Steam Plant Operator - Springfield, NH

NE Renewable Power is made up of 5 Biomass electric generating power stations located in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. These stations play a crucial role in supplying locally sourced renewable energy to the people of New England. Sprague brings over 150 years of energy operating experience to the operations of these facilities, and we're hiring an Steam Plant Operator for the Whitefield, NH location.

Who we are:

Sprague takes a collaborative, customer-centric approach to providing best-in-class energy products and related services throughout the Northeast. Founded in 1870, we pride ourselves on offering customers the expert solutions and high-quality service that help their businesses thrive in any market landscape. Sprague values innovation, safety, integrity and people. We know that our people are what set us apart from our competition, and we work hard to make sure each employee across our 20+ locations knows how important they are to our community.

We offer great benefits! Medical benefits and retirement contributions start on your first day!

• 401(k) Traditional and Roth plans with employer match of 100% of the first 6% of the employee's contribution
• Defined Contribution Plan with an automatic 2.6% contribution from Sprague
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Tuition reimbursement
• Choice of high deductible and PPO Health Plans to fit your individual needs
• Wellness Program

Job Summary

Our Steam Plant Operator conducts day to day operations and maintenance of the plant to include plant operations, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, or instruments and controls. Monitors plant performance and is capable, without supervision, of identifying mechanical, electrical and instrumentation/controls and performing corrective action when appropriate. Is fully proficient in at least one of the disciplines listed above and as such has the ability to operate the control board, perform complex mechanical or electrical duties, and/or perform as an instrument and controls technician. Can lead acceptance and performance tests on existing or new plant equipment. Provides guidance to lesser experienced operations personnel.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Start-up, operate, shutdown and secure equipment under normal and emergency conditions, in the field.
• Troubleshoot and perform artisan level mechanical skills such as pipefitting, boiler repair, pump, motor and coupling alignment.
• Inspect all facility machinery thoroughly for malfunctions and / or potential failures.
• Maintain all logs and records as required to record complete operating conditions for the facility and report any irregularities.
• Assist in the performance of facility water chemistry tests and control treatment chemicals within recommended limits. Repair and calibrate equipment as required.
• Identify hazardous and/or unsafe conditions or work practices, notify supervisor and take action to correct as required.
• Controls, monitors and evaluates plant production equipment and output including efficiency and related variables (e.g., heat rate, cost/unit of production, system demands and capabilities given various circumstances) and the overall effectiveness of operation practices and procedures.
• Monitors readings from controls (temperature, pressure, flow, etc.) for long term variances from normal trends and responds to the variances and issues instructions to ensure continued safe, reliable, and cost effective power generation from the facility, while maintaining environmental standards.
• Performs routine (ash, boiler and fuel system maintenance, valve packing replacement, valve replacement, pump repairs, pump overhauls, electrical troubleshooting and repair, instrumentation calibration and troubleshooting) and complex (equipment alignment, boiler instrumentation replacement, continuous emissions monitoring systems, distributed control systems, turbine overhauls) maintenance work, as assigned.
• Develops operating and maintenance procedures to ensure consistent and safe operation.
• Conduct or assist in scheduled and forced outage maintenance work.
• Supervise, coordinate or assist contractors performing work at the facility.
• Comply with all Facility Environmental, Health and Safety policies and programs.
• Maintain logs and/or records of problems, repairs, and downtime as required.
• Participate in committees and task forces as required, for plant operations and improvements.
• Assist in the implementation and upkeep on the overall preventative maintenance and spare parts inventory tracking system.
• Other duties as assigned by supervision.

Requirements:

• Must possess basic math skills, good verbal communications skills, and be proficient with the use of power and precision tools.
• Must be cooperative with those he/she contacts in this work and have the ability to work without direct supervision.
• Must know the hazards involved and the safety precautions to be practiced in the operation and maintenance of power plant equipment and machinery.
• Work within and insure strict adherence to all safety practices and procedures.
• Must be able to respond to audio alarms and variations of sound.
• Basic data entry/computer skills
• Work as a team. Must be able to pool our knowledge and energy to work in tandem to completely understand and productively respond to all of the business challenges.

Physical requirements: commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be able to work on feet for extensive periods, requiring stair and ladder climbing, and routinely lifting 50 pounds.
• Must be able to work in elevated areas, confined spaces and in extreme heat and cold conditions.

Sprague is an EEO/AA employer. We strongly encourage minorities, females, Vets and individuals with disabilities to apply.

As a federal contractor we adhere to OFCCP employment regulations. Click here for OFCCP compliance information