Optimization Manager

Job Summary:

The Optimization Manager - Fleet Performance & Analytics is responsible for leading Cordia's fleet-wide optimization initiative, leveraging plant data, engineering analysis, and control system insights to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs, and sustain long-term performance gains across the fleet.

Housed within the Ops Support organization, this role partners closely with plant operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to identify, prioritize, and implement system- and plant-level optimization opportunities. The Optimization Manager will scale proven approaches (including analytics and monitoring developed in pilot sites) across all facilities, identify new areas of improvement, develop meaningful KPIs to track and sustain performance, and support the execution and expansion of optimization-related projects. This role may also oversee or provide functional direction to a data analyst, helping to guide analytical workstreams and ensure alignment with fleet optimization objectives.

Principle Responsibilities/Key Results Areas:

• Lead the development and execution of a fleet-wide plant optimization strategy focused on improving system efficiency, reducing losses, and lowering operating costs.
• Identify plant- and system-level performance gaps using operational data, historian tools, and engineering analysis.
• Translate data insights into actionable optimization opportunities that can be implemented and sustained at operating facilities.
• Utilize plant data platforms (e.g., AVEVA PI or equivalent historians) and analytical tools to monitor performance, identify trends, and quantify optimization opportunities.
• Develop and maintain fleet-standard KPIs to monitor system efficiency, losses, and optimization effectiveness.
• Establish performance baselines and measurement frameworks to verify benefits realization and long-term sustainability.
• Identify opportunities for control system improvements, automation enhancements, and system logic changes that improve plant efficiency and stability.
• Support the definition, justification, and prioritization of optimization-related control system upgrades or engineering projects.
• Partner with controls, engineering, and plant teams to ensure technical solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned with operating realities.
• Support project rollout, implementation, and expansion of optimization initiatives across the fleet.
• Collaborate with plant teams during implementation to ensure changes are clearly communicated, properly tested, and successfully adopted.
• Assist with post-implementation performance verification and handoff to ensure improvements are sustained.
• Support project rollout, implementation, and expansion of optimization initiatives across the fleet.
• Conduct assessments of current assets to identify emerging equipment, health risks, potential failure points, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support root cause analysis reviews for equipment downtime and development and execution of corrective actions to reduce the risk of repeat failures.
• Implement reporting of key performance metrics for optimization and leverage data analysis to formulate focused, prioritized improvement plans.
• Provide support and training to technicians and plant managers centered on equipment performance, and maintenance practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and skill development
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and best engineering practices for equipment performance.
• Support the continuous improvement mindset for safety, reliability, maintenance, and project management initiatives.

Skills and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in operations, maintenance, or engineering environment.
• Experience with industrial or energy systems, rotating equipment, thermal systems, or process operations.
• Experience spending time in both data analysis and the field to understand plant/system/equipment behavior.
• Experience using plant data and engineering analysis to improve system or plant-level performance.
• Experience supporting or leading implementation of technical or operational improvements in an operating plant environment.
• Proven ability to prioritize work streams to determine the highest impact on overall company objectives.
• Track record of owning issues endtoend, including followup after implementation.
• Willingness to lead and train others to increase equipment and performance knowledge throughout the organization.
• Experience with industrial data historians and analytics platforms (e.g., AVEVA PI).
• Experience in Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems.
• Comfortable working across multiple facilities and coordinating with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent multitasking skills, capable of managing numerous projects and activities concurrently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey technical concepts effectively.
• High proficiency in computer-based programs including the Microsoft Suite as well as project scheduling tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related discipline) or equivalent experience.
• Eight (8) years of experience in operations, maintenance, or engineering environment.
• Familiarity with control systems, instrumentation, process optimization, and industrial automation concepts.
• Experience supporting fleet-wide or multi-site initiatives.
• Background working within or alongside reliability, maintenance, or operations organizations.
• Experience developing and improving plant and system processes, authoring clear and effective SOPs, and leading the implementation of process and system changes across multiple operating facilities.
• Fiix maintenance management program (CMMS) and/or NetSuite (ERP) experience.
• Aveva PI operational data platform experience.
• Experience providing functional or supervisory oversight of analytical or technical staff, including setting priorities, reviewing work products, and aligning efforts to organizational objectives.
• Knowledge of industry best performance testing and monitoring practices.