Area Manager - Wind Farms

EDF Energy is a core part of the EDF Group, one of the largest energy companies in Europe with key business operations in the UK, France, Italy and Belgium. We're the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, the biggest supplier of electricity by volume in Great Britain, the largest supplier to British businesses and we employ more than 13,000 people. We operate nuclear, coal and gas power stations, Wind Farms, and combined heat & power plants. We have a focus on safe, dependable energy generation and an ethos of service excellence. We are playing a leading role in new nuclear build in the UK to secure a bright future for the combined business and its employees.
Energise your career, accelerate a net-zero future
- #Renewables Jobs Do you want to live in a remote cottage in the most picturesque location in the UK? Are you a strong leader in the operations and maintenance of electricity generating equipment or similar? Do you have a passion for renewable energy? Then this could be the start of something new for you!
The Opportunity
Join us as an Area Manager, Scotland North and be a core member of our EDF Renewables (EDF
- R) team. You will lead the teams delivering the operations and maintenance of EDF-Rs Scotland North portfolio, part of our Asset Operations Team which manages, operates and maintains more than 1 GW of existing renewable energy assets in the UK including 35 onshore windfarms. This role brings the opportunity for growth as EDF-R continues to develop new projects to meet its ambition of 5GW by 2030.The North of Scotland location offers a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to make use of one of the fully renovated cottages/farms local to its largest windfarm at Dorenell. The site comprises of 59 turbines plus another site which has 17 turbines. The area has huge growth for EDF in the coming years and will be very busy.
The successful candidate will be accountable for maximising the performance of some of EDF-Rs largest onshore windfarms seeking to achieve high levels of availability, optimised against market conditions whilst ensuring safe, quality and cost-efficient execution of all tasks. In this role you will lead a team of technicians and external contractors, as required, to implement planned and breakdown maintenance and to optimise the maintenance activities so as to maximise asset performance.
Pay, benefits and culture..
Alongside a competitive salary and a market-leading pension scheme, we offer a range of flexible benefits to support our people across all aspects of their lives. Please speak to your Recruiter about the different benefits we offer in the UK and Ireland.
This role is predominantly site based, however, it comes with accommodation in the form of a choice of a fully refurbished cottage/farm house where the candidate may choose to live, including their family if desired. We’re a disability confident employer and we’ll do all we can to help with your application, making adjustments as appropriate to the role.
What you’ll be doing day to day..
- Zero harm: lead by example by maintaining the highest standards of safety, health, environmental and quality compliance. .
- Lead and coordinate team for all operations and maintenance activities driving safety, quality and cost.
- Grow and sustain a high performing and motivated team, with an open and positive working environment, and a culture of collaboration and trust.
- Plan and execute the agreed scheduled service works and major component replacement program.
- Manage the Service centre and logistics of the Area (tools, vehicles, stock, equipment, etc).
- Maintain a strong and effective relationship with equipment OEMs and other strategic partners contributing to the asset performance.
- Liaise with the wider Asset Operations team to optimise decisions for operational and maintenance activities in the area.
- In collaboration with other Areas, manage, monitor and promote transversal operations to deliver the best in-field performance (maintenance practices, WSTR application, major component changes, productivity initiatives)
- Demonstrate the company values and compliance to code of ethics.
What do you need to be great at this role?
You will lead and manage a potentially remote and diverse team, working closely with selected internal and external partners for all activities on the Area Windfarms in line with the application of and compliance to company procedures which cover safety rules, quality of work, planning of work, optimisation of maintenance and optimisation of resources, all with the objective of maximising asset availability. This will be heavily dependent on people management and maximising the performance of your team through coaching, leadership and setting key objectives. Leveraging relationships and support across the business matrix will be critical to success.
You will need to effectively manager short term and long-term objectives to achieve sustained high levels of asset performance. Short terms actions will address assets “on stop” to recover generation, whilst long term objectives will seek to ensure all activities are planned and systematically executed.
Assets operate on a 24 x 7 basis and responsiveness of you and the team to drive performance 24 x 7 will be critical.
Your Skills
- Strong understanding and experience of optimising the performance of teams, plant and equipment.
- Strong at managing and coaching people and to build a team that is committed to drive business performance.
- Strong, proven experience in maintenance, establishing/managing internal and external teams to effectively deliver maintenance works in a safe, quality and cost-effective manner.
- Excellent at building successful relationships to drive the business objectives.
- Qualification in electrical and/or mechanical disciplines to NVQ3 level/HNC/HND (or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience). Engineering background desirable.
- Able to fully understand and work to UK Wind Turbine Safety Rules, and in industry standard High Voltage Operating procedures and safety rules.
- A full UK driving licence is necessary.
Why EDF Renewables? EDF Renewables purpose is to accelerate a net zero future where clean energy powers our lives. We want to make the net zero future happen as fast as we can. We want to set the pace and, where necessary, disrupt the status quo and transform perceptions. We are here to combat climate change; this is a clear and tangible goal for us. Climate change is what galvanises us to bring the right solutions to the UK and Ireland. We are constantly challenging ourselves to improve the way things are being done. We bring leadership to our interactions and collaborations with one another, how we influence our partners and external bodies, how we use technology. Our success is underpinned by our core values:Together: Working together.Open: We are open and authentic in our behaviours.Passion: We have a strong belief in what we are doing.Growth: Growth as a company and as individuals.Resolve: We remain determined even in challenging environments.
Closing Date: 15th January 2024Location: Based in Northern Scotland (Aberdeen/Inverness). This is a full-time role which is predominantly site based.
Join us and let’s do good together!
What do you need to be great at this role?
You will lead and manage a potentially remote and diverse team, working closely with selected Internal and external partners for all activities on the area Windfarms in line with the company policy, procedures and critically, safety rules specifications (i.e. Wind Turbine Safety Rules). This includes people management responsibilities, such as coaching for performance (CFP) conversations. They will maintain strong relationships and represent the interests of EDF with critical stakeholders e.g. landowners, planners, Investors, local communities as needs arise.
You will receive, develop and deploy department goals and objectives to Technician teams with a focus on driving value and integrity of the assets. In addition, they will have an input on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Windfarms due to the interaction with other Asset Operations functions (i.e. Procurement, SHEQ etc.). You will also take responsibility of any assets on stop needing both minor and Major Component Replacements (MCRs) to prevent downtime and complete in a safe agreed process.In this operational role they will be on hand to lead and give responsive, inquiring guidance to the rest of the maintenance team, with commitment to safety, health, environment, quality and production.
Your Skills
- Strong/Proven experience in Maintenance, establishing/managing internal and external relationships, and securing and maintaining a safe environment for all operations.
- Qualification in electrical and/or mechanical disciplines to NVQ3 level/HNC/HND (or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience). Engineering background desirable.
- Experience of overcoming challenges of working in a wind turbine environment.
- Strong commitment to safety, health, environment and quality.
- Excellent at building successful relationships (with external, peers, stakeholders and reporting line).
- Able to lead and coordinate an ad-hoc team for a specific achievement.
- Sound knowledge in the application of UK based Wind Turbine Safety Rules, and in industry standard High Voltage Operating procedures and safety rules.
- Strong understanding of the requirements for optimising the performance of a Wind Turbine Technician Team.
- Strong at managing and coaching people and the ability to communicate and pass on technical knowledge. Previous accreditation as AT/AE under WTSR an advantage.
- A full UK driving licence is necessary.
Pay, benefits and culture..
Alongside a competitive salary and a market-leading pension scheme, we offer a range of flexible benefits to support our people across all aspects of their lives. Please speak to your Recruiter about the different benefits we offer in the UK and Ireland.
We offer everyone the flexibility, freedom and responsibility to make your own impact, whether that’s in the office or at home. To support flexible and hybrid working, we’ll provide a suite of IT equipment to ensure that you can work remotely comfortably and effectively. At EDF Renewables our purpose is to accelerate a net-zero future where clean energy powers our lives. Our people are passionate about developing the low-carbon energy systems of the future and acting against climate change.We strive to create an inclusive and diverse business and we recognise that our differences make us stronger, increasing our ability to innovate and succeed quickly. We challenge ourselves to continuously improve to achieve our purpose, whilst rewarding work and recognising the contribution each of our employees makes to achieving our goals. We’ll value the difference you bring and offer opportunities for you to thrive and succeed. We’re a disability confident employer and we’ll do all we can to help with your application, making adjustments as you need.