Plant Manager

Please note: this is an Talent Pipeline requisition. There is currently NO OPEN ROLE associated with this requisition. 

CBRE Local is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead the operation, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of a critical utility and energy plant. The Plant Manager will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for a team of 1st Class, 2nd Class, and 3rd Class Operating Engineers, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of power, steam, heating, cooling, and other critical utilities.

The successful candidate will be responsible for plant reliability, personnel leadership, regulatory compliance, budget management, client engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires strong technical expertise in central utility plant operations, cogeneration systems, and Ontario energy market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Direct, coordinate, and manage all plant operations to ensure safe, reliable, and uninterrupted utility service delivery.
• Lead and develop a team of Operating Engineers, maintenance personnel, contractors, and support staff.
• Establish operational goals, performance metrics, and maintenance strategies aligned with CBRE objectives.
• Ensure plant operations comply with applicable legislation, codes, standards, and operating permits.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures, emergency response plans, and training programs.
• Provide leadership during emergency situations, outages, and critical incidents.

Plant Reliability & Maintenance

• Manage preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs for all plant assets.
• Drive reliability-centered maintenance practices to maximize equipment availability and lifecycle performance.
• Analyze operational trends, equipment failures, and plant performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate major maintenance outages, equipment upgrades, and capital projects.
• Ensure effective management of CMMS programs and maintenance documentation.

Cogeneration Facility Management

• Lead the operation and maintenance of a cogeneration facility, ensuring optimal plant efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance.
• Monitor and optimize electrical generation, thermal recovery, fuel consumption, and plant output.
• Develop operating strategies to maximize plant performance while meeting client and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure effective coordination between power generation and facility utility demands.

IESO Market & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain a strong understanding of Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) market rules, dispatch requirements, compliance obligations, and settlement processes.
• Manage the plant's participation in Ontario electricity markets while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Understand and oversee all technical operating requirements necessary to maintain compliance with IESO standards and market obligations.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, market participants, and stakeholders as required.
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement operational adjustments to maintain compliance and optimize plant performance.

Financial & Contract Management

• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor financial performance and identify cost reduction opportunities without compromising safety or reliability.
• Manage vendor relationships, service agreements, and contractor performance.
• Support annual business planning and capital investment initiatives.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary operational liaison between CBRE and client stakeholders.
• Provide regular operational reports, performance updates, and strategic recommendations.
• Foster a customer-focused culture while maintaining high service standards.
• Participate in client meetings, audits, and operational reviews.

Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture throughout the facility.
• Ensure full compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), TSSA regulations, environmental requirements, and CBRE safety programs.
• Lead incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Ensure all employees receive required certification, training, and competency development.

Qualifications

Education

• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Power Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is considered an asset.

Certifications

• 1st Class Operating Engineer Certificate is preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Valid Ontario driver's license is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in central utility plant, district energy, power generation, or critical facility operations.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing operating engineers and technical operations teams.
• Experience managing teams consisting of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class Operating Engineers.
• Experience managing and/or operating a cogeneration facility is required.
• Strong expertise with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), including market rules, plant compliance requirements, dispatch obligations, and electricity market operations.
• Experience in airport, healthcare, district energy, utility, or mission-critical facility environments is highly desirable.

Technical Competencies

• Central utility plant operations.
• Cogeneration and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.
• Boilers, chillers, turbines, generators, heat recovery systems, and balance-of-plant equipment.
• Electrical generation and distribution systems.
• Reliability-centered maintenance and asset management.
• CMMS platforms (Maximo, SAP, or equivalent).
• Energy management and optimization.
• Regulatory compliance and risk management.
• Budgeting and capital project management.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong people leadership and team development skills.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strategic planning and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to lead in high-pressure, mission-critical environments.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on operational excellence and client satisfaction.