Plant Operator - NorthStar Clean Energy

NorthStar Clean Energy decarbonizes the economy by providing clean energy and carbon management solutions to utility, municipal, commercial, and industrial customers enabling them to meet their sustainability and business goals. Additionally, we own and operate natural gas assets throughout the United States. To learn more about NorthStar Clean Energy, please visit www.northstarcleanenergy.com.

This position is with NorthStar Clean Energy, a CMS Energy company, and is not a position of employment with Consumers Energy.

The Dearborn Industrial Generation (DIG) is a combined natural gas and blast furnace gas fueled power plant located in Dearborn, Michigan adjacent to the Ford Rouge industrial complex. The facility is capable of generating up to 800 MW of electricity and 1.2 million pounds per hour of steam. The plant is comprised of one simple cycle gas turbine, two high-efficiency natural gas combined cycle units with heat recovery steam generators, three blast furnace gas/natural gas boilers and one steam turbine. DIG provides AK Steel, Inc. and Ford Motor Company with steam to serve their heating and processing needs. DIG sells its capacity and energy into the MISO market.

Job Summary:

The Plant Operator is responsible for equipment operation and record keeping duties on a variety of moderately complex systems such as: distributed control, water, steam, combustion and turbine generator within established procedures.

The selected candidate will have the:

• Ability to productively work independently and as an integral plant staff team member.
• Possesses ability to read and understand moderately complex logic diagrams, wiring diagrams/schematics, and piping/instrument diagrams (P&ID's).
• Ability to use analytical judgment to plan and perform diversified work, making decisions within prescribed limitations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work in a team environment.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• The Plant Operator shall be responsible for performing equipment operation and record keeping duties inclusive of maintaining shift logs and equipment records.
• Maintain strict adherence to Plant Safety, Water Chemistry, Operation and Administrative programs and procedures.
• Monitors the operation of major plant equipment and systems and takes appropriate action to ensure they are operated safely, in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Operates assigned control systems including distributed control, water, steam, combustion, turbine generator and related components in a safe and efficient manner.
• Identifies and corrects problems; reports problems requiring further action to the Shift Supervisor.
• Assists the Plant Maintenance Department in performing preventative and corrective maintenance as assigned.
• Maintains assigned control systems to ensure proper operations.
• Assists chemistry personnel in maintaining the boiler system by adding/transferring chemicals, as appropriate, and in monitoring the boiler, cooling water and waste-water chemistry.
• Performs equipment cleaning, filter changes and calibration gas adjustments.
• Performs maintenance activities during plant outages and minor maintenance on shift as required.
• Maintains a safe work environment through job planning, housekeeping, and adherence to plant safety rules and procedures, and identification and correction of hazards.
• Maintains a clean and orderly work area.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Be able to use standard computer software programs such as spreadsheets, word processors, databases and other common programs.
• Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of all plant systems and understanding of process and electrical diagrams, plant procedures and measurement standards.
• Ability to use analytical judgment to plan and perform diversified work, making decisions within prescribed limitations.
• Ability to effectively communicate with co-workers and take direction from others.

Position Requirements:

• High School diploma OR GED is required.
• 2+ years of experience in a Power Plant atmosphere (gas turbine combined cycle preferred) or equivalent is required.
• Trades or technical backgrounds are a plus.
• Technical training, in electrical generation, boiler operation and/or gas turbine operation is a plus.
• Valid driver's license is required.

Hours and Travel:

Ability to work overtime, as well as any shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Location:

The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate. Relocation assistance is not offered for this position.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1) Strength & Lifting Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 35 pounds

2) Mobility & Physical Activity

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for prolonged periods.
• Ability to climb stairs and ladders.
• Ability to bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, and reach to operate equipment.
• Ability to crawl when required for inspections
• Ability to operate a computer and related control systems.
• Manual dexterity required to safely operate tools, equipment, and control interfaces.

3) Sensory Requirements

• Ability to read gauges, meters, control panels, and digital displays.
• Ability to rely on sensory perception (visual, auditory, smell) to monitor equipment, identify alarms, abnormal sounds, odors, or other indicators of unusual operating conditions.
• Adequate visual acuity to conduct inspections and safely perform operational duties.

4) Environmental Exposure

• Ability to work in a loud industrial environment with continuous noise and vibration.
• Ability to work in proximity to chemical hazards, heat, steam, pressurized systems, and operating machinery, including high voltage electrical equipment.
• Ability to work in both indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to extreme heat and cold.
• Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces

5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Ability to properly wear required PPE, including but not limited to hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, flame resistant clothing, and other job specific protective equipment.

6) Physical Responsiveness & Safety

• Ability to respond quickly and effectively during emergency situations.
• Ability to reach and operate emergency shut off controls.
• Ability to navigate the facility rapidly when required and evacuate safely during emergencies.
• Requires a high level of situational awareness to maintain personal and plant safety.

7) Work Schedule Requirements

• Ability to work a modified DuPont schedule, including nights, weekends, swing shifts, holidays, and overtime

Why should you join our team?

At NorthStar Clean Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at NorthStar Clean Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women's Advisory Panel (WAP), Women's in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.