Operations Manager of Waste-to-Energy Plant Essen-Karnap d/f/m

RWE Generation SE
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

As Operations Manager of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Essen-Karnap, you will be accountable for the safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally compliant operation of the plant and auxiliary systems, while taking full responsibility for operational performance and cost efficiency. 

You will take ownership of planning, managing and optimising plant operations, including load dispatch coordination in close alignment with customers. In this role, you will lead and coordinate the site Operations team, overseeing day-to-day operations activities and logistics for inbound waste deliveries. You will drive continuous optimisation with the objective of maximising asset performance and long-term value creation.

Reporting to the Plant Manager at Essen-Karnap, you will work closely with colleagues across Maintenance, Asset Management, and Engineering to ensure integrated and aligned plant performance within the generation portfolio.

About the role

• Play a leading and active role in managing safety, health & wellbeing and environmental protection, and truly and authentically inspire your team to do the same.


• Ensure a cost-optimised plant operation and compliance of fuel quality with requirements, also taking into account process safety, overall plant integrity, environmental boundaries and compliance with business processes.


• Continuously optimise processes and methods, also regarding automisation and digitalisation, to improve the working environment and to achieve operational excellence.


• Analyse operational incidents and develop appropriate corrective measures.


• Support planning of major overhauls and investment projects, such as a new control room.


• Planning of short-, medium- and long-term personnel requirements and efficient staff deployment including capability development.


• Lead, develop, motivate and promote all employees of the operations team to secure talent and further develop skills and competencies.


• Disciplinary and functional leadership, guidance and development of directly assigned employees.

Job requirements and experience

• University degree in a relevant technical discipline, or comparable qualification.


• Several years of relevant working experience, preferably in the operation or maintenance of power plants or comparable installations with a fully continuous rotating shift system.


• Safety and health and wellbeing focused professional who inspires, manages, and develops teams to reach their full potential.


• Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking with ability to act under conditions of uncertainty.


• Strong analytical skills and experience with Lean Six Sigma practices.


• Self-motivated to drive the business, increase performance and deliver results paired with ability to manage teams through change processes.


• Business fluent in German and English and willingness to work in an international environment.

RWE is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment – we value your passion, your willingness to learn and your desire to thrive. So, if you don’t display all the skills above but think this is the job for you, need flexible working arrangements or adjustments which aren’t outlined already, we would still like to hear from you.

Your benefits

• An exciting, varied, and demanding management role and close interaction with the other departments within the Biomass division.


• The opportunity to actively contribute to the future direction of the power plant.


• A diverse and modern environment where team members can work flexibly and autonomously.


• Attractive salary plus additional benefits such as an employer-financed company pension, a company car and employee discounts.


• Comprehensive company health management programme from our occupational health service and provision of high-quality work and protective clothing.


• Exciting work with scope for implementing your own ideas and a supportive team.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 92587, application period: 11.09.2026
Any questions? Contact HR: Andre Erkens, +49 173 2825498

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters

RWE Generation provides a flexible mix for a powerful future. With a team of around 3,500 employees, the division operates flexible gas power plants, bioenergy facilities, and hydropower stations in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Turkey. These assets play a vital role in balancing the supply of renewable energy during periods of fluctuation, thereby ensuring the stability of the power grid. Recognising the importance of energy storage, RWE Generation is integrating battery systems into its operations and pioneering hydrogen-powered technologies — an essential element for storing renewable energy for when it is needed most. As a long-standing partner for the regions in which we operate, our reliable, clean and flexible assets enable us to play a key role in decarbonising the energy system. Our team continues to be inventive, using their experience, talent and sunrise technologies to be the cornerstone our society can rely on.