Job Description

Primary Purpose:

The Operations Supervisor is responsible for the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of the Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center-an off-grid, large-scale AI-dedicated critical power, multi-unit generation campus that is planned to produce approximately 2.5 GW of initial capacity with expansion capability up to 10 GW from a fleet of simple-cycle gas turbines and combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technologies. This role provides front-line leadership to the operations team, ensuring adherence to operating procedures, environmental compliance, and industry best practices while supporting high availability and mission-critical performance.

The Operations Supervisor directs day-to-day control room and field operations and is accountable for disciplined execution of operating evolutions, startups, shutdowns, and abnormal conditions. A key responsibility of this role is ownership of the station's Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program and Operational Procedures, including development, implementation, workforce training, auditing, and continuous improvement. The supervisor ensures effective use of the Emerson Ovation DCS, eLogger (operations log tracking), and Maximo EAM systems to support operational excellence, work coordination, and reliable plant performance.

The Operations Supervisor applies Human Performance (HP) principles and Tallgrass culture expectations to drive learning, accountability, and continuous improvement. The supervisor leads front-line operations using Tallgrass values and (HP) principles, reinforcing conservative decision-making, procedural compliance, and disciplined operations. This role actively encourages reporting of errors, near misses, and abnormal conditions without fear of reprisal and applies HP tools such as effective shift turnovers, pre-job briefs, peer checks, place-keeping, and error-precursor recognition during normal, abnormal, and emergency operations. Post-event reviews are conducted to identify system, procedural, and organizational contributors, with coaching provided to reinforce safe, reliable, and repeatable operating behaviors.

The Operations Supervisor also executes and supports work management practices that drive minimal to zero rework through clear work scopes, procedure adherence, and quality execution. Teams are held accountable for work quality, documentation accuracy, and defect closure. Post-job reviews, schedule compliance metrics, and Human Performance insights are used to identify causes of rework and implement corrective actions that improve planning quality, execution standards, and long-term equipment reliability.

The Operations Supervisor works closely with Maintenance, Planning, Scheduling, Procurement, Reliability Engineering, Supply Chain, EHS, and the O&M Contractor to meet Tallgrass Energy's safety, regulatory, environmental, and mission-critical data center commercial objectives while sustaining reliable, compliant, and high-performance plant operations.

Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Supervise the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of gas turbine (GT) and combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) generating units during assigned shifts.
• Lead, direct, and mentor Control Room Operators, Auxiliary Operators, and plant operations personnel to achieve operational, safety, and reliability objectives.
• Monitor and control plant equipment and process conditions through the Emerson Ovation Distributed Control System (DCS), ensuring prompt response to abnormal operating conditions
• Coordinate and oversee plant startups, shutdowns, load changes, equipment testing, and operational evolutions in accordance with approved procedures.
• Ensure all operating procedures, operating logs, and shift documentation are accurate, current, and consistently followed
• Maintain continuous situational awareness of plant status, equipment availability, electrical system configuration, and operating risks
• Serve as the primary decision-maker during shift operations, directing plant response to abnormal emergencies, and upset conditions to protect personnel, equipment, and generation reliability
• Conduct effective shift turnovers, pre-job briefs, and operational communications to ensure seamless transfer of responsibility between operating crews. This aligns with the Human Performance expectations referenced in the job description.
• Coordinate closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Reliability, and Contractor personnel to safely execute planned and emergent work activities while maintaining generation commitments
• Promote a culture of operational excellence, procedural compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement across all shift activities

LOTO Program and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Management

• Administer and enforce the plant Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program to ensure the safe isolation of equipment during maintenance, testing, and operating activities.
• Develop, review, approve, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), operating instructions, and operating guidelines to support safe and reliable plant operation.
• Ensure all operations personnel understand and comply with approved LOTO procedures, SOPs, and safe work practices.
• Review, authorize, and validate LOTO plans, switching orders, and equipment clearance boundaries to ensure personnel and equipment safety.
• Conduct field verifications of LOTO applications to confirm proper isolation, tagging, and restoration of plant equipment.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Engineering, and Contractor personnel to safely execute planned and emergent work activities under approved LOTO conditions.
• Lead periodic audits and assessments of LOTO and operating procedure compliance, identifying opportunities for improvement and corrective actions.
• Ensure changes to plant equipment, processes, or operating configurations are accurately reflected in operating procedures and LOTO documentation.
• Support employee training, qualifications, and periodic refresher programs related to LOTO, plant operating procedures, and safe work practices.
• Promote procedural compliance, Human Performance standards, and a strong safety culture through coaching, observations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Investigate LOTO, procedural, and operational errors or near misses, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Performance Monitoring & Optimization

• Monitor and evaluate plant operating data, performance trends, alarms, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to maximize generation reliability, efficiency, and operational readiness.
• Analyze plant performance metrics, including heat rate, availability, ramp rate capability, startup reliability, and equipment health indicators, and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Utilize the Emerson Ovation DCS, plant historian, and operational reporting tools to identify performance deviations, emerging equipment issues, and process optimization opportunities.
• Coordinate closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Reliability, and OEM representatives to troubleshoot equipment problems, determine root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Lead and support equipment testing, commissioning, tuning activities, and performance validation efforts to ensure generating units operate within design and contractual parameters.
• Support seasonal readiness programs, operational assessments, and plant improvement initiatives to enhance unit reliability, flexibility, and overall performance.
• Review operating events, equipment failures, and abnormal conditions to identify lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Track and communicate plant performance, equipment limitations, and operational risks to management and cross-functional stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with operations personnel to identify process improvements that reduce forced outages, improve startup performance, increase generation efficiency, and enhance overall fleet reliability.
• Ensure operational changes, tuning activities, and performance improvements are implemented safely and in accordance with approved operating procedures, environmental requirements, and plant operating limits.

Safety And Compliance

• Promote and reinforce a strong safety culture that prioritizes personnel safety, environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and adherence to Tallgrass Energy core values and Human Performance principles.
• Ensure all plant operations are conducted in compliance with OSHA regulations, environmental permits, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain compliance with applicable NERC, WECC, and other industry standards governing power generation operations and reliability.
• Lead by example in the execution of safe work practices, risk assessments, procedural adherence, and hazard recognition activities.
• Conduct incident, near-miss, and operational event investigations to identify root causes, contributing factors, and corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
• Facilitate post-event reviews and operational learning sessions to improve plant reliability, safety performance, and workforce effectiveness. This aligns with the Human Performance expectations described in the job description.
• Review and communicate lessons learned from safety events, equipment failures, and industry operating experience to operations personnel.
• Ensure employee compliance with safety procedures, permits, LOTO requirements, confined space requirements, hot work practices, and other critical safety programs.
• Support emergency response readiness by maintaining operator proficiency, conducting drills, and ensuring preparedness for plant emergencies, equipment failures, weather events, and grid disturbances.
• Serve as the Operations Incident Commander or designated shift leader during emergency and abnormal operating conditions, coordinating plant response activities to protect personnel, equipment, and generation assets.
• Monitor environmental compliance requirements, emissions limits, water usage, waste handling practices, and permit conditions, initiating corrective actions when required.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying safety risks, eliminating error precursors, and implementing corrective and preventive actions that improve operational performance and workforce safety.

Asset & Work Management

• Utilizing Maximo EAM to create, track, prioritize, and close operational work requests while maintaining accurate equipment records.
• Coordinating with Maintenance, Engineering, and Reliability teams to safely execute work activities and minimize impacts to plant generation.
• Monitoring plant and equipment performance to identify reliability issues, operational deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting reliability initiatives, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment improvement projects that enhance plant availability and performance.
• Participating in root cause analyses and corrective action programs to prevent recurring equipment failures and operational events.
• Ensuring operational issues are properly documented, communicated, and resolved to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.

Talent Management

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to Control Room Operators, Auxiliary Operators, and Operations Technicians to enhance knowledge, skills, and operational proficiency.
• Lead workforce development initiatives that promote safe work practices, procedural compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Support recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and qualification activities to build and maintain a highly skilled operations workforce.
• Ensure personnel complete required training, certification, qualification, and requalification programs in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement individual training plans that address competency development, career progression, and succession planning needs.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and establish measurable development goals to improve individual and team performance.
• Assess operator readiness, identify training gaps, and coordinate coaching opportunities to strengthen operational knowledge and decision-making capabilities.
• Promote employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and ownership through effective leadership and communication.
• Foster a learning environment that encourages knowledge sharing, lessons learned, Human Performance principles, and operational excellence.
• Recognize employee achievements and support corrective coaching when performance or behavioral expectations are not met.

Qualifications

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or a related discipline; or five (5) or more years of power plant operations experience in lieu of a degree. Experience in gas turbine (GT) and combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) operations is preferred. High school diploma or equivalent requirement can be substituted with eight (8) years of experience.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• 5+ years of power plant operations experience, preferably GT/CCGT.
• Strong working knowledge of Emerson Ovation DCS.
• Experience with Maximo or similar EAM systems.
• Demonstrated experience with Lockout/Tagout procedures.
• Demonstrated experience with power generation SOP's.
• Leadership experience in power generation or heavy industry.
• Understanding of OSHA regulations and environmental compliance.
• Supervisory or lead/Control operator experience with GT. CCGT.
• Experience with combined-cycle startups and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of NERC/WECC compliance programs
• Intermediate proficiency level in MS Office applications tha