power plant technology or similar engineering/technology field; experience may be considered in lieu of education on a year-for-year basis. Five (5) years of power plant experience in operations and/or maintenance, including experience with gas turbine combined-cycle operations preferred. Knowledge of power plant mechanical and electrical equipment, including motors, pumps, boilers, fluid systems, chemical handling, water treatment systems, pollution control equipment, AC and DC electrical distribution and control systems, and related maintenance functions, with ability to troubleshoot, maintain, install, and modify equipment. Thorough understanding of the water treatment process and knowledge of chemistry and chemical applications in a power plant. Knowledge of power plant safety policies and procedures, particularly in high-energy systems, chemical handling, heavy equipment, rotating machinery, confined spaces, incipient fire suppression, and first aid. Basic understanding of physics, mathematics, AC and DC electrical theory, chemistry, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow. Ability to operate valves, switches, controls, keyboards, and other plant devices, and use basic hand and power tools, rigging equipment. Ability to comprehend and apply technical information, including mechanical and electrical drawings, to troubleshooting and problem-solving. Proficiency in operating and maintaining analytical and test equipment. Strong verbal and written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and maintain it in good standing. 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 addresses the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants. NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and adheres to applicable laws regarding discrimination and merit-based hiring. #J-18808-Ljbffr NAES