Self Perform Plant Manager

LRE (Leeward Renewable Energy) is a high-growth renewable energy company forging a sustainable future through integrity, innovation, and positive impact. We own and operate 30 large wind, solar, and energy storage projects across the United States, totaling over 3 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity.

LRE has an ambitious goal of 10GW of operating assets by 2028 and are developing and contracting an increasing pipeline of new projects every year. We take a full-lifecycle approach to our projects, built on a long-term ownership model and a company culture dedicated to our community partners and protecting the environment.

Job Summary:

The Solar Plant Manager – Self Perform is responsible for overseeing daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual solar plant operations, with a focus on leading a self-performing O&M team. This includes maximizing energy output, ensuring safe work practices, implementing quality control measures across maintenance activities, managing the plant’s full P&L accountability, and making risk-based decisions to enhance operational efficiency.

The role requires strong leadership in managing frontline workers, scheduling and planning maintenance, and leveraging internal support functions. Additionally, the Plant Manager will focus on implementing lean working structures, efficient inventory management, and driving continuous improvements and foster a safe work culture.

Job Requirements:

- Leadership & Team Management: Lead, coach, and mentor frontline workers to foster a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Set clear goals, provide feedback, and conduct performance evaluations to maintain high productivity.

- O&M Planning & Scheduling: Develop and manage maintenance schedules for preventive, minor, and large corrective work, maximizing energy output and system reliability. Implement lean processes to enhance efficiency.

- Safety & Quality Control: Oversee quality control for all site activities, ensuring compliance with company policies and regulations. Promote safe work practices and drive root cause analysis for performance issues.

- Performance Management: Monitor plant performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to optimize energy production. Utilize internal support functions to drive value creation.

- Inventory & Resource Management: Manage spare parts, tools, and consumables, optimizing inventory levels to support maintenance activities and minimize downtime.

- Financial Accountability: Manage the plant’s full P&L, ensuring that all operations and maintenance activities align with financial targets and contribute to the plant’s overall profitability.

- Risk-Based Decision Making: Utilize data and operational insights to make informed, risk-based decisions that optimize plant performance and reduce potential downtimes or losses.

- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal support teams and external contractors/stakeholders to ensure seamless plant operations. Communicate plant performance and improvement initiatives to senior management.

- Cross Functional Collaboration: Work with Construction Management and Asset Management Teams to facility the startup of high-quality power plants.

- Compliance Management: Assure regulatory compliance as well as compliance to all applicable laws, codes, standards and regulations

Experiences and Requirements:

- Proven track record of successfully leading service and maintenance teams in Solar and BESS Plants

- Minimum 5 years demonstrated leadership experience in managing frontline workers, team development, and safety enforcement in large scale clean energy projects.

- Strong knowledge of quality control, lean working structures, inventory management, Asset Management, P&L management, and risk-based decision-making.

- Experience in planning and scheduling maintenance work according to lean principles

- Substantial experience in Safety Risk Management (JHA, RAMS, JSA, LOTO)

- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage internal support functions.

- Experience in “COD Handovers” and Operational Readiness Processes for new plants preferred

Education:

- Preferred: Associates Degree or Bachelor in ENG or Business

- High School Diploma or equivalent required

- Valid and unrestricted Driver's License

Physical requirements:

- Perform industry typical days’ worth of work in the field as means of Field Leadership Engagement

- Spend significant time outside exposed to extreme weather conditions such as heat and cold to assure compliance with job duties.

Leeward Management Services, LLC is committed to employing a diverse workforce and provides equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Recruiters and Staffing Agencies:

Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting vendors or employment agencies. Only recruiting vendors with a current, signed agreement in place with LRE are authorized to submit resumes for specific, requested positions. All unsolicited resumes and candidate profiles submitted to LRE, or any LRE employee, without an active agreement or written request from LRE’s HR Department, will be considered property of LRE. LRE will not be responsible for any fees or expenses associated with unsolicited resumes or candidates submitted in this manner.