Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Plant Manager

Company Description

Uzbekistan Business Consultants (UBC) is a strategic consulting firm supporting global partners and multinational companies with market entry, investment facilitation, and operational support across Uzbekistan and Central Asia. On behalf of EDF ps, we are recruiting a Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Plant Manager for the Surkhandarya Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant in Termez, Uzbekistan.

Position Description
The COO (Plant Manager) is responsible for the overall management of the Surkhandarya CCGT power plant, including technical, contractual, and commercial aspects. The COO defines quality, cost, and schedule targets while ensuring plant operations and maintenance meet international utility standards and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations: Oversee daily power plant operations to ensure maximum performance, efficiency, and availability. Optimize fuel use, minimize downtime, and coordinate across departments.
• Maintenance: Develop and implement preventive and corrective maintenance strategies. Lead major overhauls, outages, and capital projects, ensuring budgets and schedules are respected. Manage spare parts and inventory control.
• Social, Safety & Environment (SHE): Promote a strong safety culture, enforce compliance with regulatory standards (OSHA, environmental permits), and oversee inspections, audits, and incident investigations.
• Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and manage plant staff. Build a high-performance culture through leadership, accountability, and continuous learning. Oversee performance evaluations and staff development.
• Financials: Prepare and manage operational and capital budgets. Monitor financial performance, optimize cost control, and manage supplier/contractor relationships.
• Compliance & Relations: Ensure full compliance with local laws, industry regulations, and environmental standards. Act as the primary liaison with government agencies, regulators, and local communities.
• Improvement: Diagnose and resolve technical issues promptly. Lead continuous improvement initiatives and adopt industry best practices to enhance operational excellence.

Qualifications

• University degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
• Minimum 15 years of experience in power plants, including at least 3 years as Plant Manager
• Proven track record in commissioning, start-up, operation, maintenance, and shutdown of CCGT plants
• Strong technical and managerial expertise in CCGT technology
• Fluency in English (Russian and/or Uzbek preferred)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

Additional Details

• Contract Duration: 3 years (extendable by 2 years)
• Probation Period: 3 months
• Work Schedule: 5 days/week, 8 hours/day
• Travel: Based in Termez, occasional business travel as required
• Start of Position: October 2025
• Candidate-covered costs: Accommodation, meals, car, visa, insurance, laptop