VP, Plant Support

Who we are

For more than 40 years, Covanta has been at the forefront of sustainable materials management, providing companies and communities world-class waste and resource solutions.

Through our diverse and scalable full-service capabilities, we're leading the charge to a carbon-negative future-reducing, reusing, recycling and reimagining waste for the benefit of both people and planet.

Our differentiator comes from our vast ecosystem of technology, facilities, and partnerships, trusted by the world's largest organizations to solve their most pressing environmental challenges, and achieve their most ambitious environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

All that we're missing is you. Join us today!!

Our values

Diversity, inclusivity, engagement-these are the values that help us foster a strong sense of community within Covanta. By embracing the unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees, we cultivate an environment that embraces teamwork, encourages open dialogue, and provides opportunities for growth.

About the role

Reports To: Covanta Chief Technology Officer (Aba Khalidi)

Location: Morristown NJ

Travel: Travel should be expected to support WTE/MPF plants whenever needed.

Reporting to CTO of Covanta, this role will lead the Plant Support Engineering team and the Electrical, Turbine Generator Field Services teams across Covanta. This role also supervises all of regional and facility-based engineers as well the technical disciplines needed for the plant support of all WTE/MPF sites. This role partners with Maintenance and Field Services teams, Operations, and Design Engineering to align on the Covanta wide Operations De-risk program that includes O&M Standards, PM programs, ongoing trouble shooting support, RTS, Performance optimization, and risk reduction programs across Covanta. Plant Support organization will be considered the first line of technical support for all Covanta plants and thus will be leading among others the RTS efforts on a daily basis.

The scope covers Engineering, Field services and Operations technical support for all technical aspects of the Energy-from-Waste, Material Processing Facilities (MPFs) and Transfer stations within Covanta.

Key responsibilities, deliverables, and expectations:

Technical:

• Engineering Supervision: He/Shemanages and supervises regional and facility-based engineering org and technical disciplines to best support the day-to-day operations, outage planning and execution support, and technical leadership in all critical aspects of our plants.
• Field Services team: This role manages directly all the Electrical Field Services (EFS) and Turbine Field Services (TFS) that are deployed to Covanta plants for any RTS or outage support.
• Technical Programs: Leads technical programs of strategic importance to regional goals such as O&M Standards, PM, service bulletins, RCAs and work with the EFS and Maintenance teams on outage planning, preventive and corrective measures emanating from fleet RCAs.
• RCA/Problem Solving: Troubleshoot plant and process issues with maintenance teams and lead Root Cause Analysis and Performance Enhancements as well as RTS efforts.
• Capex: Partner with leaders across Central Ops Maintenance and regional Operations to deliver on annual and multi-year Full Potential Plans and Long-Term Maintenance/Capex Plans to improve system availability, capacity, and efficiency.
• Operation & Maintenance Standards (OMS): Owns the process within Covanta and ensures compliance with Covanta's Engineering Design and O&M standards, define processes, road maps, budgets, and organizational enhancements to meet company goals and promote continuous improvements.
• Technological Improvements: Set the technical vision, staying ahead of the industry with innovative and cutting-edge technologies in collaboration with Covanta major OEM partners on boilers, stokers, Turbines, generators, and critical BoP. Take initiative in thought leadership and creativity.
• Collaboration with Design Engineering: In conjunction with Design Engineering Team, lead the regional strategy for establishing the criteria, basis of design documents, major equipment specifications, bid evaluations and technical recommendations.
• Leverage outside engineering firms: Direct and approve detail engineering design work completed by outside engineering firms and equipment suppliers after consulting with Design/Technology engineering team.
• Performance Tracking: Track, analyze and monitor technical performance metrics for the WTE plants.

Operational Excellence and HSE:

• Partnership: Partner with leaders across teams/organizations to deliver on Safety, Health and Environmental Excellence especially for the facility engineering teams on the ground.
• Lessons Learned: Drive Lessons Learned initiative from Technical issues at sites emanating from RCA's.
• Lead FMEA Process for critical troubleshooting at sites.
• Liase with Design engineering on escalated cases, major upgrades, and external engineering work to ensure adherence to Covanta technical standards.

Leadership:

• Talent Management: Attracts and develops key talent, Performance Management and Succession Planning for Eng. talent.

• Professional Development: Provide guidance on the professional development of the SME's within the region/sites and create an inclusive and horizontal culture among engineering teams

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Bachelor of Science (Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or any related discipline), from an accredited institution is required
• Master's degree in any engineering discipline is a plus

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in a mechanical engineering role is required.
• Prior experience in engineering leadership role is a must with at least 5 years of experience directly managing engineering teams.
• Prior experience working in and around power generating plants or large industrial facilities and systems including boilers and combustion, steam generation and distribution, turbine generators, and balance of plant (steam condensers, feedwater pumps and systems, cooling towers and circulating cooling water systems, etc.) is highly desirable.
• Additional experience in industrial power plants and cogeneration is also desirable.
• Must have experience in the basic design and troubleshooting of systems and equipment utilized in utility power plants, independent power producers or large industrial cogeneration facilities. Experience in Waste to Energy facilities or other solid fuels is a plus.
• Experience working in facility operations and/or maintenance support is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze data to identify trends is required.
• Strong ability to strike a good balance between engineering rigor and pressing needs of the plants to return to service.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills - with experience communicating across all levels of the organization - are required.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Ability to work independently and meet project schedules and pressing needs to return to service.
• Must be able to manage multiple concurrent projects with minimal direction, while at the same time providing guidance to a technical team of direct reports.

Certifications:

• Six Sigma certification (Green Belt minimum) or Lean fundamentals is highly desired.

Our DEI Commitment

Covanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer, has developed an Affirmative Action Program (AAP), and will not discriminate against any qualified applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (including perceived disability, physical, mental, and/or intellectual disabilities), veteran status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Please note that Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

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