Maintenance Manager

Globeleq is seeking a Maintenance Manager for its Menengai Geothermal Project in Kenya. The role involves leading a maintenance team, ensuring compliance with safety procedures, and optimizing plant operations. Responsibilities include recruiting and training staff, implementing maintenance policies, and managing equipment safety and availability. This is a permanent position, reporting to the Plant Manager, with a focus on sustainable and efficient plant management.
Maintenance Manager

Application Deadline: 22 April 2025

Department: Business Operations

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Kenya

Reporting To: Plant Manager

Description
Globeleq is a leading independent power producer actively developing and operating power projects in Africa. With diverse portfolio, the company utilizes various technologies to generate reliable and sustainable energy.

The Menengai Geothermal Project is a 35 MW greenfield geothermal power plant, forming part of the first phase of the larger Menengai complex. This marks Kenya’s second large scale geothermal development after Olkaria. Once the plant reaches commercial operation at the end of 2025, Globeleq will be responsible for its operation and maintenance (O&M).

The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) a Kenyan government owned entity will supply steam to the project under a 25-year Project Implementation and Steam Supply Agreement (PISSA).

Electricity generated will be sold to Kenya Power, the national distribution company under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the same period. The project will deliver clean, affordable and reliable baseload power to Kenya’s national grid, supporting the monetization of Menengai geothermal resources.

As the project shareholder, Globeleq is leading its construction, operation and long-term management.

We have partnered with Smart4Energy for this recruitment, in case of any queries kindly reach out to the team by emailing hello@smart4energytalent.com

Main Purpose of Role
The following are essential priorities for the role:
• Be part of key pre /post Commercial Operation Date (COD) milestones in readiness for successful commissioning and COD.
• Recruit, train and develop high performing effective maintenance and technical team.
• Lead to ensure the maintenance team is fully resourced with adequately trained and skilled individuals to maintain the Plant sustainably for the long term.
• Work closely with the HR Manager and Plant Manager on all people related matters, with a specific focus on employee engagement and championing technical, safety and soft skills training.
• Ensure compliance with Work Permit procedures and its Lock-out and Tag-out (LOTO)procedures at all times.
• Optimise required systems to maintain the Power Plant in such a way that availability is maximized and reduce parasitic load.
• Develop, establish and ensure effective and efficient implementation of policies and standards for the maintenance of the Power Plant.
• Organize, implement and monitor preventative and corrective maintenance of all plant equipment.
• Implement maintenance policies, procedures and practices associated with relevant standards, legislation, and compliance with the EPC, PISSA, PPA and LTSA agreements.
• Understand safe operation of geothermal steam turbine, control systems, and associated electrical high voltage electrical systems, managing major plant equipment overhauls, and long-term planning of assets.
• Ensure the availability, safety and security of all equipment.

Key Result Areas
Mobilisation Period (Pre-COD)
• Develop Operation phase HSESS Manual and update the Integrated HSESS Management System to ensure consistency with operation phase including Lock out and tag out system.
• Review and asses O&M Manuals, manufacturers recommendations and procedures for quality and completeness for operations and maintenance of the Plant.
• Development of Plant records and provide regular mobilisation status reports.
• Analyse and recommend procurement of initial spare parts.
• Review and comment on adequacy of inventory of spare parts, tools and other equipment supplied under EPC Contract.
• Development of Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and populate Plant database of initial Maintenance and Annual plan.
• Develop Plant specific operating procedures prior to Tests on Completion in the EPC Contract.
• Catalogue EPC Punch List items and attend EPC Contractor led training and pre-commissioning activities.

Operation Period (Post COD)
• To apply his expertise in Power industry to optimize the performance of the plant and oversee the maintenance activities in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
• The safe utilization of company resources.
• Responsible for all plant maintenance (planned and unplanned)
• Responsible for all spares, tools, equipment and consumables inventory.
• Manage Maintenance Department employees engaged in the Maintenance of Power Plant.
• Assist the Plant Manager in the preparation of departmental and facility budgets.
• Responsible to assure the technical and procedural correctness of maintenance plans and programs. Beyond the daily monitoring of maintenance activity, its role is also to anticipate changes and propose technical improvements (equipment, working methods).
• Administer the Maintenance Training Program.
• Administer the Preventative Maintenance Program.
• Administer the Employee Development / Goals Program.
• Work with the Operations Manager in outage planning and execution.
• Administer maintenance/ Service contracts with OEM/ Vendors under the terms in the Long-Term Spares Agreement (LTSA)
• Responsible for compliance with all Government, Local, Corporate Safety and Environmental Policies and implement them in the maintenance department.
• Responsible for the planning, scheduling, recording, monitoring, analysing, and reporting of all maintenance activities.
• Discharge duties as per company IMS procedures for successful implementation of the ISO and OHSAS programs.
• Have good knowledge about the implication of the safety and environmental impacts of his work.
• Perform audits at to ensure that the equipment and systems are being maintained and in place per manufacturer’s instruction.
• Ensures that maintenance supervisors/ technicians are adequately trained, equipped and motivated so that the maintenance program can be accomplished in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.
• Reviews the condition of the plant equipment and systems constantly, to minimize unplanned downtime, anticipate solve problems in a timely manner, and to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain and update Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) minimises the incidence, severity, and duration of Outages.
• Ensure compliance with the O&M Manual and manufacturers recommendations.
• Responsible for managing routine, planned and unplanned maintenance of the power plant.
• Responsible for management and maintenance of owner provide tools and equipment.

Requirements, Skills and Attributes
Education:
• Degree in Engineering or Diploma holder with significant operational experience in large power stations.
• Registered with Engineers Registration Board of Kenya

Experience:
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in operations of large Power Plant (preferably geothermal power plants)
The nature of this role will require the post holder to be a self-starter with high levels of focused drive to achieve high availability and reliability of the plant.

A key objective will be developing and improving existing systems and practices. The following are required for the role:
• Ability to supervise and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments,
• Knowledge of management principles and practices,
• Sound financial planning and budgeting skills together with understanding, managing and interpreting financial information,
• Employee development and performance management skills,
• Proven understanding of geothermal steam turbine power plant,
• Proven understanding of CMMS systems and how to utilize such in maintenance monitoring,
• Skill in examining and re-engineering maintenance plans and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures,
• Good understanding and ability in English,
• Working Knowledge of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Standards,
• Accurate and Organised,
• Good interpersonal skills,
• Team player,
• Time management skills,
• Trustworthy and ethical.