APR Energy Reviews

APR Energy is really two work environments in one company, something common in Global project based companies : Jacksonville based employees who work a regular 40 hour week and employees who travel to sites outside of the US. If your are in the former category, than this is an average job, with more then average tension between departments, lack of senior accountability and ok pay. But you are in Jacksonville so you can hit the beach after, often leave early, and the company provides free lunches on Fridays. However, if you are in the latter category and travel abroad it is a different story. APR Energy has been having a hard time filling the roles that require overseas travel and has been putting pressure on existing employees to go out into the field. I volunteered thinking it would boost my value to the company, assist in fulfilling a needed role and help me make a difference. Huge mistake. The difference between what was stated as my new role and the reality is vast and not worth the time away from family and home for weeks/months on end. Forget about having a life if you travel abroad. In the field you will work 80+ hour week in very bad conditions, terrible food (if you can find it), lack of company funds, lack of appropriate accommodations, the company balking at having to pay local providers for services performed(!!!), little or no support from HR , logistics or procurement, constant harassment from Florida, etc… I know the last paragraph sounds unbelievable but, alas, it is true. The Senior Managements attitude, once you land in your new third world home, which was sold to you as an “entrepreneurial adventure”, can be summarized as “is it done yet?” APR Energy is trying to become project-based but it has no clear structure so as PM you have all the responsibilities but no authority. Other department have functional managers, typical matrix, and work on their own schedule. Since most people in the company have never traveled abroad this makes essentials like getting funds, renting vehicles, paying bills to local service providers or securing proper in-country visas in a developing country a moot point. Since APR brings online very profitable power plants for some very corrupt governments in hostile countries (ex. post-Gaddafi Libya, etc..), your own security is the least of anyone’s concern. Forget about emergency flights out of the country, in-country life-support, etc… be happy that you can book your own ticket back and get reimbursed later (another point of contention). The work is made more chaotic by the above mentioned lack of clear organization charts and roles. Many Senior Managers , and there are many, most scared for their own jobs, will call you with contradictor instructions due to infighting back in Florida at all hours of day and night. A suggestion from your end to improve a process or an idea brings reprimand. This is largely driven by the fact the Senior management in APR does not come from Engineering backgrounds and is not familiar with how to actually build a power plant, or anything else for that matter, in a third world country. This lack of experience among Senior Management, and supporting departments, results in wrong materials being sent to your site,(such as wrong generators… I am not making this up) different short-term goals being established which interfere with the completion of the project which leads to missed schedule milestone, etc, etc, etc… In conclusion, if you can stomach the infighting, management by punishment, are in the Jacksonville area and take a desk job, then it might work out for you. Unless you are laid off or quit like two or three dozen people per year. But avoid any roles where you are sent abroad. DO not get sweet talked into it about the difference you will make, how the company will appreciate it, the little extra pay, etc..etc… You will regret it. The time away from those important in your life or having a life and the needless stress, work for works sake, multiple number of inexperienced Senior Managers ....it is not worth it. But if you do decide to take a job with APR Energy, the economy is tough everywhere, either as a Jacksonville employee or one that travels abroad take this one grain of advice: Do not approach your new job with an open heart thinking that if you work hard, produce results, do whatever it takes to get your job done, you will be recognized and rewarded. You are barking up the wrong tree.