General Manager

Benton County Public Utility District 1; Kennewick (WA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

Benton PUD seeks an accomplished electric utility executive to lead as General Manager, reporting to the Board of Commissioners. You will steward safety, reliability, and affordability while guiding strategic investment and a people‑centered culture.

You will oversee strategic planning, financial stewardship, and power procurement, build relationships with officials and partners, and champion ethics and customer service.

Qualifications

• Requires BA/BS in business, engineering or related field.
• 15 years progressive utility industry experience, including ≥5 years in senior leadership.
• Must possess and maintain a valid WA driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Set and communicate vision and direction for the District to deliver against goals and statutory requirements.
• Direct and support District Strategic Planning and approve the plan.
• Drive operational excellence with a customer-focused, empowered workforce.
• Ensure fiscal integrity by securing resources, budgeting, and monitoring financial strategies.
• Represent the District in regional and national forums and advocate for its best interests.
• Promote ethical conduct by adhering to the District’s Code of Ethics and accountability.
• Keep the Board of Commissioners informed about significant items and proposed solutions.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Commission.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Financial stewardship

Public policy & lobbying

Negotiation & ethics

Power system knowledge

Education

BA/BS Business, Engineering, or related area

Job description

Lead with purpose. Build on Strength, Value People. Full-Time Exempt | Executive Leadership

Benton PUD is seeking an accomplished electric utility executive who believes that exceptional public service begins with people and is sustained by sound decisions, forward thinking, and accountability. Our next General Manager will build on a strong foundation of strategic investment and a people-centered culture while guiding the District’s continued delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and related services.

Selected by and reporting directly to the elected Board of Commissioners, the General Manager leads strategic planning, provides timely information, and presents sound recommendations to support informed Commission decisions. The General Manager leads and develops a highly skilled workforce, ensures strong financial and operational stewardship, and positions the District to meet evolving customer expectations, power supply needs, and electric utility industry challenges.

The successful candidate will bring broad electric utility knowledge, demonstrated senior leadership experience, and a strong understanding of utility operations, engineering, finance, and power supply. As an executive representative and advocate for the District and its customers, the General Manager builds productive relationships with community leaders, public officials, and utility partners.

Benton PUD's values—Safety, Integrity, Mutual Respect, Forward Focus, Excellence and Teamwork—guide how we serve our customers, work with one another and make decisions. The next General Manager will put these values into practice by exercising sound judgement, building trust, championing employee and public safety, and demonstrating ethical conduct.

Lead a utility where valuing people, investing in the future, and delivering results are part of the same mission.

1. Support the District’s mission to serve our customers and foster a positive workplace by personally choosing behavior aligned with our values and ethical codes.
2. Set and communicate vision and direction through a clear, concise and motivating mission for the District to deliver against business goals and objectives established through regular and systematic planning and as required by statutory requirements and government targets.
3. Direct and support District Strategic Planning by determining strategies at the highest level, setting the context, gathering input, developing and approving the plan brought before the Commission and directing implementation.
4. Drive operational excellence by fostering a customer focused business culture where a team-oriented and empowered workforce is committed to and accountable for continuous improvement of all facets of District operations.
5. Ensure the fiscal integrity of the District by securing the financial resources necessary, optimizing the allocation of those resources by reviewing and approving financial strategies and budgets and monitoring and adjusting financial strategies in order to meet the District’s responsibility to the customers.
6. Ensure the District’s best interests are protected by acting as the public face for the District, representing the District in regional and national forums, through on-going networking, and lobbying.
7. Drive ethical conduct throughout the District by exemplifying the legal, moral and professional standards identified in the District’s Code of Ethics and by holding all District employees accountable for ethical behavior.
8. Ensure Board of Commissioners are informed about items of significance by developing and approving the Commission agenda, participating in Commission Meetings, and communicating emerging matters and proposed solutions in a timely manner.
9. Perform other duties as requested by the Commission to meet District goals and objectives.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• BA/BS Business, Engineering, or other related area.
• 15 years progressively responsible utility industry experience, to include at least five years in senior leadership roles.

Licensing or Certifications: Must posses and maintain a valid WA driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have broad electrical utility knowledge and experience of electric utility management, including fundamentals of transmission and distribution system operations, utility finances and accounting, budgeting, and wholesale power purchasing.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Strong leadership skills and ethical foundation
• Understanding of the political implications of working in a PUD
• Understanding of the legal aspects of working in a PUD
• Analytical strength
• Negotiation and mediation skills
• Financial management acumen
• Strategic planning and execution
• Public communications

• Attendance:Consistent need to attend work at the job site or work location. Frequent or constant need for punctuality.
• Physical effort:Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles. Overnight travel by automobile and/or airplane is frequent.
• Environment:Generally located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
• Hazards:Most of the time is spent in general office or equivalent conditions.
• Sensory Attention:Typically requires limited levels of sensory attention.
• Job Pressure/Deadline Orientation:Must meet reasonable deadlines, quotas or demands for accuracy and/or may be involved in some mildly unpleasant situations.