Utility Operations Manager Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

At Utility, we’re reimagining what’s possible.

Our breakthrough H2Gen® technology transforms undesirable industrial by-products into clean energy and sustainable fuels and feedstocks, helping hard-to-abate industries decarbonize without compromise. We’re building systems and solutions that will power a zero-carbon future by turning what the world doesn’t want into clean energy it needs most.

But technology alone doesn’t change the world.

People do.

We’re building a team as bold as our mission. Engineers and scientists, designers and operators, storytellers and strategists all united by a shared belief: that the undesirable can become invaluable, and that industrial decarbonization can be both practical and economical.

At Utility, we see possibilities where others see limits. We believe progress happens when diverse minds collaborate toward a cleaner, smarter, more resilient world.

If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career, join us and help build what’s next.

The Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of Utility Global's operating facilities (commercial and pilot plant units). This role provides leadership for daily operations, production, maintenance coordination, and operational readiness while fostering a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. This role serves as the bridge between executive strategy and day-to-day plant execution.

The Operations Manager works closely with Engineering, Advanced Technology, Commercial, Operations, and Project teams to validate process performance, collect data, and support the transition of technologies to commercial deployment.

The role is accountable for ensuring operational risks are effectively managed and that all plant activities are executed in accordance with company safety policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This role champions operational safety through strong process discipline, leadership engagement, and the consistent application of safe operating procedures. The role will build and lead a high-performing operations organization capable of supporting technology demonstration, commercialization, customer trials, and future scale-up.

This role demands a strong sense of ownership, a proactive “can-do” mindset, and the flexibility to adapt in a dynamic environment. It requires taking initiative to implement technology updates, resolve issues effectively, and consistently deliver results safely in a fast-paced operational setting.

Safety Leadership and Compliance

• Champion an uncompromising safety culture across all company’s operating facilities i.e. pilot plant and commercial operations.
•  Ensure all activities are executed in accordance with company safety policies, operating procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead daily operational safety discussions, site walks and reinforce safe work practices.
• Ensure compliance with process safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure operational readiness through Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), startup planning, and Management of Change (MOC) implementation.
• Maintain safe operating procedures and ensure personnel follow company safety procedures and standards.

Technology Development & Scale-Up

• Work with Engineering and Advanced Technology teams to translate laboratory concepts into pilot-scale operations.
• Analyze operational data to support process optimization and scale-up to commercial facilities.
• Identify operational improvements and technology risks during pilot campaigns.
• Propose and evaluate technology improvements based on operational learnings and experience.

Management Plant Operations

• Ensure plant-readiness in support of commercial and investment activities.
• Manage day-to-day plant operations, ensuring safe and reliable facility performance.
• Deliver safe, reliable, and efficient production while achieving operational objectives.
• Develop and execute test plans and experimental campaigns to support technology validation.
• Coordinate startup, shutdown, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities.
• Monitor plant performance and ensure accurate data collection and reporting.
• Develop standard operating procedures and operational work instructions.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop shift supervisors, operators, and operations engineers.
• Train operators to support future deployments.
• Build a high-performance operations team focused on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching, and employee development planning.
• Provide training and guidance on process operations, safety procedures, and experimental protocols.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs.
• Coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance activities.
• Work closely with Engineering to improve equipment reliability and maintainability.
• Ensure the facility is maintained in operationally ready working order.

Project Coordination

• Work with project teams to schedule pilot campaigns and allocate plant resources.
• Manage equipment upgrades, modifications, and instrumentation improvements.
• Support engineering design activities using pilot plant data.
• Interface with external partners, vendors, and technology licensors as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree / Masters / in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

Experience

• 15+ years in process operations, pilot plants, technology and engineering.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience operating pilot plants, chemical plants, refineries, gas processing facilities, or similar industrial facilities.
• Experience in supporting technology scale-up or demonstration facilities.
• Experience in Rockwell Automation a plus.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of process engineering and plant operations.
• Knowledge of process safety management (PSM) principles.
• Ability to manage cross-functional technical teams.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Project and budget management.
• Excellent communication and technical reporting abilities.

Core competencies and role expectations

• Demonstrated ability to work and lead effectively under constraints of time and resources.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to think strategically, anticipate future needs, and drive long-term operational success.
• Willingness to work extended hours, weekends, and respond outside normal business hours as required to support safe and reliable facility operations.
• Flexibility to travel approximately 20% of the time, including extended periods of several weeks at operating facilities to support project execution, commissioning, and operational activities.
• Strong personal ownership of outcomes and decisions.
• Maintain a solutions-oriented “can-do” attitude, particularly when facing operational challenges.
• Acts decisively and take initiative rather than waiting for direction.
• Lead by example in accountability, reliability, and follow-through.
• High emotional intelligence through self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and effective relationship management.