Vice President, Engineering & Operations

Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation; Berryville (AR); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation in Berryville, AR, seeks an experienced executive to lead engineering and electric operations, guiding safe, reliable service and long‑term development.

Reporting to the COO, the role directs engineering strategy, system planning, major capital projects, and technical standards, coordinating with operations, GIS, safety, finance, and district offices to meet current needs and future goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and licensure.
• Extensive experience in electric utility engineering, operations, and planning.
• Strong leadership and management experience in an electric utility environment.
• Solid knowledge of electric distribution systems, utility operations, and reliability.
• Ability to evaluate complex technical, operational, and business issues and make sound recommendations.
• Experience developing capital plans, budgets, and staffing strategies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with senior leadership, boards, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for engineering and electric operations functions.
• Lead long-range distribution system planning, engineering strategy, and capital improvements.
• Oversee system studies, distribution design, and modeling activities.
• Provide leadership for construction, maintenance, and operation of the distribution system.
• Evaluate capacity, loading, voltage, reliability, growth, and infrastructure needs.
• Guide planning and development of substations, feeders, and major projects.
• Establish and maintain engineering, construction, and operational standards and practices.
• Coordinate with COO and department leaders on system performance and needs.
• Support outage restoration, emergency response, and storm preparation.
• Provide guidance on system protection, reliability improvement, and issues.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Operations leadership

Capital planning

Project management

Safety culture

GIS knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

GIS

Job description

Provides senior leadership for the cooperative's engineering and electric operations functions and helps guide the safe, reliable, and efficient operation and long-term development of the electric distribution system.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this position leads engineering strategy, system planning, operational performance, major capital projects, technical standards, and other initiatives that support reliable electric service. Works closely with line operations, engineering, staking, GIS, purchasing, safety, finance, and other departments and district offices to coordinate priorities and support both current system needs and long-term plans.

This role is a good fit for an experienced electric utility leader who combines strong technical knowledge with practical operations experience, sound judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead people, projects, and system investments.

What You'll Do

Responsibilities may include:

• Provide leadership and direction for the cooperative's engineering and electric operations functions.
• Lead long-range distribution system planning, engineering strategy, operational priorities, and capital improvement efforts.
• Oversee system studies, distribution design, construction standards, system modeling, and other engineering activities.
• Provide leadership for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the electric distribution system.
• Evaluate system capacity, loading, voltage, reliability, growth, and future infrastructure needs.
• Guide planning and development of substations, feeders, distribution lines, system upgrades, and other major projects.
• Establish and maintain engineering, construction, and operational standards, specifications, policies, and practices.
• Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and department leaders to coordinate system performance, construction, maintenance, outage response, and other operational needs.
• Support outage restoration, emergency response, storm preparation, and other activities necessary to maintain reliable electric service.
• Provide leadership for system protection, outage analysis, reliability improvement, and other technical and operational issues.
• Develop and recommend capital plans, departmental budgets, project priorities, staffing needs, and long-term system investments.
• Evaluate new technologies, equipment, work methods, and practices that may improve safety, reliability, efficiency, or member service.
• Coordinate major projects and initiatives with consultants, contractors, vendors, utilities, governmental agencies, and other outside organizations.
• Support effective use and development of GIS, system modeling, mapping, work management, and other operational technologies.
• Provide technical and operational guidance and recommendations to cooperative leadership.
• Develop managers, supervisors, and employees through clear expectations, coaching, training, and accountability.
• Promote coordination between engineering, operations, and other departments throughout the cooperative.
• Support regulatory, compliance, safety, emergency response, and business continuity activities as assigned.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, sound decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Candidates should:

• Have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related engineering field, along with professional electrical engineering licensure.
• Have extensive experience in electric utility engineering, operations, power systems, distribution operations, substations, system protection, major capital projects, outage restoration, and system planning.
• Have significant leadership and management experience, preferably within an electric utility environment.
• Have strong knowledge of electric distribution systems, utility operations, construction practices, engineering standards, system planning, and reliability.
• Be able to evaluate complex technical, operational, and business issues and make sound, practical recommendations and decisions.
• Have experience developing capital plans, budgets, project priorities, staffing strategies, and long-range infrastructure plans.
• Have strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Be able to work effectively with senior leadership, employees, boards, consultants, contractors, utilities, and other stakeholders.
• Have strong organizational and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to safety and reliable electric service.

Position Details

This is a full-time executive-level position responsible for leading the cooperative's engineering and electric operations functions and supporting the safe, reliable, and long-term performance of the distribution system.

Plays an important role in balancing safety, reliability, operational performance, growth, system needs, financial stewardship, and practical field considerations when developing priorities and recommendations.

Pay: Competitive salary based on experience.

Schedule: Normal working hours are from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday

Carroll Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer.