Asset Manager - Offshore Electricity Transmission

Our client is a firm member of the Electricity Transmission industry, specialising in strategical investment in offshore electricity transmission systems across Europe. As the newly appointed Asset Manager, you will be responsible for assisting the General Manager in the asset management of the transmission portfolio, with a focus on the day-to-day asset management. The essence of the role is to ensure the assets achieve the best-in-class HSE performance, the highest levels of availability, operate within the regulatory framework, and optimise the return on investment.

The Asset Management function supports the business with a wide variety of technical and commercial issues, which require industry, regulatory and related engineering and commercial knowledge. As such it is an advantage to have a good working knowledge of the technology and services needed for substations within an electrical transmission/distribution environment and the associated system operator codes, electricity industry standards, codes, regulations and the management of contracts.

The business utilises various contractors to perform works on the assets, and the asset manager will take a lead role in both contracting and managing the contractors. Finally, there will be the opportunity to assist in the development of tenders and undertaking due diligence for new investment opportunities.

Key tasks will include but may not be limited to:

• The asset management of offshore transmission systems and future projects including management of health, safety, environmental and asset management including undertaking audits of the O&M service provider and providing reports to senior management.
• Managing and ensuring compliance with business objectives.
• Management of outsourced Operations and Maintenance (“O&M”) providers, including where necessary procuring additional services and managing the associated contract.
• Identification and mitigation of operational risks.
• Ensure work is undertaken in accordance with the Asset Management Strategy, identifying trends and providing improvement suggestions where appropriate.
• Incident management and review, providing recommendations to the senior management for all operational incidents / asset failures.
• Reporting and/or assisting in the reporting to lenders, lenders technical advisor insurers, and regulatory authorities etc.; and stakeholder management and representing the business with external bodies.
• Provide technical guidance and take a proactive role in developing skills needed to perform the role.
• Assist in the development of offshore transmission asset life cycle management including marine and offshore maintenance and fault rectification, maintenance planning, management and implementation, determination of trends of failure and implementation of plans to ensure good asset performance.
• Evaluation of technical reports from O&M providers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”), consultants and industry bodies which are relevant to the OFTO assets in the UK to ensure asset integrity and reliability.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Essential:

• Degree level education or the equivalent in an engineering (preferably electrical) discipline.
• Project management qualification preferred.
• Demonstrable experience of electricity transmission technology and a proven knowledge and understanding of all related technologies.
• Experience of managing contractors, developing and negotiating contracts from technical and commercial aspects.
• Proven asset management ability to develop asset management strategies using condition monitoring and utilising asset databases and reporting tools.
• Knowledge and understanding of all key business issues that impact electricity transmission assets.
• Proven ability to develop working relationships quickly and effectively within a small team and externally with outsourced service providers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, articulate, diplomatic but able to “get the job done”.
• A strong work ethic; the ability to work ‘hands on’ to tight deadlines and be able to deal with competing priorities.

Desirable:

• Experience of offshore transmission, subsea cables especially their condition monitoring, failure mechanisms and repair techniques.
• In-depth knowledge of substation supporting systems, e.g. cranes, heating and ventilation/air-conditioning, fire detection/deluge systems, low voltage distribution systems and uninterruptible power supplies.
• Proven in-depth knowledge of electricity regulation and knowledge of NESO.
• Experience of major construction contracts and the management thereof.
• It would be an advantage to be knowledgeable with regards to safe systems of work and ideally authorised as Senior Authorised Person.
• Experience of project financed companies and working with lenders and their advisors.
• IOSH/NEBOSH qualification.