Performance Manager

Job Purpose / Overview

The Performance Manager is accountable for assuring the safe, compliant, and commercially aligned technical performance of Fidra Energy's Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets. The role ensures that asset availability, degradation profile, efficiency, and operational regimes deliver in line with:

• Contractual obligations (Capacity Market, ancillary services, offtake agreements)
• Grid Code and NESO technical performance requirements
• OEM guarantees and warranty conditions
• Financial lifecycle and degradation assumptions

The Performance Manager provides technical performance assurance and governance.

Contextual Information Operating Environment

The Performance Manager reports to the Station Director and is based at the Fidra Technical and Engineering Hub at Thorpe Marsh BESS. Travel across the UK will be required.

By Commercial Operation Date, the Thorpe Marsh site will have a fully mobilised Operations team responsible for safe and effective day-to-day operation of the asset.

The Performance Manager provides independent technical oversight and assurance of asset performance. The role operates at the interface between:

• Operations (execution and safe running of the plant)
• Commercial (trading strategy and market participation)
• RtM / optimisation partners (real-time dispatch execution)
• OEMs and service providers

The role is not responsible for operational execution or trading strategy but is accountable for identifying and escalating technical performance risks that may impact contractual compliance, regulatory exposure, or revenue realisation.

The Performance Manager will support the development of fleet-wide performance governance processes as Fidra Energy expands its BESS portfolio.

Principal Accountabilities Asset & Performance Management

• Own and monitor site performance KPIs (including but not limited to):
• Technical and contractual availability
• Round trip efficiency
• Degradation vs warranty curves
• Cycle utilisation vs financial model
• Service delivery capability
• Analyse operational and market performance data to identify underperformance, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Track battery health and degradation trends against OEM warranties and financial lifecycle assumptions.
• Develop and implement performance improvement plans in collaboration with Operations and OEMs.
• Lead validation of performance testing, including OEM performance verification and contractual compliance testing.
• Establish documented performance governance processes to support current and future fleet assets.

Operational Oversight

• Work closely with the Operations Manager to ensure asset performance remains within warranty and technical limits. Ensure compliance with operating procedures, grid code requirements, and safety standards.
• Support fault investigations and return-to-service activities where performance is impacted.
• Review and challenge OEM performance, service reports, and contractual obligations.

Commercial & Market Interface

• Provide technical performance inputs to support commercial decision-making.
• Validate that dispatch behaviour remains within asset technical and warranty envelopes.
• Quantify technical constraints impacting realised revenue.
• Support post-event performance analysis and settlement reconciliation where required. Contribute to forecasting, budgeting, and performance reporting for internal and external stakeholders.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all performance activities comply with H&S, environmental, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in audits, incident investigations, and risk assessments as required.

Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Produce regular investor-grade performance reports covering availability, degradation trajectory, compliance status, and performance risk.
• Provide technical insight to support long-term asset strategy and lifecycle planning.
• Act as a key technical interface with OEMs, service partners, and regulatory stakeholders.

This list is not exhaustive:

Dimensions

• 1 Direct Report - Performance Engineer

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience Knowledge & Skills Essential

• Strong understanding of battery technologies, degradation mechanisms, and performance metrics.
• Working knowledge of grid services, power markets, and ancillary service performance requirements.
• Understanding of dispatch optimisation principles and asset constraints.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional communication skills.

Desirable

• Familiarity with performance monitoring tools and data platforms

Qualifications & Experience Essential

• Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Energy, or a related technical discipline.
• Proven experience in performance, asset, or operations management within BESS, renewables, or power generation.
• Experience analysing large datasets and translating insights into actionable improvement plans.

Desirable

• Experience working with OEMs and managing service or warranty contracts.
• Experience in a regulated or safety-critical environment.
• Knowledge of SCADA systems and 3rd party asset management software platforms.
• Experience supporting compliance testing in regulated environments.

Key Competencies

• Uses data and technical insight to maximise availability, efficiency, and long-term asset value.
• Understands the link between operational performance, battery health, and commercial outcomes.
• Effectively influences OEMs, service providers, and internal teams to deliver performance targets.
• Embeds safety, compliance, and risk management into all performance decisions.
• Takes accountability for outcomes and drives ongoing performance improvement.