Maintenance Manager

Permanent, full time

CLOSING DATE – 6 November

Who we are:

We’re not just talking about making a difference, we’re making it happen. We generate dispatchable, renewable power and create stable energy in an uncertain world. Building on our proud heritage, we have ambition to become the global leader in sustainable biomass and carbon removals. You’ll be joining our teams of practical doers, future thinkers and business champions. We’re enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future for all, and working hard to decarbonise the planet for generations to come.

About the role:

• As part of the Cruachan Power Station Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across maintenance, covering Mechanical, Electrical/C&I and Civil systems.
• Develop and deliver effective maintenance strategies, ensuring plant integrity, reliability, availability and performance targets are achieved.
• Lead the planning and delivery of planned, reactive and outage maintenance, alongside OPEX and CAPEX projects and longer-term capital investment programmes.
• Manage OPEX and CAPEX budgets, supporting business planning and ensuring expenditure is optimised against operational, safety, engineering and commercial requirements.
• Manage technical and engineering risk, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, engineering standards, Safety Rules and company procedures, including CDM, PUWER, PSSR and LOLER.
• Provide technical leadership and support to maintenance teams, driving continuous improvement, best practice and performance optimisation.
• Ensure appropriate resources, including people, plant, spares and contractors, are available to support safe, efficient and compliant plant operation.
• Monitor key performance indicators covering plant availability, outages, maintenance backlog, process safety and engineering performance, taking action to address emerging issues.
• Lead, develop and manage team members, including recruitment, training, competency assessment, coaching, performance management and employee relations.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety, environmental and quality performance, undertaking inspections, audits, incident investigations and supporting internal and external audits.
• Manage key technical and commercial interfaces, building effective relationships with senior management, contractors, suppliers, customers, regulators, industry bodies and local stakeholders.
• Attend and lead operational, engineering, project, HSEQ and management meetings, ensuring clear objectives and effective decision-making.
• Deputise for the Plant Manager and provide leadership across the wider Hydro business as required.

Who we’re looking for:

• To be successful in this role you’ll ideally have a degree-level technical qualification, preferably in an engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience in engineering, maintenance or operations management, ideally within a hydro power station/scheme or comparable complex industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of hydro power technologies, plant and operating systems, with the ability to develop effective maintenance strategies.
• Proven experience developing and implementing risk-based maintenance strategies, using relevant systems, tools and industry best practice.
• Strong knowledge of Health, Safety and Environmental legislation, with a NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent desirable.
• Demonstrable experience of technical problem solving, fault investigation and root cause analysis, with the ability to interpret complex technical drawings, manuals and analytical data.
• Proven track record of delivering successful results in a fast-changing operational environment, with strong decision-making and commercial awareness.
• Strong commercial understanding, including budget management, procurement, contracts and contractor management, with the ability to balance technical requirements against business and operational priorities.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, with strong skills in employee engagement, coaching, development and change management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and build effective relationships with colleagues, senior management, contractors, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Ability to challenge the status quo, embrace change and identify opportunities to improve plant performance, reliability, safety and efficiency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing technical reports, procedures and presentations.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and make sound decisions with minimal supervision.
• Experience working with Trade Union partners would be advantageous.

Special Requirements:

• Willingness to travel as required.
• Full driving licence.
• Ability to work at height, in confined spaces, alone, over watercourses and outdoors in all weather conditions for extended periods.

Rewards and benefits:

As you help us to shape the future, we’ve shaped our rewards and benefits to help you thrive and support your lifestyle. If successful in this role you’ll get:

• A discretionary bonus depending on company performance
• Private Healthcare
• SAYE (Sharesave): discretionary scheme from time to time
• Personal accident cover
• Group personal pension plan where we’ll pay up to 10%
• Holiday 25 days plus bank holidays
• Reimbursement of the cost of your annual membership of one relevant and appropriate professional body

We’re committed to making a tangible impact on the climate challenge we all face. Drax is where your individual purpose can work alongside your career drive. We work as part of a team that shares a passion for doing what’s right for the future. With Drax you can shape your career and a future for generations to come. Together, we make it happen. At Drax, we’re committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their role. To make this a reality, we actively work to better represent the communities we operate in, foster inclusion, and establish fair processes. Through these actions, we build the trust needed for all colleagues at Drax to contribute their perspectives and talents, no matter their background.

How to apply:

Think this role’s for you? Click the ‘apply now’ button to begin your Drax journey. If you want to find out more about Drax, check out our LinkedIn page to see our latest news. We understand that you may have some additional questions about the role.