Vice President of Operations

Central Rural Electric Cooperative

Exhibiting stewardship for the cooperative, the Vice President of Operations will serve as a member of the cooperative’s executive leadership team and work collaboratively across multiple departments to set organizational goals and initiatives. The Vice President of Operations provides development, oversight and  administration of the engineering and operations team and is responsible for the cooperative and subsidiary electric and broadband infrastructure.

Core Values

The core values represent the code of conduct required of every employee to ensure a higher standard of performance and cooperation is demonstrated and maintained throughout the cooperative.

• Safety First - It is our responsibility to educate and protect ourselves, coworkers, members and the public from hazards exposed by the nature of our work.
• Purpose Driven - We believe that safe, affordable and reliable electricity is the foundation of our communities and has the power to transform lives.
• Dedicated to Serve - We make every decision and measure every outcome based on how well it serves our members.
• Respectful Engagement - We listen to one another and embrace diverse opinions, tactful honesty and authentic integrity.
• Servant Leadership - We look for ways to help each other grow through collaboration and teamwork. Above all, we treat others with the respect, compassion and equality they deserve.
• Results Oriented - We follow through on commitments and show forward progress.

Core Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities described below are the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be all inclusive for this position.

• Guide the overall direction of the operations and engineering departments which includes departmental budgets, benchmarks, and measurements.
• Serves as the main point of contact for any major development inquiries. Leads the energy supply coordination between the cooperative and G&T’s.
• Coordinates with other departments regarding special studies and business modeling (load forecast, construction work plan, cost of service study, sectionalizing study, etc.)
• Directs and is accountable for the daily operations and activities of the departments though delegations to those under his/her supervision. Directs personnel as assigned ensuring that all duties, responsibilities and commitments are accomplished in accordance with established safety rules, standards, practices and procedures. Regularly, at least monthly, reviews the accomplishments of the departments and prepares reports for executive management and the Board of Trustees.
• Serves as a member of the management team and participates in staff meetings and other general staff activities. Keeps executive management informed of all happenings, events and occurrences, both external and internal to the cooperative that may affect the well-being of the cooperative. Performs all other reasonable duties and activities as necessary to fulfill the cooperatives goals and objectives.
• Promotes coordination and cooperation between all departments of the cooperative.
• Develops, reviews, and maintains a working knowledge of all major policies, standards, procedures, rates, terms and conditions of service of the cooperative. Keeps informed in latest RUS construction standards and work order accounting procedures, attends and participates in approved workshops, institutes and other education programs to improve knowledge and ability. Regularly inspects electric distribution system to insure quality of workmanship and compliance with design and RUS specifications.
• Coordinate and work with other cooperative departments to effectively and efficiently support the members/subscribers and the cooperative.
• Responsible for vegetation management planning and activities.
• Oversees the cooperative’s fleet and fleet maintenance.

Classification

• Exempt
• Reports to the Chief Executive Officer
• Decisions and duties have a significant impact on the organization. Work requires independent and original thinking.
• Serves at the executive management level and has formal supervisory responsibility for the work of others.

Qualifications

A successful candidate must believe in the core values of the organization and be driven by the mission. The qualifications below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific requirements and competencies include:

• Solid Educational Background - Undergraduate degree preferred. Must have at least 10 years of relative experience.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors preferred.
• Experience with NISC and Milsoft software platforms preferred.
• Industry experience in a cooperative environment with a broadband subsidiary is desirable.
• Must have and maintain a valid Oklahoma Driver License.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions, conducts cost-benefit analyses, displays orientation to profitability, demonstrates knowledge of market and competition and aligns work with strategic goals.
• Conflict Resolution - Encourages open communications, confronts difficult situations, maintains objectivity, controls emotions, and uses negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others, inspires respect and trust, reacts well under pressure, shows courage to take action and motivates others to perform well.
• Managing People - Provides direction and gains compliance, includes subordinates in planning, takes responsibility for subordinates' activities, makes self-available to subordinates, provides regular performance feedback and develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.
• Performance Coaching - Defines responsibilities and expectations, sets goals and objectives, gives performance feedback, motivates for increased results, recognizes contributions, encourages training and development.
• Relationship Building - Builds rapport up, down and across the organization, establishes collaborative relationships to achieve objectives, seeks win-win solutions to conflict, develops network of professional contacts, displays empathy and tolerates diverse viewpoints.
• Strategic Marketing - Identifies and communicates a vision for strategic growth, scans environment and responds to threats and opportunities, analyzes current and future competitors, develops and applies understanding of market needs, establishes strategic partnerships and alliances.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals, understands organization's strengths and weaknesses, analyzes market and competition, identifies external threats and opportunities and adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Visionary Leadership - Creates a clear, compelling vision, communicates vision and gains commitment, acts in accordance with vision, displays passion and optimism, mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.

About Central Rural Electric Cooperative

Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an electric distribution cooperative that serves more than 25,000 meters in seven central Oklahoma counties. In 2020 Central formed Centranet, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CREC, to provide cutting-edge internet via a fiber broadband communications network to more than 12,500 subscribers. VISION STATEMENT: Bring the cooperative difference to life by investing time and resources in our members, communities and employees. MISSION STATEMENT: Empowering our members and communities. STRATEGIC PLAN - KEY FOCUS AREAS Organizational Alignment Safety Fiscal Responsibility Cooperative Culture Subsidiary Success Member & Community Engagement

Connections working at Central Rural Electric Cooperative