Geothermal Production Managers

At a Glance

Must have good engineering and management skills
Work both with people and with data
Work both indoors, in plants, and outdoors, when visiting well fields
Have at least a two-year degree
Have several years of experience in the field before working as a manager

Career summary

Geothermal production managers oversee work at geothermal power plants. They maintain and monitor geothermal equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

#checked 2/18/15 lh

Geothermal power uses heat generated by the Earth's core to provide energy. Geothermal plants use steam and hot water to generate electricity.

Geothermal production managers oversee work at the power plant and off-site locations. They supervise workers at the plant. They develop operating plans and schedules for production. They maintain daily logs and maintenance reports.

They monitor the systems' performance and follow maintenance procedures. They inspect the plant and well fields to make sure equipment is operating properly. Managers troubleshoot problems and make minor repairs. When major repairs are required they call in geothermal technicians.

Geothermal production managers make sure the plant is in compliance with regulations. They write compliance reports and apply for permits for construction, upgrades, and operations when required. They ensure the plant meets safety and environmental impact standards.

Production managers develop and manage budgets for plant operations. They look for ways to make the production systems more efficient by making improvements to equipment and methodologies.

They also negotiate interconnection agreements with other utilities. They also communicate with land owners and local government officials.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to geothermal production managers.

Supervise employees in geothermal power plants or well fields.
Oversee geothermal plant operations, including maintenance, repairs, and compliance with regulations.
Prepare permit applications or compliance reports.
Negotiate agreements with other utilities.
Communicate changes in rules or procedures to employees.
Identify and evaluate equipment. Look for inefficiencies and ways to improve.
Perform or direct others to perform preventative maintenance on plant equipment.
Develop and manage operational budgets.
Obtain permits for construction and upgrades.
Develop operating plans and schedules.
Record, review, and maintain logs, reports, and other records.
Conduct well field site assessments.
Identify ways to improve employee performance.

Common work activities

Geothermal production managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Get information needed to do the job
Schedule work and activities
Use computers
Make decisions and solve problems
Develop and build teams
Identify objects, actions, and events
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Monitor and control resources
Evaluate information against standards
Establish and maintain relationships
Update and use job-related knowledge
Process information
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Communicate with people outside the organization
Guide, direct, and motivate others
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Teach others
Perform administrative tasks
Coach others
Document and record information
Think creatively
Analyze data or information
Provide advice and consultation to others
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
Develop goals and strategies
Explain the meaning of information to others
Recruit, interview, or hire others
Assist and care for others
Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
Provide information or drawings about devices, equipment, or structures

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, geothermal production managers:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a high level of social interaction throughout their workday.
Communicate with people daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
Are extremely responsible for the work done by other workers.
Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
Are extremely responsible for the health and safety of customers and other workers.
Work as part of a project team.
Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.

Physical work conditions

Work both indoors and outdoors.
Frequently wear protective or safety attire, such as hard hats or goggles.
Are often exposed to loud sounds or distracting noise levels.
Are sometimes exposed to hot or cold temperatures, depending on weather and location.
Are sometimes exposed to contaminants.
Sometimes must work in hazardous conditions or with hazardous equipment.
Regularly travel to work sites in an enclosed vehicle, such as a truck or van.

Work performance

Must be very exact or accurate when performing the job. Errors could significantly impact customers and the effectiveness of heating or cooling systems.
Rarely consult a superior before making a decision or setting tasks and goals.
Meet strict daily and weekly deadlines. This makes the work atmosphere somewhat competitive.
Make decisions daily that strongly impact coworkers and their company.
Repeat the same physical or mental tasks throughout the day.
Sometimes must match the pace of work to the speed of equipment.

Hours/travel

Work more than 40 hours during a regular business week.
May work weekends or evenings to meet project deadlines.

Physical demands

Geothermal production managers frequently:

Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for geothermal production managers to be able to:

Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for geothermal production managers to be able to:

See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Determine the distance between objects.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.

Skills and abilities

Geothermal production managers need to:

Communicate

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Read and understand work-related materials.
Understand written information.
Write clearly so other people can understand.
Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Recognize the nature of a problem.
Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Think of new ideas about a topic.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Use math and science

Use math skills to solve problems.
Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Manage the time of self and others.
Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.
Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.

Work with people

Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
Teach others how to do something.
Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with things

Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.

Perceive and visualize

Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a geothermal production manager, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent;
have at least a two-year degree; and
have five years or more of related work experience.

Education after high school

Geothermal production managers usually have an associate or bachelor's degree and related work experience. However, because of the specialized nature of this job, ideal candidates have a bachelor's degree in engineering or business. A bachelor's degree in engineering and a master's degree in business administration (MBA) is good preparation for this occupation.

Work experience

In general, employers prefer to hire people who have several years of experience in the heating and cooling industry. It helps if some of your time is spent as a supervisor.

On-the-job training

Many employers offer training specific to geothermal energy as well as the company's products and policies. The length of training varies by employer.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Computer Applications
Introduction to Business
Manufacturing Systems

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for applicants with several years of experience in this field or in heating and cooling. Applicants with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or business are highly desired.

Employers prefer to hire geothermal production managers who are creative and analytical. They look for people who can solve problems and work with abstract ideas. Oral and written communication skills are also important. Employers look for people who can work as part of a team. Employers also prefer geothermal production managers who have strong computer skills.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues. Managers are usually expected to have professional attire. Some must pay for continuing education courses to improve and learn new management skills. Managers who desire certification may have to pay for additional education and testing to become certified.

Licensing/certification

Typically, workers who install, test, and maintain electrical systems are required to have an electrician's license. Check with your state for information about local licensing requirements.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

Industrial Production Managers

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

Salaries vary greatly by employer and plant size. In addition to salary, geothermal production managers may receive bonuses for good job performance.

Geothermal production managers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

National wage information is not available specifically for geothermal production managers. However, they are part of the larger group of "industrial production managers."

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

Currently, there is no specific statewide outlook information available for geothermal production managers.

Nine western states have operational geothermal generation plants. At this time there are no plants operating or planned for construction in Washington State.

#No outlook info available

National employment

Major employers:

Utility companies
Local, state, and federal government-sponsored power plants

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is expected to show little to no change. As facilities adapt to leaner production models employment of workers and managers may be equally affected. The increased use of renewable energy may create some jobs.

Opportunities will be best for those with a degree in engineering or business.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for geothermal production managers. However, they are part of the larger group of "industrial production managers."

Other resources

American Public Power Association
2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 1000
Arlington, VA 22202
202.467.2900

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
901 D Street SW, Suite 930
Washington, DC 20024
202.488.2200

Society of Women Engineers
130 East Randolph Street, Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60601
877.793.4636

US Department of Energy
(Renewable energy information - geothermal energy)

US Department of Energy: Clean Energy Training Programs

Washington Business Week
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

Business Management and Administration

Career path

Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net occupation

Geothermal Production Managers (11-3051.02)

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.