ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA POSITION DESCRIPTION Position: Manager: Principal Electrical Engineer WAO Powerhouse Operations & Power Distribution WAO Powerhouse Operations Manager Accountability Objective Accountability for managing Electrical Engineering and maintenance best practice for WAO powerhouse operations and power distribution, ensuring that equipment reliability and availability is maximised in a planned, safe and cost effective manner to enable maximum generation and uninterrupted supply of power to WA Refineries. The incumbent possesses advanced skills and knowledge necessary to isolate, diagnose, analyse, rectify and improve equipment/process related problems for designated equipment and or process. This requires the acquisition of technical specialist skills associated with the designated process, direct participation in planned outages and performance improvement programs as well as fulfilling a role in upholding team-operating guidelines. To this extent a range of skills combined with a thorough knowledge of the Company s overall maintenance strategy and direction is necessary. Furthermore, the ability to problem solve and deal with a range of people, both internal and external to the Plant, is a significant requirement of this job. Critical Achievement Areas (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Achieves maintenance work objectives by managing preventative maintenance and carrying out repairs as necessary. This includes strategic planning, investigating improvements to avoid equipment failure and downtime, considering downstream implications and recording repairs and modifications to maintain equipment history. Demonstrates initiative, creativity, judgement and well-developed problem solving skills combined with a comprehensive knowledge of equipment/process and budget & cost control mechanisms. Proactively shares and exchanges best practice information relating to equipment/process performance with peers and operators. Controls maintenance costs pertaining to area of responsibility by establishing an annual maintenance budget and conducting regular forecasts and expenditure reviews in accordance with the annual operating and maintenance plan. Monitors the condition of the process, plant and equipment on a continual basis by including a wide range of condition monitoring resources.
(vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) Determines whether faults are electrical, mechanical or operational by maintaining close communications with users of the equipment within the area, and by utilising advanced faultfinding techniques. Contributes to a safe working environment for all personnel by identifying and correcting hazards, ensuring compliance to legislative safety standards, Alcoa high voltage standard 32.60, equipment tag-out procedures and SWI s as well as ensuring all Plant policies and procedures concerning Occupational Health and Safety are upheld. Contributes to the continual improvement of Plant operating performance through the utilisation of team building, advance problem solving, advanced communication and organisational skills. Contributes to the effective management of the inventory of spare parts, equipment and materials to ensure the optimum balance between stock holdings and equipment performance/downtime by establishing critical inventories, through competent utilisation of the Stores/Procurement system and Maintenance Management system Organises and manages planned maintenance and shut-down activities by providing direction, support and guidance to others, including contractors, engaged on the work being carried out. Ensures work packages are available with a 4 6 week outlook, incorporating resource and material requirements, scopes of work and SWI instructions for input to the scheduling process. Explanatory Statement The Incumbent requires a thorough understanding of the WAO Plant s maintenance strategy and direction. In doing so the incumbent applies their individual skills to carry out the duties associated with the electrical maintenance management of all equipment for WAO Powerhouse Operations and WAO Power Distributions The application of this skill and knowledge requires a sound understanding of operating principles, processes, definition of failure modes, mean time to failure and systems so as to ensure effective maintenance support and performance enhancement of plant and equipment is provided on an on-going basis. Solutions to problems may require considerable investigation, analysis and time using extensive experience, problem-solving skills and advanced process knowledge. Implementation plans for some improvement projects may extend over periods up to twelve months duration.
The incumbent undertakes duties, which are typically associated with, Engineering, Purchasing and Electrical Trades disciplines. These duties include: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) supervision of external contractors carrying out work in the defined specialist areas; prioritising work following critical assessment reviews and consultation with stakeholders; managing project work or shut downs in the defined work area including liaison with departments and contractors involved in or affected by the work; seeking solutions to process, plant and equipment problems, making recommendations and implementing design modifications; Managing the inventory of spare parts, equipment and materials associated with area/process accountability, to ensure the optimum balance between stock holdings and equipment performance/downtime. Principal Contacts Internal Who WAO Powerhouse Manager WAO Powerhouse Electrical Lead Team Powerhouse Supervisors Purpose Set work priorities. Report back project status, cost performance and compliance with Alcoa / legislated standards. Provide direction for Powerhouse electrical engineering and maintenance work. Facilitate sharing of best practise, ensuring ongoing continuous improvement. Work priorities, identify significant E/I issues. Provide input in developing Capital and Expense budgets. Refinery E/I Maintenance Supervisors Refinery Senior Electrical Engineers Develop maintenance plans for Refinery power distribution systems. Review future project power requirements, for developing power distribution strategic plans.
Finance Control and monitoring of budgets and procurement procedures & policy External Various Contractors Technical advisers/vendors General Liaison and assistance. Letting contracts. Contractor direction. Purchasing parts and equipment. Training and Experience The incumbent must have successfully completed a tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering. The incumbent must also have developed suitable plant familiarity and skills necessary to provide a specialised level of support to their designated area of plant or process accountability. Typically this level of awareness is attainable over five to eight years of plant experience. Furthermore the incumbent is expected to acquire those additional skills determined by the team as being necessary for the team to operate effectively and efficiently. These cover the following areas: occupational health and safety skills; team building/communication skills; advanced problem solving skills; budgeting/purchasing skills: Quality assurance (ISO) Alcoa Business System (ABS) ASAT protocols Impact The WAO Power Stations supply steam, power and compressed plant and instrument air to the associated refinery processing plant. The steam is generated by boilers, with power generated by back pressure steam turbines. The plant and instrument air is generated by a combination of reciprocating and centrifugal air compressors. The WAO Power House Operations and Power Distribution Senior Engineer is accountable for electrical engineering and maintenance at the three power stations (Kwinana, Pinjarra, Wagerup). Each power station has its own electrical engineer, these staff report to the incumbent, but accountability for outcomes remain. Emphasis is given to long term and high impact and strategic issues.
The Power Distribution systems are critical to the safe and reliable operation of the Refineries. The WAO Refineries combined power consumption is in excess of 200MW. This power is transferred from the Powerhouse to the Refineries by 30 high voltage feeders and over 150 Sub Stations, which supply power to the thousands of motors which drive the process. Systems and structures are required to ensure that the power distribution system meets the needs of the Refineries in the future, and the high level of reliability and security of supply are maintained. Need to maintain the high level of technical expertise of the support personnel. Responsibilities also include co-ordination of major electrical maintenance activities between sites (to manage around specialist contract resources and energy balancing requirements for purchased power), introduction of technology and new practices.