Utility Operations Manager Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Altavista Power Station is a 51 MW biomass-fired renewable energy facility located in the Lynchburg, Virginia metropolitan area, near the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The station generates electricity from sustainably sourced biomass fuel using two B&W boilers, a Mitsubishi steam turbine, and an Alstom generator. NAES has a long-standing operating partnership with the utility that owns the facility, and the station continues to play an important role in supporting the utility's long-term generation portfolio.

Opportunity Summary

The Operations Manager leads the operation of Altavista Power Station, a biomass power generation facility that converts sustainably sourced wood fuel into renewable electricity. This position provides strategic and day-to-day leadership to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the facility while maintaining compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements. The Operations Manager oversees operations personnel, budgets, fuel management, and continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence, plant reliability, and business objectives.

The Operations Manager is accountable for the leadership, performance, and oversight of the following primary functions:

• Lead the Operations Team to achieve the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the biomass facility while meeting production, environmental, and business performance objectives.
• Develop and manage the operations budget to support reliable generation, cost-effective operations, and long-term asset performance.
• Oversee operator staffing, scheduling, and shift coverage to maintain qualified personnel for continuous plant operation, emergency response, and periodic on-call support.
• Direct biomass fuel receiving, storage, quality assurance, inventory management, and fuel yard operations to ensure consistent combustion performance, fuel availability, and emissions compliance.
• Drive plant performance by analyzing operating data, boiler and combustion performance, water chemistry, equipment reliability, and operational trends to improve generation, reduce operating costs, and enhance overall plant performance.
• Partner with the Maintenance Manager to evaluate equipment condition, establish maintenance priorities, coordinate outage activities, and develop long-term asset reliability and equipment improvement strategies.
• Ensure accurate operational records, procedures, controlled documents, and compliance reports are maintained to support regulatory requirements, plant ownership, and informed operational decision-making.
• Lead operator training, qualification, professional development, and safety initiatives to build a highly skilled workforce and reinforce a strong safety culture.
• Direct environmental compliance activities, ensuring adherence to air emissions permits, environmental regulations, operating permits, and corporate policies while supporting proactive compliance initiatives.
• Coordinate with utility representatives, transmission operators, and system dispatch to ensure reliable generation, compliance with dispatch instructions, and fulfillment of power delivery requirements.
• Manage contractors, consultants, and service providers to ensure work is executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with plant safety, quality, environmental, and operational standards.
• Represent plant operations during audits, regulatory inspections, and interactions with plant ownership, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders while preparing accurate operational and compliance reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally compliant operation of the facility.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. All NAES managers and supervisors have a direct and important role in ensuring that all work is performed in a healthy and safe manner. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each Supervisor’s performance.

Working Relationships

The Operations Manager reports to the Plant Manager and supervises Operations personnel. This position works closely with the Maintenance Manager, Compliance Coordinator, Plant Engineer, and Plant Administrator to support plant operations.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and 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. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions.

Some duties may require the 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. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Operations Manager typically works a Monday through Friday day shift schedule. Extended work hours, flexible shifts, weekends, holidays, outages, emergency response, and periodic on-call support may be required based on plant schedules, workload demands, and operating conditions.

Some travel may be involved to participate in Manager, Owner, User Group, or other offsite meetings.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $140,000 to $167,000 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Professional Experience & Leadership Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Power Plant Technology, or a related technical discipline is preferred. Equivalent industry or military experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• Progressive supervisory or management experience in power plant operations is required, preferably at a biomass generating facility, with demonstrated success leading high-performing operations teams and achieving operational excellence.
• Comprehensive knowledge of biomass power generation systems and plant operations, with the ability to analyze plant performance and drive improvements in efficiency, reliability, environmental compliance, and generation output.
• Thorough understanding of environmental regulations, permit compliance, and safe operating practices, with a demonstrated commitment to regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and a strong safety culture.
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and work effectively across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Environmental functions to achieve plant objectives.
• Experience managing contractors and service providers, ensuring compliance with plant safety, quality, environmental, and operational standards while supporting safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing operating conditions, and make sound operational decisions in a fast-paced power generation environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, with experience using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), plant data historians, and operational reporting systems preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical and operational information to plant personnel, management, regulatory agencies, plant ownership, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

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.