Chief Operations Officer (COO)

at  Ohios Electric Cooperatives

THIS CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (COO) POSITION WORKS OUT OF BOTH THE LORAIN-MEDINA RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE HEADQUARTERS IN WELLINGTON, OH, AND THE NORTH CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE HEADQUARTERS IN ATTICA, OH.

Federated Energy Services Cooperative is a management cooperative that provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative (LMRE) and North Central Electric Cooperative (NCE). Both LMRE and NCE are not-for-profit electric cooperatives dedicated to delivering reliable electric services to their communities.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) will be responsible for overseeing and managing the operations department across both LMRE and NCE. This role requires a strategic leader with extensive experience in electric utility operations to ensure efficient, reliable, and safe delivery of services. The COO will report directly to the President/CEO and will have direct reports including the LMRE Operations Manager and the NCE Operations Manager. The COO is required to split their time as evenly as possible between both the LMRE headquarters in Wellington, OH, and the NCE headquarters in Attica, OH.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in electric utility operations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams and complex operational functions in an electric cooperative or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of electric distribution systems, safety regulations, and industry best practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans and operational initiatives.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders and build strong professional relationships.
• Commitment to the mission and values of not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
• Candidates without a degree will be considered if they exceed the experience requirements and can demonstrate progressive advancement in electric utility operations throughout their career.
• Valid driver’s license required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move objects up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in an office setting and visit field sites as necessary.
• Ability to drive and travel between the LMRE and NCE headquarters and other locations as needed.
• Adequate vision and hearing to perform job functions safely and effectively.

• Provide leadership and direction to the operations departments of LMRE and NCE, ensuring alignment with the cooperative’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Oversee and manage all aspects of electric utility operations including maintenance, construction, safety, and reliability of the electric distribution systems.
• Directly supervise the LMRE Operations Manager and the NCE Operations Manager, providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure efficient coordination and utilization of resources, including mechanics, operations coordinators, line foremen, groundmen, apprentices, and journeyman linemen across both cooperatives.
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with other senior leaders to develop and execute long-term strategic plans and capital improvement projects.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the operations teams, implementing corrective actions as necessary to meet performance standards and operational goals.
• Foster a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and accountability within the operations department.
• Attend monthly board meetings to report on the activities of the department.
• Prepare the department’s annual budget to be included in the overall annual budget for board approval.
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with other senior leaders to develop and execute long-term strategic plans and capital improvement projects.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the operations teams, implementing corrective actions as necessary to meet performance standards and operational goals.
• Foster a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and accountability within the operations department.
• Attend monthly board meetings to report on the activities of the department.
• Prepare the department’s annual budget to be included in the overall annual budget for board approval.