The Board of Trustees at Vigilante Electric Cooperative (VEC) is looking for an experienced, high-integrity, strategic, and people-focused leader to join the cooperative as its next Chief Executive Officer. The preferred start date is March 2024.
VEC has engaged GreatCo-Ops (www.greatcoops.com) to assist with this search.
The new CEO must demonstrate exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities. He/she should possess a strategic mindset and have the capability to collaboratively craft a compelling vision for the cooperative’s future that has widespread support from the board, staff, and members. The next CEO should be dedicated to fostering a workplace culture that empowers employees to excel and deliver outstanding service to the members.
A clear dedication to ethics, safety, accountability, and alignment with VEC’s values is essential. The new CEO must have a team orientation and demonstrate self-awareness.
The CEO of VEC must have the experience and leadership competencies required to ensure that the cooperative achieves excellence in culture, safety, reliability, operations, and financial soundness. He/she must have the skills required to build productive relationships with the members, regulators, legislators, power suppliers, statewide association, and other key stakeholders.
About Vigilante Electric Cooperative
Nestled in the picturesque town of Dillon, Montana, Vigilante Electric Cooperative is an integral part of the community, serving almost 11,000 meters. In addition to the headquarters in Dillon, VEC has personnel located in both Townsend and Whitehall. VEC’s power supply comes from the Bonneville Power Administration, ensuring a reliable and sustainable source of electricity for the area.
Vigilante Electric Cooperative is deeply committed to the well-being of the communities it serves. They are actively engaged in the region to educate and offer electrical safety demonstrations. They also offer an opt-in Safety Roundup program that awards grants to local organizations that keep the region safe.
The cooperative provides scholarship opportunities to the graduating seniors who live in households that receive power from Vigilante Electric.
VEC is proud to have the lowest electric rates in Montana and some of the lowest in the country.
The co-op’s service territory is divided into nine districts, each of which is represented by engaged and experienced trustees who look forward to working collaboratively with the cooperative’s next CEO.
In addition to providing electricity, VEC has a propane subsidiary.
Fast Facts about VEC
Approximately 11,000 meters
Approximately 6,500 members
2,811 miles of line; 2 members/mile, 4 meters/mile
Electric revenue approximately $16 million
Approximately 26 employees
Nine board districts
For additional information about VEC, please visit their website at www.vec.coop.
About the Region
Dillon, Montana, is an alluring destination and a great place to live, offering an array of outdoor and cultural experiences. Surrounded by the stunning Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the grand Pioneer Mountains, and the serene Clark Canyon Reservoir, Dillon is a haven for nature enthusiasts. It boasts hiking, mountain biking, camping, world-class fly fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities in the pristine landscapes of southwestern Montana. History comes alive at the Beaverhead County Museum and the well-preserved Bannack State Park. Annual events like the Dillon Jaycee Rodeo and a warm, welcoming community make an ideal area for the new CEO to live and work.
More information about the community can be found here and here.
Benefits
VEC’s new CEO will enjoy the following benefits: Pension and 401k; medical, dental, and vision insurance; term life insurance; AD&D insurance; business travel accident insurance; vehicle allowance.
Application Process and Deadline
Interested individuals who meet the required qualifications must email a cover letter and resume to Monica Beavers, Director of Client Services at GreatCo-Ops, at mbeavers@greatcoops.com. In addition to discussing the applicant’s fit for the role, the cover letter must also include the individual’s perspectives on one significant trend in the electric utility industry and how it is likely to affect VEC, given the cooperative’s unique characteristics.
References will be requested later for applicants who progress through the process. Finalists must be willing to undergo a comprehensive background check and drug test.
Applications are preferred by January 5, 2024, at 5:00 pm Mountain Time. However, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
VEC is an equal opportunity employer
Qualifications
Required
Applications from those who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.
Verifiable, successful leadership experience within an electric utility
Excellent leadership and communication skills
Demonstrated success in building high-performance teams and excellent organizational cultures
The ability to build a workplace culture that aligns with the mission, values, and policies of VEC and adheres to federal and state employment regulations
A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and inclusively with boards of trustees, executive teams, and employees
A demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with key external stakeholders
Knowledge in electric utility operations, safety, power supply, customer/member needs and expectations, finance, labor relations, strategic planning, and risk management
An understanding of electric utility industry trends, their likely effects on cooperatives, and ways to leverage those trends for the benefit of VEC and its members
An understanding of – and an appreciation for – the cooperative business model and Seven Cooperative Principles
A commitment to professional growth and development for self and the employees
A willingness to travel for meetings at the local, regional, and national levels
Preferred
Experience as a GM/CEO or as a direct report to the GM/CEO of an electric utility
Significant work experience in the electric cooperative industry
An understanding of the regulatory, political, and legislative environments facing the electric utility industry
Knowledge of the propane distribution business
Experience with the RUS, CoBank, and CFC lending processes
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
An advanced degree or certification in an area relevant to leading an electric utility, including but not limited to law, management, finance, accounting, economics, or engineering
GreatCo-Ops is a professional services firm focused exclusively on creating higher performing electric cooperatives. We help co-op leaders thrive in their roles and create organizations with healthy cultures that deliver unsurpassed member satisfaction. We work hard to earn the trust and respect of our clients by combining a strategic mindset, decades of experience, an obsession for unrivaled service, and an unwavering commitment to ethical conduct.
Our seasoned team leverages experience-tested, data-driven techniques and tools to give our clients powerful new insights they can use to solve their cooperatives’ greatest challenges. Our services include strategy consulting, risk management advisory, governance assessments, leadership development programs, executive coaching, executive search, employee surveys, member experience consulting, data analytics, and related offerings.
