Senior Operations Manager - Solar

RWE Renewables Iberia S.A.U.
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Our O&M PV Department within RWE Renewables on the Iberian Peninsula is looking for a Senior Operations Manager responsible for managing operation of our Solar PV assets in Spain & Portugal to contribute to shape tomorrow’s European green energy landscape.

Responsibilities:

As a Senior Operations Manager, you will be responsible for operating the Solar PV plants to become best in class according to Operations targets.

Fulfill agreed planned maintenance activities and efficient coordination and delivery of all corrective maintenance. Maximize the profitability and safety.

Additionally, your responsibilities and duties are - without being exhaustive - and subject to other specific requirements:

Development Phase (up to Handover Development to Construction)

• Advice on operability of designs, if requested by Engineering & Development teams
• Define the scope of O&M either for the tendering.
• Provide O&M cost assumptions for the Final Investment Decision process.
• Support in the negotiation of O&M contracts and other main contracts for the operational phase or for setting up an internal O&M team.
• Identify and assess operational risks. Resolve and mitigate potential operational risks assigned to you in the development phase.
• Provide input to the EPC contract with support from the IT department regarding the specifications for the SCADA/Monitoring system.

Construction Phase (from Handover Development to Construction until handover Construction to Operations):

• O&M strategy to ensure a smooth takeover of the asset from the Construction Manager at Provisional Acceptance.
• Implement all relevant activities which are necessary to manage the Assets in operation.

Operations Phase (after Handover Construction to Operations):

• Implement the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) strategy
• Manage O&M activities with external service providers and checking their work to ensure all work is within the contract’s specifications and quality.
• In case of a self-perform O&M approach manage a team of O&M technicians, activities, training, etc.
• Responsible for quality activities, e.g. due diligence, end of contract analysis, non-standard inspections and advice on complex technical issues.
• Optimize (technically as well as commercially) the Solar PV assets in your area of responsibility and standardize and digitalize work practices and systems.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement cycle in order to drive innovation to keep competitiveness of existing assets.
• Comply with RWE Renewables’ HS&E standards in coordination with the HS&E team.
• Align with the Construction Manager to ensure the completion of the works listed in the Punch List.
• Ensure the assets comply with all national and local codes and requirements.
• Ensure the assets comply with Health, Safety and Environmental obligations.
• Ensure appropriate levels of communication are maintained with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in engineering, ideally electrical engineering, and at least 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of operations of renewable assets, ideally Solar PV assets.
• Solid knowledge about power generation systems as well as deep technical knowledge about Solar PV assets or electrical systems (e.g. substations, transformers, inverters).
• Very good analytical skills coupled with the required drive to continuously improve the operation of the assets.
• Excellent team-player with very good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluent (written & spoken) Spanish and English, other languages, especially Portuguese, a plus.
• Willingness to travel on a regular basis.
• Self-motivated, independent professional with strong technical aptitude and the ability to thrive under pressure.
• Proactive self-starter, highly motivated, focused on working at a high level and producing an excellent work product under changing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and interface effectively with cross-functional groups.