Senior Offshore Windfarm Controller

Job Title Senior Windfarm Controller 

Location Lowestoft 

Salary up to £68,959 + shift allowance, bonus up to 10% and health cover 

Help us create a better future, quicker 

The Wind Farm Controller will also be responsible for ensuring that all necessary conditions are satisfied before staff can commence transit to the work site e.g. work orders are in place and staff are competent/authorised to undertake work. 

The Wind Farm Controller will support site operations by managing and coordinating the safe, efficient and cost-effective transfer of personnel and equipment from the onshore base to the offshore work sites (and vice versa) via marine vessels. Overseeing sea and weather conditions are within acceptable parameters. 

The Wind Farm Controller will be responsible for the remote monitoring and operation of turbine status via SCADA in order to identify any issues that require corrective action. 

The Wind Farm Controller Will Act as Operational Controller under the main contractors WTSR’s managing transfer of control of assets after performing due diligent checks on authorisations, paperwork, and team make ups. 

The Wind Farm Controller will be working under site approved HV Safety Rule’s(HVSR), solely responsible for managing and coordinating any associated HV works ensuring safety from the system is sufficiently always applied 

What you’ll be doing 

The individual, in respect of the following activities, will: 

HV management of the Wind Farm: 

· Perform the role of Control Person under the High Voltage Safety Rules up to 66kV - CP3 level (cross boundary) or equivalent as per site HVSR’s. 

·Support Outage planning together with the Senior Authorized Persons and the Deputy Site Managers at site. 

· Work effectively within site boundaries and establish good communications consulting with Control Persons from other networks and boundaries. 

· Prepare switching schedules and reconfigurations of windfarm to allow conducting of HV Switching operations. 

· Coordinate with Whitelee control centre, site SAP if HV switching is required and site asset integrity team for any related technical support of HV apparatus and protection systems Conduct HV switching operations. 

Offshore work coordination: 

· Manage activities related to the transfer of personnel and equipment by vessels (or equivalent) to ensure that this is carried out in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner. 

· Always ensuring approved permits are in place for planned activities, liaising with the site Technical Planner for support.  

· Support the planning of work schedules to optimize use of logistics.  

· Monitor weather conditions and establish access parameters taking account of weather forecasts, sea conditions and light conditions to ensure consistent go, no go and stand-down decisions are made in order to ensure safe transit and access to work sites can be achieved.  

· Organise vessel audits to ensure compliance of operators.  

· Initiate and coordinate the project emergency response plan.  

· Liaise with ABP Lowestoft to progress/control port manoeuvres.  

· Ensure adherence to all H&S procedures associated with maritime/offshore working.  

· Ensure personnel going offshore are suitably qualified and hold all the necessary certification.  

· Coordinate all marine traffic in the site, and vessels transiting between site and main port.  

· Monitor all vessel and personnel movements offshore by use of Personnel Tracking System (PTS) and Vessel Tracking System (VTS), guaranteeing the location of all personnel offshore is known should an emergency situation arise.

Wind Turbine Management:  

· Act as Operational Controller under the main contractors WTSR’s (Wind turbine safety rules)  

· Monitor WTG SCADA and act upon alarms / issues where they arise to ensure efficient response times are achieved and generation maximised, liaising with site Asset integrity team for support. 

 Associated Wind Farm Controller Training:  

· Depending on HV experience and initial assessment the Wind Farm Controller will be placed under a training path towards achieving authorizations to manage High Voltage Operations and act as Control Person up to 66kV. The Wind Farm Controller will be placed under a training path program and assigned / shadow a HV authorised site mentor working to a programme to achieve Control Person authorization up to 66kV CP3 level (cross boundary) or equivalent under Site HV Safety Rules  

· Wind Farm Controller will conduct a bespoke marine training competency pack and depending on marine experience will also look to achieve onsite training gaining relevant experience, perform any associated external training that includes emergency response, and any applicable marine training proposed by site management team.  

Other duties  

· Support the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures, operating systems and associated tools to facilitate the smooth operation of day-to-day offshore logistics  

· Regularly report on defined KPIs through the Company standard systems 

· Supply data to assist in the short- and long-term maintenance planning process  

· Regularly update management on site activities to keep them informed of any issues/challenges experienced.  

· Maximise offshore H&S performance by complying with all applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures and through the reporting and rectification of any non-conformances.  

· Effective and efficient operation of offshore logistics in cooperation with Siemens and other associated contractors.  

· Optimise operational expenditure through efficient and safe marine control procedures  

· Assist Deputy Site Management in relation to daily issues as well as daily, weekly and monthly reporting 

What you’ll bring 

· Ideally experienced previously working as a control room operator conducting HV switching operations and associated switching schedules. 

· Previously authorizations under High Voltage Safety Rules as either a Control Person or SAP. 

· Knowledge of SCADA systems, WTGs, HV equipment substations auxiliary equipment. 

· Experienced in working with safe systems of work (WTSR, HVSR). 

· Previous experience working in the offshore wind industry or industry with similar operational requirements and safety challenges (e.g. Oil & Gas) 

· Offshore marine or helicopter coordination experience is desirable but not mandatory as training could be provided. 

· Experience with VHF radio telecommunication systems. 

· Have strong H&S experience and knowledge, ideally within the offshore working environment 

· Excellent communications skills enabling you to communicate your messages smoothly and efficiently to stakeholders at all organizational levels 

· Have project planning or equivalent experience 

· High level IT knowledge. 

· Excellent interpersonal skills