Engineering jobs in Halifax, NS

Natural Forces is seeking an Operations Manager to support the operation and management of our renewable energy assets. This full-time role is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and supports projects located in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Labrador, and Ireland.

This is a project management role: the Operations Manager is accountable for defined scope across a portfolio of assets — performance, compliance, and reporting. The primary objective of this role is to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations and maintenance across multiple projects, while continuously improving performance, availability, and operational processes, working closely with development and construction teams and ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory, permitting, and project commitments.

KEY TASKS AND DUTIES

Site Familiarization and Set-up

• Conduct site visits to become familiar with projects, including ground-level visual inspections of civil, electrical, mechanical, controls, and telecommunications assets.
• Establish strong working relationships with subcontractors, customers, and partners. This also includes closely collaborating with development and construction project managers to gain a thorough understanding of each project’s history, technical design, and any commitments carried over into operations.
• Maintain and utilize the asset hierarchy within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track maintenance activities, spare parts, and asset history.

Condition and Performance Monitoring

• Monitor project condition using SCADA systems and other monitoring software to identify alarms, warnings, and performance issues.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve standard operating procedures for fault response, condition monitoring and emergency preparedness.
• Ensure accurate capture and processing of production and availability data for reporting purposes.
• Ensure all maintenance activities are accurately logged in the CMMS.
• Analyze failure trends and performance data, applying root-cause analysis to identify improvement opportunities and prevent recurrence.
• Perform regular loss analyses and recommend action plans to optimize production and asset availability.

Compliance with Commitments

• Track and help ensure compliance with commitments made during project development, permitting, and financing, including environmental, regulatory, and community and Indigenous agreements.
• Maintain a compliance register covering permit conditions, interconnection agreements, and power purchase agreement (PPA) obligations, flagging risks and escalating as needed.
• Coordinate with development, legal, and finance teams to confirm operational commitments are understood, tracked, and fulfilled throughout the asset’s operating life.

Project Oversight

• Lead operational handover of new projects from the construction team, ensuring all documentation, systems, and processes are in place prior to Commercial Operation Date.
• Support the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team by confirming site-level training and compliance requirements are met, providing site orientations, developing safe work plans, and conducting inspections as required.
• Work with site operators to coordinate subcontractors and service providers, including electricians, utilities, engineers, civil contractors, snow removal, and vegetation management.
• Review bi-monthly site inspections to confirm civil, electrical, mechanical, controls, balance-of-plant, and telecommunications assets are maintained to standard.

Administrative management

• Act as the customer or owner representative for maintenance and service contracts.
• Manage and support insurance claims related to operational incidents or asset damage.
• Engage with project partners, landowners, and stakeholders in alignment with Natural Forces’ core values of safety, trust, flexibility, and continuous improvement.
• Own budget planning and forecasting for assigned projects, tracking actuals against plan and coordinating with the finance team on variances; site operators are responsible for day-to-day transactions.
• Lead operational reporting, including weekly and quarterly performance reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (development, construction, finance) throughout the project lifecycle, providing operational data, performance insights, and lessons learned to inform future projects.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Technical diploma, Engineering Technology diploma, or post-secondary degree in Engineering or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
• 3–5 years of experience in operating and maintaining electrical and/or mechanical equipment and executing operations and maintenance plans.
• Experience in Photovoltaic (PV) and/or Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) field operations is a strong asset.

SKILLS AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to independently manage projects and apply continuous improvement methodologies.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to develop subject-matter expertise to support informed decision-making
• Strong data-driven mindset; experience with data analysis and visualization tools is an asset.
• Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, and follow-through.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions
• Willingness to travel to remote project locations.
• Passion for renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.

Additional information

• To apply email opportunities@naturalforces.ca with subject title Operations Manager
• Please include a detailed cover letter and resume
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to our clean energy mission

Natural Forces provides equal opportunity for employment and advancement. We celebrate diversity and commit to an inclusive environment where all voices are valued and heard. We strive to make an equitable organization for our staff, stakeholders, and partners.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Natural Forces we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Pay: $90,000.00-$100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Work Location: In person