Control Room Operator; CRO

Opportunity Summary

The Berkshire Power Plant is a 250 MW natural gas-fired, combined cycle facility featuring a single-shaft gas turbine. The facility utilizes a 340 MVA water- and air-cooled generator driven by both a 150 MW ALSTOM GT-24B gas turbine and an ALSTOM triple-pressure condensing steam turbine, producing an additional 100 MW. The gas turbine exhausts into a dual-pressure reheat Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), operating at near-critical pressures.

The Control Room Operator (CRO) at the Berkshire Power Plant oversees the safe and efficient operation of all plant systems, including monitoring, controlling, starting up, and shutting down equipment from the control room while ensuring compliance with regulatory and safety standards. This role requires a valid Second-Class Engineer License under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts License Law and involves managing plant logs, water chemistry, maintenance activities, and responding to alarms or upset conditions.

The CRO also supports shift handovers, staff training, and continuous improvement initiatives to optimize plant performance.

• Responsible for the overall operation of the power plant, including operating, monitoring, inspecting, and controlling all plant parameters from the control room.
• Maintain a valid MA Second-Class Engineer License under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts License Law, serving as the operator engineer in charge of the watch.
• Operate, monitor, start up, and shut down all plant equipment, including combustion turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, generators, and auxiliary systems, ensuring safe and efficient performance.
• Oversee plant water chemistry and provide direction to maintain it within plant guidelines.
• Participate in daily preventive, scheduled, and repair maintenance activities in a safe, effective, and timely manner; assist with plant cleanup and housekeeping as directed.
• Ensure safe work practices, including lockout/tagout procedures, confined space entry, and hot work permits; supervise personnel and contractors to maintain compliance with safety standards.
• Actively participate in NAES Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Compliance Programs, promoting a strong safety culture and adhering to all safety and environmental rules.
• Complete and maintain daily logs, plant and state logbooks, and other records documenting electrical and steam output, emissions, fuel and water consumption, heat rates, and operational activities accurately and timely.
• Enter work orders and other relevant data into the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), maintain inventories, and perform other CMMS tasks as directed.
• Review logs, records, and operational data periodically to ensure effective procedures, identify trends, and recommend improvements to plant operation.
• Monitor plant equipment performance, respond to alarms, and report abnormalities to ensure timely corrective actions.
• Assist in managing plant upset conditions, including containment, control, and corrective actions as required.
• Conduct thorough and accurate shift handovers, briefing incoming personnel on plant issues and concerns.
• Assist in staff training and development initiatives to enhance operational competency.
• Execute tasks assigned by the Operations Manager, contributing to the plant’s operational success.

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

The CRO reports to the Operations Manager and responds to directions from other plant management. The CRO coordinates with all plant personnel as it pertains to the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the facility.

Physical requirements…