Vice President - Plant Operations

Job Summary:

We are looking for an experienced Vice President - Plant Operations to lead end-to-end operations of the power generation plant, with overall accountability for plant reliability, power generation, operational efficiency, cost optimization, maintenance, safety, and team leadership.

The role will be responsible for ensuring reliable power generation with minimum forced outages, optimizing fuel consumption and generation cost, driving operational excellence, and leading major maintenance, modernization, and CapEx initiatives. The incumbent will work closely with the COO/Director and senior leadership team to drive plant performance and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end thermal power plant operations, ensuring required MW generation and maximum plant availability with minimum forced outages.
• Manage generation planning and power consumption demand, ensuring optimal load management and reliable power supply to plant operations.
• Drive operational efficiency and cost optimization by reducing per-unit generation costs and optimizing fuel/coal consumption.
• Monitor key plant performance parameters including PLF, availability, heat rate, auxiliary power consumption, specific fuel consumption, generation cost, and equipment reliability.
• Ensure effective and timely execution of major maintenance activities, planned shutdowns, overhauls, and annual maintenance programs with minimum impact on generation.
• Maintain overall accountability for safe, reliable, and compliant plant operations, ensuring adherence to statutory, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Lead operational excellence initiatives focused on plant efficiency, reliability improvement, energy conservation, process optimization, and reduction of operational losses.
• Oversee boiler, turbine, generator, electrical, utility, and fuel/coal handling systems to ensure stable and efficient plant operations.
• Establish robust maintenance planning and preventive/predictive maintenance practices to improve equipment life and minimize breakdowns.
• Lead the planning and execution of major CapEx, modernization, renovation, and upgradation projects, ensuring timely delivery, cost control, and expected operational benefits.
• Evaluate plant bottlenecks and drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring equipment and operational issues.
• Develop and implement business continuity and contingency plans to minimize operational disruptions and forced outages.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline and succession plan across plant operations, maintenance, electrical, mechanical, and other critical functions.
• Mentor and develop the plant leadership team, creating a culture of accountability, safety, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Present consolidated plant performance, generation, cost, maintenance, safety, and project reports to the COO/Director and senior management.
• Work cross-functionally with production, maintenance, procurement, finance, projects, and corporate teams to align power plant performance with overall business requirements.