Managing Director, Technology Enablement

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.; Springfield (MO); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. seeks a senior leader to head the new Technology Enablement function.

You will own the full lifecycle of how technology is built—architecture, developer tools, platforms for applications, data, and AI, and the infrastructure that runs from cloud to datacenters. You will unify disparate teams, empower builders, and ensure safety, sustainability, and productivity across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Full-Stack lifecycle leadership across datacenters to cloud and developer tools.
• Platform-building with builders to converge on minimal, effective tools and practices.
• Engineering enablement delivering help where building happens with measurable safety and productivity.
• Disciplined transformation prioritizing momentum, engagement, and accountability.
• Reliability focus with safety, reliability, and financial considerations built in.
• Culture enhancement through leadership development and a thriving community.

Responsibilities

• Create the Foundation and migrate to a unified way of building technology with shared data products, apps, integrations, and AI.
• Form the Architecture Function with registries, tooling, and advisory roles.
• Turn Data into Fuel by defining data products and certifying analytics builders.
• Modernize crafts with AI-integrated development, modern toolchains, and low/no-code.
• Cloud-Power the Grid by delivering cloud-era engineering for grid management systems.
• Ride the AI Wave to ensure enterprise-wide excellence and future-proofing.

Skills

Full-Stack Strategist

Platform Builder

Engineering Enabler

Disciplined Transformer

Reliability Protector

Culture Enhancer

Job description

We are building amazing technology at Associated.

Right now, one team is designing a sophisticated digital twin for our power plants. Another team is adding new capabilities to our big data system that models the future of the cooperative. Yet another team is planning to modernize a transmission asset management system used by seven cooperatives. These are just a few samples. Across Associated, teams are continually building technology that delivers outsized impact for the enterprise and our members.

But these teams are building alone.

Each team figures out its own architecture, user interface style, data storage mechanism, API method, and technology practices — alone. And it's not just limited to IT teams anymore. Engineers and analysts across the business are building data solutions — alone. Looking to the future, GenAI could offer building power to every person at Associated — an enterprise of builders, building alone.

Building alone gave us speed and flexibility in the past, and we’ve made the most of it. But it doesn’t scale. It also means that we recreate capabilities instead of sharing them, expertise stays trapped inside teams, and every new solution adds another thing to connect, secure, maintain, and support. As more people build and what we build becomes more critical, the cost of building alone compounds.

We’re going to create one unified way of building technology together at Associated.

One way to build user interfaces — so every team gets excellent at it, together.

One way to create data products — so that data can become the fuel of the enterprise.

One way to train AI solutions — so we can scale expertise across the company.

One way to create integrations — so we can connect systems seamlessly.

Only one thing is missing—you.

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, you will lead our new Technology Enablement function. You'll own the full lifecycle of how technology gets built at Associated: the architecture, the developer tools, the platforms for applications, data, and AI, and the infrastructure it all runs on, from cloud to our own datacenters and network. And you'll manage this toward one goal: enabling technology builders to build safely, sustainably, and productively — together.

And there’s one unique aspect of our utility business that must be considered: while most of our building is now done in the cloud, our critical systems that operate the grid can’t exist there. From the grid control center to the IoT field devices at our plants and substations, they must be self-sufficient and able to keep running even when cut off from everything else. You must find a way to keep these critical systems from being left behind.

The good news is that you won't be starting alone. Associated's CIO sponsored the design and funding of this organization. Teams are in place, each with leaders and engineers ready for your leadership. And there’s early momentum being built. A cross-functional team that includes your customers is working ahead at documenting our systems and is ready to advance the mission with you.

Here’s what you'll do

• Create the Foundation. Raise the shared foundation with the builders — data products, enterprise apps, business apps, integrations — then lead the great migration until building together is the only way.
• Form the Architecture Function. Stand up architects who wear three hats: registry keepers, tool-crafters, and sleeve-rolling consultants who empower the builders.
• Turn Data into Fuel. Define data products, certify builders of analytics and machine learning, and create an AI-ready platform that scales our expertise.
• Modernize our Craft. Bring our first party products and builders forward with AI-integrated development, modern toolchains, shared frameworks, and low/no-code.
• Cloud-Power the Grid. Deliver cloud-era engineering to the grid management systems that must keep running when Associated is cut off from everything else.
• Ride the AI Wave. Ensure the enterprise rides the AI wave with excellence and keep an eye out for future tech waves to ride. Ensure no ever needs to build alone again.

What we're looking for

Leaders who can do this are rare. If your focus has only been infrastructure, or development services, or architecture, this isn't the job for you. We're putting everything it takes to build technology under one full-stack leader serving both business and builders.

To be successful, you must be:

• Full-Stack Strategist. Guides the lifecycle of technology from datacenters to cloud to developer tools, watches the waves coming, and knows when it's time to transform.
• Platform Builder. Creates platforms with the builders who use them, converging us toward the minimal set of ways combined with the best set of tools and practices.
• Engineering Enabler. Delivers help where the building happens, measured not by trainings held but by how safely, sustainably, and productively we build.
• Disciplined Transformer. Transforms patiently but relentlessly — momentum over speed, engagement over mandate, and accountability for teams and executives alike.
• Reliability Protector. Thrives where failure has safety, reliability, and financial consequences, engineering requirements in rather than bolting them on.
• Culture Enhancer. Grows leaders beyond the roles they excelled in, and models our culture of Creativity, Craftsmanship, Community, Communication, and Change.

This opportunity may be filled at the Vice President or Managing Director level, reflecting the selected candidate's experience, leadership depth, and strategic capability.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

AECI is fully committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. Please reference the contact information below if you require assistance in filling out an application. Individuals with disabilities should request reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act prior to an appointment.

An equal opportunity employer and provider/disability/veteran.