Control Room Operator - CPP at HBM Nigeria Plc (Formerly Lafarge)

Location: Ashaka, Gombe

About the job 

• The Control Room Operator (CRO) is accountable for the safe, disciplined, and efficient operation of the power plant from the control room.
• The CRO ensures continuous monitoring and control of the CFB boiler, turbine, generator, and auxiliary systems in compliance with approved operating procedures, safety regulations, and management directives.
• The role is critical to protecting personnel safety, equipment integrity, environmental compliance, and plant readiness.

What you'll be doing 
Plant Operation & Control:

• Operate and monitor plant systems through the Distributed Control System (DCS) strictly in accordance with approved SOPs, operating limits, and shift instructions.
• Maintain key parameters such as bed temperature, furnace pressure, oxygen concentration, steam drum level, steam pressure, and auxiliary system performance within safe limits.
• Execute start-up, shutdown, load changes, equipment test runs, and emergency actions only as authorized and in line with procedures.
• Respond promptly and effectively to alarms, trips, and process deviations to prevent unsafe conditions or equipment damage.

Safety, Health & Environment (HSE) Accountability:

• Fully comply with plant HSE policies, permit-to-work systems, lockout/tagout procedures, and emergency response plans.
• Refuse and stop any operation deemed unsafe and escalate immediately to the Shift Supervisor.
• Actively participate in safety briefings, drills, hazard identification, and incident investigations.
• Set a personal example of safety discipline, professionalism, and situational awareness.

Monitoring Analysis & Improvement:

• Continuously monitor process trends, alarms, and performance indicators to detect early signs of abnormal conditions.
• Report deviations, defects, and inefficiencies promptly and support root cause analysis activities.
• Contribute to operational improvement initiatives, preservation optimization, and commissioning readiness.

Coordination & Communication:

• Maintain clear, continuous communication with Field Operators, ensuring instructions are understood and confirmed before execution.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Electrical, Mechanical, and Instrumentation teams during inspections, isolation, testing, preservation, and defect rectification.
• Conduct accurate shift handovers, clearly communicating plant status, outstanding alarms, risks, and ongoing activities.

Commissioning, Preservation & Maintenance Support:

• Support boiler preservation, auxiliary equipment operation, flushing, and readiness activities during non-operational phases.
• Monitor preservation parameters and ensure compliance with preservation procedures
• Assist in identifying, logging, tracking, and verifying closure of plant defects.

Housekeeping & Plant Discipline:

• Maintain good housekeeping in assigned areas to prevent slips, trips, fires, and operational hazards.
• Ensure walkways, platforms, ladders, and access points remain safe and unobstructed.
• Report damaged structures, missing guards, or unsafe installations.

Documentation & Professional Conduct:

• Accurately maintain hourly logs, shift reports, alarm/event records, and operational checklists.
• Ensure all operational data is complete, factual, timely, and compliant with plant documentation standards.
• Support audits, reviews, and investigations through accurate record-keeping.

Training, Discipline & Professional Conduct:

• Participate in all required training, drills, and competency assessments
• Support mentoring and on-the-job training of junior operators when assigned.
• Maintain professional conduct, operational discipline, and respect for the chain of command always.

Requirements

• Degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or any other relevant degree.
• Minimum 3 years' experience with at least 1 in captive (coal) power plant.
• Strong Excel and MS Office proficiency (including good knowledge of PowerPoint).
• Good knowledge SAP and SAP FC is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively under time pressure, in a demanding environment, while maintaining the highest professional standards.
• Ability to self-organize, prioritize tasks, take initiatives, and make recommendations while engaging with Senior Leaders.
• Build informal networks across functions to ensure smooth flow inputs for own deliverables.
• Top presentation skills to be able to convey clear and synthetic messages (verbally or on paper).