Vice President, Operations

Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC)

POSITION PURPOSE

This position exists only to support the President and Chief Executive Officer's efforts to achieve the Cooperative's mission statement by accomplishing the two goals consistent with a culture firmly rooted in the ten Essential Attributes. The Vice President, Operations provides executive leadership for safe, reliable, and efficient electric distribution operations while developing people, strengthening systems, and reinforcing accountability across field and operational functions.

JOB DIMENSIONS

Internal Responsibility
This position leads a team tasked with safely facilitating traditional Operations department functions and providing support to the Cooperative.

External Responsibility
Ensures operational practices, procedures, and performance reflect reasonable and acceptable best practices within the electric cooperative and municipal utility industry, with particular emphasis on safety, reliability, stewardship of assets, and regulatory awareness.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Consistently demonstrates the appropriate tone and applicable lessons learned of leadership principles from Leadership Landmines: 8 management catastrophes and how to avoid them.

• Models the TCEC Essential Attributes as a regular pattern of behavior and self-awareness. Inspires others to do the same.

• Demonstrates the skill and willingness to effectively utilize Crucial Conversations, addressing difficult topics with clarity, respect, and accountability, while coaching performance and confronting behavior when needed.

• Leads people while managing projects and processes related to electric distribution operations.

• Inspires a culture of continuous learning, curiosity, and a desire to grow and develop.

• Asks great questions and listens. Values understanding and listening first before being heard. Listens for intent.

• Provides regular feedback to teammates for both performance and behavior.

• Coaches performance and confronts behavior where applicable.

• Solicits and offers feedback to peers for both performance and behavior.

• Solicits and offers feedback to the President & Chief Executive Officer for both performance and behavior.

• Develops and maintains a culture that is dedicated to finding solutions, getting to yes, and discovering what can work.

• Supports the President & Chief Executive Officer with other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience
A bachelor's degree in engineering, construction sciences, or a comparable field is required. Successful candidates will demonstrate specific ongoing formal or informal professional development within the prior 12 months.

Operational Experience
The ideal candidate will possess experience leading electric line crews within an electric cooperative or municipal utility environment. Additional experience that will contribute to success in this role may include, but is not limited to:

• Managing right-of-way (ROW) programs

• Distribution line inspections and compliance

• Staking, work orders, and construction coordination

• Development or execution of annual work plans

• Budget understanding, stewardship, and compliance

• Effective collaboration with System Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and related functions

While no single candidate is expected to have deep expertise in every area listed, successful candidates will demonstrate meaningful success across multiple listed functions and a clear capacity to lead, learn, and partner effectively.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Must maintain and inspire an intellectual curiosity that produces ongoing learning. Poses questions and possible solutions regularly. Must have appropriate communication skills, both oral and written, and a willingness to adjust communication styles throughout the day to meet people where they are while encouraging the best moving forward.

Ability to stand and walk; frequently sit for multiple hours at a time with brief transitions as needed. Must be observant. Must be willing to adjust, adapt, offer, and receive feedback regularly. Solution-oriented thinking and practical recommendations are expected.

POSITION DETAILS

• Position Title: Vice President, Operations

• Reports To: President & Chief Executive Officer

• Employment Type: Full-time

• FLSA Status: Exempt

• Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

• Financial Disclosure Required: Yes

• Residency Requirement: Yes

• Position Description Effective Date: February 2026

WHY JOIN TCEC

Tri-County Electric Cooperative is guided by ten Essential Attributes that define how we lead, collaborate, and serve with integrity, accountability, and trust. This role offers the opportunity to develop people, strengthen operations, and make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.

This job description is intended to identify the essential functions of a position and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. An employee may be required to perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and/or management as needed. TCEC reserves the right to revise or modify the job description as needed. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

About Tri-County Electric Cooperative

About Tri-County Electric Cooperative Tri-County Electric Cooperative exists to provide safe, reliable power at the lowest possible cost to the members we serve. That mission guides every decision we make and every role on our team. TCEC is intentionally building a culture grounded in accountability, trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Our Ten Essential Attributes define how we show up for one another and our members every day. They are not slogans. They are expectations. At TCEC, you will find a team that values integrity, responsibility, and service, supports one another through challenges, and is committed to long-term financial strength and operational excellence. If you are looking for meaningful work where your contributions matter and your character counts, you will find that opportunity here. Our 10 Essential Attributes: Coachable, Collaborative, Communicative, Empathetic, Engaged, Humble, Reliable, Resilient, Responsible, Trustworthy

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